Former TV news anchor, reporter and weathercaster Angela Keen has turned her health care reporting background into a new career.

She has joined Straub Clinic & Hospital as the manager of physician services.

“;We're real excited that Angela's joined us,”; said Art Gladstone, chief operating officer for Straub and chief nurse executive for parent company Hawaii Pacific Health.

Keen has been in training to succeed Ellen Kaye, who retires from Straub today.

She initially interviewed for physician recruitment “;and as we talked”; it became evident that her role could be expanded to “;tie it in to our patient referral process,”; Gladstone said.

The job will have Keen out in the community meeting with private physicians to listen to “;areas of need for their patients,”; such as referral to Straub specialists, he said.

It will also be her job to manage any challenges that may arise during the course of such referrals.

Also there are “;needs in our own clinic,”; such as for surgeons or other types of physicians “;and she'll be able to start recruiting for that particular specialty,”; said Gladstone.

Keen worked for a time in public relations at The Limtiaco Company but is primarily known from her years on TV news, starting in 1994. She worked at KGMB-TV and KHNL-TV in various capacities, including reporting, anchoring and weathercasting. When reporting, her primary beat was health coverage.

Gladstone cited Keen's communication skills “;and the fact that she has some background in health reporting, because she has an understanding of what health care is all about.”;

Keen is excited about the challenge and about life after journalism.

“;I have big shoes to fill, my predecessor is retiring after 35 years. Big shoes to fill with little steps,”; she said. It is a much larger role than she had anticipated, however, “;it seems like every corner that I turn, I see a physician that I've worked with before (on stories) and it feels so good because I know that eventually I'll be helping them.”;

She won't miss the three-times-yearly ratings rat-race of TV, but had been missing the field of medicine, she said. “;It's something that I love.”;