Hawaii Nonprofit People in the News

North Hawaii hospital names new CEO

The Big Island’s North Hawaii Community Hospital has named John R. White to be its new CEO. White, the former president and chief executive officer of Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake, Wash., assumes his new job at the privately owned hospital in Waimea on April 15.

White replaces Ron Vigus, who has served as interim CEO of the hospital since August 2008. Vigus temporarily replaced former CEO Jeff Comer, who abruptly resigned after barely three months on the job at the height of community backlash over how the hospital was being managed.

During that turmoil, the hospital laid off some 59 employees, some since rehired, cut programs and lost the support of its founder and chief funder, Earl E. Bakken, founder of Medtronic Inc. and inventor of the world’s first wearable pacemaker. The changes were needed to stave off deepening operating losses, according to the hospital. The hospital subsequently reorganized its board of directors and has worked to repair rifts with Bakken and the community.

White previously was CEO of Newport Community Hospital in Newport, Wash., for ten years. “With the new board in place and now with the selection of John as our CEO, we are turning the page on last year’s turmoil and looking forward to improving and expanding the services we provide to our North Hawaii community,” said John Dawson, the board vice president.

The 40-bed hospital serves approximately 30,000 Big Island residents and visitors on the Hamakua and Kohala coasts. It first opened in 1996 and is funded entirely by private donations.