MEDIA RELEASE

Richard McDowell has accepted the position of Medical Director for the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) West Hawaii Region which includes Kona Community Hospital and Kohala Hospital.

He began his new duties Dec. 1, 2014.

Richard McDowell

McDowell has more than 30 years of experience in emergency medicine. He was the Director of Emergency Medicine at Kona Community Hospital; a position he has held since July 2001. He is also the hospital’s Trauma Medical Director.

McDowell’s previous roles have included Chairman of Emergency Medicine, Clinical Associate Professor
of Emergency Medicine and Medical Director.

He currently serves as member of the Board of Directors for the West Hawaii Region of HHSC, Senior Examiner of the American Board of Emergency Medicine, Councillor of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

McDowell received an undergraduate degree in Biology from Stanford University, and a medical degree from UCLA in Los Angeles.

“We welcome Dr. McDowell as the new medical director,” said Jay Kreuzer, CEO of Kona Community Hospital. “He is a valued member of our healthcare community with extensive medical expertise. As a long-time community member, Dr. McDowell understands the challenges of rural healthcare and the unique nature of our public hospital system. We’re very pleased that he is stepping into this physician leadership role.”

Founded in 1914, KCH is a 94-bed full-service acute care hospital with 24-hour emergency department recently designated as a Level III trauma center supporting the west region of the island of Hawaii.

It is a member of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a special agency of the state of Hawaii established in 1996.

It is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. KCH is dedicated to providing and enhancing accessible comprehensive healthcare services to the West Hawaii community.