(Photo courtesy of Hilo Medical Center)

MEDIA RELEASE

Physician leadership of Hilo Medical Center’s medical staff presented $10,000 in scholarships to invest in healthcare careers and improve the quality of care in East Hawaii.

Scholarships of $2,500 were awarded to staff and family affiliated with Hilo Medical Center:

* Tracey Silva: a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and surgical technologist in the Operating Room and enrolled in Associate Degree Nursing Program at Hawaii Community College

* Jewel Andrade-Ikawa: a clerk in the Patient Services Department and enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Program in Healthcare Administration at Grand Canyon University

* Reina Sako: the daughter of dietician Janet Sako and enrolled in the Diagnostic Ultrasound Program at Seattle University
Recipients of the 2013 Medical Staff Scholarships were grateful for the opportunity to further their education and career in healthcare.

* Maria Pollack: an LPN in the Long Term Care Department and enrolled in Associate Degree Nursing Program at Hawaii Community College

“It is our great pleasure to present the Hilo Medical Center Medical Staff Scholarships,” said Dr. Edwin Montell, Chief of Staff at Hilo Medical Center who presented the scholarships. “This year’s candidates were selected because their applications were exceptional and conveyed great potential to improve the quality of health care of the people of Hawaii Island.”

The scholarship program was created by members of Hilo Medical Center’s medical staff. Physicians funded this program with the goal of investing in and supporting Hilo Medical Center staff and their family members.

The scholarships may be used to further education and skills related to a healthcare profession, including paying for tuition, books, on-line subscriptions, and, for those students living away from home, room and board.

“This scholarship means so much for me and my family,” said Tracey Silva. “I am so proud to be a part of the HMC team and look forward to working here for many years to come.”

“This scholarship allows me to continue to work hard to achieve a degree in Healthcare Administration,” said Jewel Andrade-Ikawa. “I am very appreciative and grateful for this opportunity to further my education.”

This scholarship will help me advance my skills to better take care of the people around me,” said Maria Pollack. “I’m very thankful and grateful to all of the people who have made this possible.”

“I’m very thankful to receive this award as it will help me pursue my goal of becoming a cardiac sonographer and returning to Hilo to work at Hilo Medical Center.”

As the Big Island’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient care, Hilo Medical Center (HMC) delivers a full range of services and programs. Our 20-acre campus consists of 276 beds located throughout the 142-bed acute hospital, 20-bed behavioral health facility and 112-bed long-term care facility.

It has more than 975 employees and more than 250 physicians, representing 33 specialties. As a medical center, it has a network of 10 outpatient clinics offering primary and specialty care.

The hospital’s Level III Trauma Center includes the second busiest emergency room in the state, providing 24-hour care and serving more than 41,000 patients annually. In May 2013, HMC became a tobacco-free campus.

HMC is a member of the East Hawaii Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a public entity established in 1996 by the State of Hawaii to fulfill the promise to provide quality, hometown healthcare.

— Find out more:
www.hmc.hhsc.org