HMAConnect

Conversations at HMA is pleased to welcome our HMA Public Policy Committee (PPC). They will lead a focused discussion on the specific bills active in the state legislature that cover: Access to Primary Care Mitigating Federal Budget Cuts Covering Underinsured Patients The Primary Care Workforce - Quality of Care, Loan Repayment, and the Preceptor Tax Credit Advocacy is one of the primary functions...

On December 18, 2025, a special edition of Conversations at HMA brought together representatives from Hawai'i's three largest healthcare providers: Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH), The Queen's Health Systems, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. These three thought leaders shared their assessment on Hawai'i's healthcare environment, how all providers affect its landscape, and their v...

This episode of HMAConnect interviews Albert Newmann, Director of Hospital Services, and Sean Cervone, Family Services Coordinator, from Legacy of Life Hawai'i. Legacy of Life Hawai’i is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and the only organization in Hawai'i federally designated to recover organs and tissue for transplant. Legacy of Life Hawai`i works closely with our island hospitals to c...

Our guest today is Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, Member of the American Medical Association’s Board of Trustees. Dr. Fryhofer, a board-certified physician of internal medicine, was elected as a trustee in June 2018 and served as chair of the board in 2022–23. A graduate of Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. Fryhofer also maintains a full-time general internal medicine private practice in Atla...

In this episode of HMAConnect, we speak with Emily Carroll, Senior Attorney for the American Medical Association’s Advocacy Department, on the subject of prior authorization . In this position, Ms. Carroll provides legislative, regulatory and policy support to state and national medical specialty societies.  Her work centers on commercial payer practices and state health insurance reforms in suppo...

In this episode of HMAConnect, we speak with Dr. Michael Suk, Chair of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. Dr. Suk shares his views on leadership in medicine, trends in healthcare delivery, collective bargaining for physicians, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the AMA.

This episode is a casual conversation with Kai Sternstein, Vice President - State Advocacy Resource Center for the American Medical Association.  Ms. Sternstein oversees the ARC staff attorneys' development and execution of strategies for achieving AMA goals through state legislation and regulation.

Today's podcast is an interview with Dr. Nadine Tenn-Salle. Dr. Tenn-Salle specializes in pediatrics and internal medicine, and is affiliated with both Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children and The Queen's Medical Center. Dr. Tenn-Salle discusses her take on Hawaii's physician shortage, and her ideas for possible solutions to the problem.

Blair Tomlinson is the Sales and Marketing Director for MIEC. In business since 1975, MIEC is the first physician-owned professional liability insurer to service the western United States.  Being solely owned by its policyholders, MIEC is able to return any realized profits to policyholders in the form of dividend credits. Mr. Tomlinson will share MIEC's views on access to care, the importanc...

Dr. Kelley Withy is Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, and the Director of the Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center (AHEC).  Her research focuses on health workforce assessment, health careers development, rural health, telehealth and substance use prevention. Dr. Withy is the primary physician workforce rese...

This is a repost of the interview done with Gubernatorial candidate Josh Green. As he is the Democratic candidate for Governor in the general election, this podcast interview will give our members insight into Dr. Green's positions on healthcare in Hawaii. This episode is co-sponsored by HMA and the Hawaii State Rural Health Association as part of our Gubernatorial Candidate Series. Candidate...

This is a repost of the interview done with Gubernatorial candidate James "Duke" Aiona . As he is the Republican candidate for Governor in the general election, this podcast interview will give our members insight into Mr. Aiona's positions on healthcare in Hawaii. This episode is co-sponsored by HMA and the Hawaii State Rural Health Association as part of our Gubernatorial Candidat...

Today’s podcast is an interview with Dr. Bernard Robinson. A retired US Army Colonel and long-time HMA member, Dr. Robinson was the Chief of Neurosurgery at Tripler Army Medical Center until 1984, and Chief of the Neuroscience Department with Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Region until 2005.  He continues to work as a neurosurgeon and expert neurosurgical consultant at Tripler, and has authored two book...

Today’s podcast is an interview with Mr. Gene Ransom, CEO of the Maryland State Medical Society, or MedChi. As the largest physician organization in Maryland, MedChi’s mission is to serve as the foremost advocate for physicians, their patients, and the public health of Maryland. Mr. Ransom graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland in 1993 and received his law degree from the University o...

Today's episode is an interview with Dr. Kim-Anh Nguyen, President and CEO of the Blood Bank of Hawaii.  Dr. Nguyen has been with the Blood Bank of Hawaii since 2013. Her career in the blood bank industry spans over 17 years, where she has actively participated and has held leadership roles in regional and national transfusion medicine professional organizations. She is also an Assistant Clin...

This episode is co-sponsored by HMA and the Hawaii State Rural Health Association as part of our Gubernatorial Candidate Series. Candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions posed by members of both organizations, providing the community an introduction to the candidates and their positions on healthcare issues which affect physicians, patients and community health.  Each episode begi...

This episode is co-sponsored by HMA and the Hawaii State Rural Health Association as part of our Gubernatorial Candidate Series. Candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions posed by members of both organizations, providing the community an introduction to the candidates and their positions on healthcare issues which affect physicians, patients and community health.  Each episode begi...

This episode is co-sponsored by HMA and the Hawaii State Rural Health Association as part of our Gubernatorial Candidate Series. Candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions posed by members of both organizations, providing the community an introduction to the candidates and their positions on healthcare issues which affect physicians, patients and community health.  Each episode begi...

This episode is co-sponsored by HMA and the Hawaii State Rural Health Association as part of our Gubernatorial Candidate Series. Candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions posed by members of both organizations, providing the community an introduction to the candidates and their positions on healthcare issues which affect physicians, patients and community health.  Each episode begi...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of HMAConnect, the podcast of the Hawaii Medical Association.  This podcast series will feature topics, interviews and discussions dealing with the most pressing health issues affecting our members and our community. This first episode is an interview with Mr. Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing and Membership at the American...