Valerie Kato has been appointed as the Deputy Director of the Hawai’i State Department of Health (DOH) by the Hawai’i State Senate. She will be working alongside Director Kenneth Fink, M.D. in her new role. Kato expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Hawai’i and bring her wealth of experience to the position.
In her new role, Kato will oversee various offices within the DOH, including the Administrative Services Office, Health Information Systems Office, Human Resources Office, and more. She has 17 years of experience working in public health as well as private practice, and holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. in English from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.
Kato is excited to work with Director Fink and the DOH staff to tackle the challenges facing the department. She has experience responding to emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Maui Wildfires disaster, and is eager to create a more efficient and collaborative administration. Kato’s appointment has been met with enthusiasm, and she is poised to make a positive impact on the DOH’s mission moving forward.
Director Fink praised Kato for her knowledge, leadership, and energy, stating that she will be a valuable addition to the team. With her extensive background in public health and private practice, Kato brings a wealth of experience to her new role as Deputy Director of DOH.
