Speakers

Alden is a graduate of UH’s MPH program in Environmental Health and CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. He returned to Hawai‘i in 2023 after a 30-year career at the CDC.

Becky is the Co-Investigator for the Hawai‘i Public Health Workforce Catalyst Lab and has worked as a public health evaluator and research faculty member in the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS) since 2010.

Dr. Christy Nishita is the Director of the University of Hawaii’s Center on Aging. She received her PhD in Gerontology from the University of Southern California.

Eric Hurwitz, DC, PhD, is Professor and Graduate Chair of Epidemiology and Chair of the Office of Public Health Studies in the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

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Dr. Mālia Purdy, an esteemed leader in the field of public health and community empowerment, serves as the Executive Director of Hui No Ke Ola Pono (HNKOP), a prominent organization dedicated to promoting health and wellness within the Native Hawaiian community. With a profound commitment to indigenous health initiatives and cultural revitalization, Dr. Purdy has spearheaded numerous impactful programs aimed at addressing health disparities and fostering holistic well-being.

Michelle Tagorda-Kama serves as an academic advisor at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, where she is also an alumna. As a first-generation college student, she obtained her undergraduate degrees in biology and psychology, as well as her Master of Public Health, specializing in social and behavioral health sciences.

Sara Tanaka is the Director of Corporate Strategy at the Hawai’i Medical Service Association (HMSA) where her work focuses primarily on developing enterprise-wide strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of the community.

Yuka serves as a Workforce Liaison on the Hawai‘i Public Health Workforce Catalyst Lab. She brings her passion and expertise in social and health equity to the group. Yuka is also a faculty member of the UH Office of Public Health Studies and longtime educator of students at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Dr. Alex Ortega is Dean of the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health and Professor of public health at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He is also a Senior Associate Editor of Health Services Research (HSR), the official journal of AcademyHealth.

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Diana Felton, MD is an ER Physician and Medical Toxicologist currently serving as Chief of the Hawaii Department of Health’s Communicable Disease and Public Health Nursing Division (CDPHND).

Dr. Janet Berreman is the Kauai District Health Officer for the Hawaii Department of Health. She practiced pediatrics in American Samoa before joining the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

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Kenneth S. Fink, MD, MGA, MPH has served as Director of the Hawai‛i Department of Health since January 9, 2023 after being appointed by Gov. Josh Green.
Dr. Fink has extensive public and private sector experience.
Prior to joining DOH, Dr. Fink worked as the Vice President for Medicare & Medicaid Programs at HMSA. Before that he was the Director of Student Health Services for Kamehameha Schools.

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Dr. Mapuana Antonio is an Associate Professor, head of the Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Health (NHIH) Master of Public Health Program, and the inaugural Queen Liliʻuokalani Endowed Professor in Native Hawaiian Culture at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

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Scott was born and raised in Hawaii and is a proud graduate of Kaimuki High School and the
University of Hawaii at Manoa. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology, a
master’s degree in business administration in Finance, and a master’s degree in accounting. He
is also a Certified Workforce Development Professional by the National Association of
Workforce Development Professionals.

Ardis Eschenberg, PhD, is the chancellor of Windward Community College. She has served there for 14 years, as dean, vice chancellor for student affairs, vice chancellor for academic affairs, and, for the past 5 years as chancellor.

Catherine Pirkle is a Professor of Public Health at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Trained in both life-course and environmental epidemiology, she has worked for two decades in the field of women’s health.

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Dr. Jeanelle Sugimoto-Matsuda is an Associate Professor at the University of Hawai‛i at Mānoa, Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS), within the Social and Behavioral Health Sciences Specialization. She is also Graduate Chair for OPHS’ MPH/MS programs.

John P. Kolman, D.B.A., is an experienced executive director with a robust background in leadership, process improvement, strategic planning, and public-private partnerships. He serves as the District Health Officer for the Hawaii State Department of Health, overseeing public health services for the County of Hawaii, including Environmental Protection and Disease Outbreak Control.

Dr. Lance Ching, PhD, MPH is a dedicated public health leader committed to creating a healthier Hawaii for all. As the lead epidemiologist of the Surveillance, Evaluation, and Epidemiology Office (SEEO) at the Hawaii State Department of Health (HDOH), he oversees critical data analyses and investigations to inform strategies addressing complex public health challenges. The SEEO provides essential support to nine public health programs, including tobacco prevention, physical activity and nutrition promotion, and diabetes and heart disease management.

Lola Hiroko Irvin is the Administrator of the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion Division (CDPHPD), in the Hawaii State Department of Health (HDOH).
Prior to the DOH, she served as the Hawaii-Pacific Cancer Control Director in the
American Cancer Society.

Dr. May Rose Dela Cruz, DrPH has current positions at the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute (HIPHI) as the Director of Health Equity and Research and at the University of Hawai‘i’s (UH) Office of Public Health Studies (Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health) as an Associate Researcher.

Robin G. Arndt, MSW, LSW, is Coordinator of Field Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health. He received his bachelor’s (‘04) and master’s (‘08) degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Tetine is the PI of the Hawai‘i Public Health Workforce Catalyst Lab and the Chin Sik & Hyun Sook Chung Endowed Chair in Public Health Studies in the Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS) in the Thompson School at UH Mānoa.