The Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA) has donated $1 million to establish the HMSA Distinguished Endowed Professorship in Health Economics at the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) in the College of Social Sciences. The endowment will support UHERO’s research in the area of health economics.
UHERO Executive Director Carl Bonham has worked closely with HMSA President and CEO Mark M. Mugiishi on Hawaiʻi’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years.
“UHERO has been a key player in our economic development recovery efforts as we emerge from the damaging effects of COVID-19 across the state,” said Mugiishi. “HMSA remains committed to creating a healthier Hawaiʻi, especially in our efforts to improve the overall economic health in our local community.”
Bonham said HMSA and UHERO share a common vision, where data, research and analysis drive policy to improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s people.
“We already have several projects underway that will benefit from a close collaboration with HMSA, including the development of a new linked housing and health database, and a new longitudinal health survey in Hawaiʻi,” Bonham said. “Both efforts are designed to study systemic health disparities exacerbated by COVID-19 and inform the design and execution of public health programs in Hawaiʻi.”
