2001 Honoree of The Mathies Award: Yoshi Honkawa
Yoshi Honkawa
Leader, mentor, advocate, award-winner, husband, friend, guiding light... how do capture the career and life of one of Southern California's major movers in healthcare policy and administrator in a singular statement?
Yoshi Honkawa embodies the spirit and meaning of the Annual Allen & Weta Mathies Award for Vision and Excellence in Healthcare Leadership.
Throughout his 40 years of service, he has helped shape the healthcare system to better meet the needs of patients, their families, and healthcare
professionals. On the local and national level, Yoshi has provided the insight and leadership to resolve challenging issues and bring about change for
the good.
Currently a consultant for health care advocacy for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Yoshi recently retired as the Vice President for Government and
Industry Relations for the Los Angeles based medical center. He served by appointment of President Carter and HEW Secretary Patricia Harris on the National Council on Health Planning and Development and by appointment of Governors Reagan, Deukmejian and Wilson on the State of California Advisory Health Council and the California Health Policy and Data Advisory Commission.
During his health care administration career, Yoshi has been honored with the California Hospital Association Walker Fellowship, California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems' Award of Merit, American Hospital Association Trustee's Award, and USC Alumni Service Award.
Yoshi served in executive positions at Cedars-Sinai, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles County Department of Hospitals, and the LA County-USC Medical Center. He has also chaired major health policy and planning, community and professional boards including: Board of Councilors, USC School of Policy, Planning and Development;
American Hospital Association; California Hospital Association; Visiting Nurse Foundation and Visiting Nurse Association of Los Angeles; Hospital Council of Southern California, Federation of American Health Systems, and the Institute for Diversity in Health Management.
And those are just the highlights.
Perhaps the most enduring and endearing aspect of Yoshi's career is the impact he has made on colleagues. His quick wit, incisive wisdom and
in-depth understanding of the issues at hand have inspired and instructed those who have worked with him and for him.
Never too busy to take a moment to explain a rationale or point the way to greater effectiveness, Yoshi has been a mentor to generations of
healthcare professionals. When you know Yoshi, you know the healthcare system in greater Los Angeles. And he is one to know ....first.
For all these reasons, we salute Yoshi Honkawa for embodying the Partners in Care Foundation's spirit, vision and foresight in shaping healthcare that works. May Yoshi's light continually illuminate our path ahead.
