Valerie Kato confirmed as DOH deputy director
Printed on April 5, 2024 in Press Room
HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Senate voted right this moment to substantiate the appointment of Valerie Kato as Deputy Director of the Hawaii State Division of Well being (DOH), the place she joins Director Kenneth Fink, MD.
“Val brings data, management and power to DOH and we’re very lucky to have her on the group,” mentioned Director Kenneth Fink. “Her expertise because the Supervisory Deputy Lawyer Normal of the Well being Division allowed her to recurrently work together with DOH employees and management throughout many packages. “Her understanding of the division’s operations alongside along with her steady enchancment mindset make her a wonderful addition to advance the division’s mission.”
Kato mentioned she is humbled and humbled and thanked the Governor and Director for the chance to serve the State of Hawai'i.
“I’m very grateful for the chance to work alongside Director Fink and the hard-working employees of the Division of Well being to serve the folks of Hawaii,” mentioned Valerie Kato. “Having labored with the DOH on quite a few emergencies and challenges over the previous few years, from the response to the COVID pandemic to the Maui wildfire catastrophe, I stay up for forging a extra environment friendly, much less siled administration that strikes ahead collectively and assist one another.”
Earlier than starting her profession in public well being as Supervisory Deputy Lawyer Normal of the Well being Division and First Deputy Lawyer Normal below Lawyer Normal Holly T. Shikada, Kato was in personal apply for 17 years and beforehand labored as a decide's clerk. Corinne KA Watanabe within the Intermediate Courtroom of Hawai'i. Courtroom of Appeals. Kato earned his J.D. from Georgetown College Regulation Middle in Washington, D.C., and his bachelor's diploma in English from the College of Hawai'i at Manoa.
As Deputy Director of Well being, Kato will head the DOH administrative workplaces, which oversees the Administrative Providers Workplace (ASO), Well being Info Techniques Workplace (HISO), Human Sources Workplace (HRO), Well being Monitoring Workplace Well being Standing (OHSM), the Workplace of Planning, Coverage and Program Improvement (OPPPD), Workplace of Affirmative Motion (OAA) and District Well being Places of work (DHO).
Connected is a photograph of Valerie Kato.
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