HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige announced Thursday the interim appointment of Bruce Anderson, Ph.D., to lead the state Department of Health following the June 1 retirement of Virginia “Ginny” Pressler who has served as the director of health since December 2014.
HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige announced Thursday the interim appointment of Bruce Anderson, Ph.D., to lead the state Department of Health following the June 1 retirement of Virginia “Ginny” Pressler who has served as the director of health since December 2014.
In a letter to the governor dated May 4, Pressler outlined the department’s accomplishments over the past three and a half years and noted that she’s retiring to devote more time to family and friends and the activities she’s not had time for because she was too busy working.
Anderson, who has served as administrator of the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources since October 2015, reprises his role as director of health, having served in the position during the Cayetano administration. He has also served as president of the Oceanic Institute and president and chief executive officer of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. Anderson has more than 30 years of experience in managing health and environmental protection programs in the state.
Anderson was born and raised in Hawaii. He went to Punahou School on Oahu, Colorado College, and Yale University, where he received his master’s degree in public health. Anderson also has a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Hawaii.
“After more than two decades with the Department of Health and his previous experience as director, Bruce will be able to hit the ground running and effectively support and lead existing initiatives,” said Ige. “Ginny Pressler has been an outstanding leader who has contributed much to the health of the people in Hawaii during her years of public service. She has much to be proud of, and I wish her well in retirement. I know she’ll continue to be an active member of our community,” he added.
