A Hawaii Healthcare Hero is someone who provided extraordinary care for you or a loved one in a way that you will always remember. That person could be:
The emergency responder when you or a family member needed immediate medical attention.
The healthcare professional who brought a new life into the world or saved a life from ending.
The therapist who assisted with occupational, physical or speech therapy.
The hospice worker who helped a family prepare for a loved one’s transition.
Each year, HAH places a public call to ask patients to nominate their Hawai`i Healthcare Hero. Five Hawaii Healthcare Heroes are chosen and honored at the annual HAH Awards and Scholarship Gala.
2022 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes
You can click on the link below to view their extraordinary story featured and produced by Hawaii News Now.
Andrew Baldwin, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Hawai`i Pacific Health Medical Group
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DR. BALDWIN’S HAWAI`I NEWS NOW VIDEO
Lindsey Hayes, PA-C
Same-Day Care
Physician Assistant
Kaiser Permanente
CLICK HERE TO VIEW LINDSEY’S HAWAI`I NEWS NOW VIDEO
Shelley Johnstone, MSN, APRN
Nurse Practitioner
Kaiser Permanente
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SHELLEY’S HAWAI`I NEWS NOW VIDEO
Lillian Lau, RN
RN Case Manager
Oahu Home Healthcare
CLICK HERE TO VEIW LILLIAN’S HAWAI`I NEWS NOW VIDEO
Bernard Riola, MD
Department Chair of Pediatrics
Hawai`i Health Systems Corporation - Kaua`i Region
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DR. RIOLA’S HAWAI`I NEWS NOW VIDEO
Hawaii Healthcare Heroes HNN PSA
2022 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes Sponsors
TOP PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSORS
DIAMOND SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSORS
2021 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes
Ligaya “Joy” Villanueva Bercasio, BSN-RN
Nurse Liaison
St. Francis Healthcare System
Click here to view Ligaya’s Hawaii News Now Video
Mandy Kī `aha, BS, RN, MSN, NP-C
Senior Advocate
CareSift for Seniors
Click here to view Mandy’s Hawaii News Now Video
Rachel Laffin, CNA
Certified Nursing Assistant
Palolo Chinese Home
Click here to view Rachel’s Hawaii News Now Video
Luisa Ogawa, MSN, APRN-Rx, NP-C, RN-BC
Continuing Care Nurse Practitioner
Kaiser Permanente
Click here to view Luisa’s Hawaii News Now Video
Se Kon Won, MD
Cardiologist
Hawai`i Pacific Health Medical Group
Straub Medical Center
Click here to view Dr. Won’s Hawaii News Now Video
2021 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes Sponsors
2020 and 2021 continues to be challenging years due to COVID-19. We are so grateful for all of the healthcare staff that are passionate and dedicated to caring for the people of Hawaii during these unprecedented times.
We are pleased to announce this year’s Hawaii Healthcare Heroes Sponsors.
TOP PLATINUM SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSORS
Sponsor Recognition and Media
Hawai`i Pacific Health Radio Spot
Adventist Health Castle Radio Spot
Bayada Home Health Care Radio Spot
CareResource Hawaii Radio Spot
Kaiser Permanente Radio Spot
Maui Health Radio Spot
`Ohana Health Plan Radio Spot
`Ohana Pacific Health Radio Spot
The Queen’s Health Systems Radio Spot
Click here to download the full Honolulu Star Advertiser Hawaii Healthcare Heroes Tab
Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2019
Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners
Brandy Boyce, RN
Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women & Children
Lyne Elsman
The Queen’s Medical Center
Jocelyn Nishioka
The Queen’s Medical Center
Walter Igawa-Silva, MD
Straub Medical Center
Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System
Mervin (Merv) Lum, RPh
Foodland Pharmacy – Kapolei
Agusta (Angie) Yoro
Kalākaua Gardens
Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2018
Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners
Christie Izutsu, MD
Kidney Clinic of Hawaii
Valerie Janikowski, RN
Formerly with Ke `Ola Hou Lana`i
Currently with Arcadia Home Health (Lana`i)
Dee Ono, RN, CWS, CRNI
West Hawaii Home Health Services
Rebecca Sawai, MD
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
Lesley Yoshimori, RN, MPH
Family Medicine Clinic at Tripler Army Medical Center
Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2017
Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners
Jessica Ackerman, APRN-RX, FNP-BC
Queen’s Geriatric Services
Anne Dempsey, MD
Kauai Medical Clinic/Hawaii Pacific Health
Gary Oshita
Maluhia
Cheri-Teranishi-Hashimoto, DPT, MS, WCS, CLT-LANA, MSPT
Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific
Baron CKW Wong, MD
Wahiawa General Hospital
Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2016
Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners
Pixie Bickel, RT (R)(M)(CT)(ARRT)
Mammography Technologist
The Queen’s Medical Center
Thomas J. Kane III, MD
Founder and Director
Kane Orthopedic Institute
Catherine Marquette, FNP
Family Nurse Practitioner
Hamakua-Kohala Health Center
Ian J. Okazaki, MD
Department Chief, Hematology/Oncology
Straub Medical Center
Phung Le Ouchi, LPN
Staff Nurse
Hi`olani Care Center at Kahala Nui
Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2015
Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners
Kathy Krammer, MS, CCC-SLP, RN
Senior Speech, Language, Swallowing Pathologist
Head and Neck Cancer Support Group Co-Founder and Group Facilitator
The Queen’s Medical Center, Outpatient Rehabilitation Department
Grace Porras, LPN
Nurse
Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Jim Stremick, MPT
Physical Therapist
Prime Care Services Hawaii, Inc.
Warren Tamamoto, MD
Chief of Pulmonology
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
Juliette Zelada, MD
Surgeon
Wilcox Memorial Hospital
Hawaii Healthcare Heroes 2014
Hawaii Healthcare Hero Award Winners
L-R: Heather Sloan, APRN; Sandy Na-o, CNA; Melissa Champlin, RN, CHPN; Belinda McGillicuddy, BS, RRT; Troy Tanji, MD