The Hawai‘i Medical Service Association recently appointed Dr. Mark M. Mugiishi as its new president and chief executive officer. Mugiishi had been serving as interim president/CEO and chief health officer since last August. His appointment was effective Feb. 1.
Dr. Mugiishi has been a general surgeon in Hawai‘i for nearly 30 years and also served as associate chair of the department of surgery and director of surgical education at the University of Hawai‘i’s John A. Burns School of Medicine. He has also served HMSA in a variety of capacities since 1995. In 2015, he joined the insurer’s leadership team as executive vice president, chief medical officer and chief health officer.
In a news release, HMSA board chair Bob Harrison said the board is grateful for Mugiishi’s leadership and expertise, saying he “is committed to creating an improved and more affordable health care model for Hawai‘i.”
Mugiishi said he was honored by the opportunity to lead HMSA. “I’ve enjoyed a long history with HMSA in several roles . . . . I look forward to working with our partners and the community to create an ever healthier Hawai‘i for our members and for future generations.”
Mugiishi co-founded the Endoscopy Institute of Hawaii, the Eye Surgery Center of Hawaii and was a medical director at two Hawai‘i technology accelerators. He earned his medical degree from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
He also serves as chair of the board of governors of ‘Iolani School, his alma mater. He coached varsity basketball at ‘Iolani and led the team to 11 league championships and seven state championships.
Mugiishi also produced the musical, “Allegiance,” which starred George Takei and Lea Salonga and ran at Shubert’s Longacre Theater in New York City in 2015-16.
