Pressler leaving
Health Department

She was instrumental in developing
the state Healthy Hawaii project

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By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

Dr. Virginia Pressler has resigned as the state Health Department's deputy director of health resources to join Hawaii Pacific Health as vice president for women's health services.

She will begin work Monday with the new health care organization, which includes Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, Straub Clinic & Hospital and Wilcox Hospital.

Pressler has been with the Department of Health for more than three years. She was instrumental in developing the agency's Healthy Hawaii Initiative program to improve the health and lifestyle of residents.

She also was a strong advocate for improved health for children and had a key role in expansion of the Early Intervention and Healthy Start programs.

In leaving the state agency, she said she was most pleased about the Healthy Hawaii campaign to increase public awareness of the problems of smoking, poor physical activity and dietary habits.

She noted that 26 communities throughout the state received money to make changes necessary for families to live a healthier lifestyle.

At Hawaii Pacific Health, her mission will be to expand women's health services from OB/GYN to more comprehensive services, including post-menopausal areas and needs for cardiac and cancer care.

Pressler is a graduate of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. She was associate professor of surgery at the school and director of surgical education at Queen's Medical Center.

She had a private medical practice before going to DOH and operated a private health-care consulting firm. She was president and chief executive officer of the Premier Plan.