MEDIA RELEASE

The Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH) is honoring a Hilo Nurse for his exceptional personal and professional skills.

Arthur Sampaga

Arthur Sampaga, RPN VII, Hilo Medical Center’s Cardiovascular Services Supervisor and Emergency Management Coordinator, will receive HAH’s “Professional With a Heart” award Aug. 25.

Sampaga is one of several distinguished medical personnel to be recognized by HAH.

In addition to being a full time nurse, Sampaga is a Lieutenant Colonel and the senior nurse with the Hawaii Army National Guard’s Medical Command, Joint Force Headquarters.

A combat veteran, Sampaga has served with the Guard for the past 29 years. He was deployed to Iraq in 2005 with the 29th Brigade Combat Team as the Brigade Nurse.

When he’s not on deployment, Sampaga can be found at Hilo Medical Center working with patients or leading employee emergency drills.

He uses a variety of emergency scenarios to ensure the staff is trained to protect HMC’s patients should there be a natural disaster or mass-casualty situation.

HHSC East Hawaii Region’s new employees are trained by Sampaga as part of their orientation in disaster preparedness. Sampaga teaches them emergency response skills for both work and home — to keep their families safe should disaster strike.

HMC Senior Manager Julie-Beth Ako said, “Arthur’s leadership and management skills are appreciated more than words can say. It is because of people like him that we are able to sleep at night.”

For more information about the awards dinner, contact HAH at (808) 521-8961 or visit www.hah.org