STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1943

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 527

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 527, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Deputy Director, Department of Health

 

G.M. No. 527

SUSAN FERNANDEZ,

for a term to expire 12-07-2026,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Susan Fernandez for service as the Deputy Director of Health.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Susan Fernandez from the Governor, Department of Health, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Taxation, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department Of Human Services, Department of Budget and Finance, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, and twenty-three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Susan Fernandez from two individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Fernandez's professional experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her to be appointed as the Deputy Director of Health.  Ms. Fernandez is the first nominee for the position of Deputy Director of Health from outside of the Department of Health in over twenty years.  Ms. Fernandez has over a decade of experience in various administrative and managerial government positions and brings with her a broad range of experience in both public and private sectors in the areas of human resources, health care, finance, strategic planning, legislative processes and budget management, performance evaluation, accreditation support, and neighbor island issues. 

 

     Ms. Fernandez earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Prior to her appointment as Deputy Director of Health, Ms. Fernandez served as the Deputy Director of the Department of Community Services for the City and County of Honolulu where she functioned as the Chief Operations Officer and oversaw day-to-day operations, improved and streamlined departmental efforts, and developed innovative processes to increase the Department's efficiency.  Before her employment with the City and County of Honolulu, Ms. Fernandez served as the Assistant Hospital Administrator at Hilo Medical Center where she provided executive oversight of Revenue Cycle Departments, developed strategic plans, managed budget policies and procedures, engaged in planning and performance improvement initiatives, managed procurement and reporting, and directed and developed analyses for operations performance and resource utilization.  Ms. Fernandez also previously worked as a Chief Budget, Planning, and Management Officer with the Department of Human services; a Budget Chief and Analyst at the Hawaii State House of Representatives for the Standing Committee on Finance; and Operations Senior Manager of the New Ventures/Optical Department at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii.  Ms. Fernandez also started her own business, Susan Fernandez Consulting, where she served as a business specialist and advised clients on strategic planning, market development, environmental and market analysis, and budgets and funding sources, and advised startups and aided clients in grants and public funding sources.

 

     The testimony received by your Committee established that Ms. Fernandez is admired and respected by her colleagues and has a proven track record of being an open-minded, driven, intelligent, and caring leader.  Ms. Fernandez is committed to serving the public with transparency and integrity and as a compassionate leader who values consensus-building with her team and leads by example.  Testifiers who work closely with Ms. Fernandez commented that, in her time as Interim Deputy Director of Health, Ms. Fernandez has brought a fresh perspective on agency policies and procedures that have been well-received and has earned the respect of senior staff as a result of her willingness to listen, desire to be a part of solutions, and follow through in her tasks.   Your Committee further notes from Ms. Fernandez's personal statement that her goals for the Department of Health are to create and enable a healthy environment for her staff, improve departmental systems and processes, and deliver critical services to the community.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Susan Fernandez be appointed as Deputy Director of Health based on her background, knowledge, and demonstrated commitment to public service.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

 

 

 

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair