[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E817-E818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO YOSHI HONKAWA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2000

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to a dear friend, Yoshi 
Honkawa, who is retiring after a thirty-six year career as a health 
care advocate in Los Angeles County. Yoshi's name has become synonymous 
with health care policy and advocacy for the residents of Los Angeles 
County. Over the years he has been an indispensable resource to me, my 
office, and the many institutions he has worked with. His wisdom and 
insight will certainly be missed as he enters his much-deserved 
retirement.
  Yoshi began his impressive health care career in 1964 at the Los 
Angeles County-University of Southern California (LAC-USC) Medical 
Center. He served as the medical center's comptroller and assistant 
administrator for five years. His talent did not go unnoticed, and he 
was promoted to associate administrator in 1969.
  Later that year, Yoshi became affiliated with the Los Angeles County 
Department of Hospitals and served as director of fiscal and hospital 
program planning until 1972. He then joined the Los Angeles County 
Department of Health Services where he was the deputy director of 
finance and legislative services.
  In 1975, Yoshi became the director of finance at Cedars-Sinai Medical 
Center, where he remained to serve in various capacities. He was the 
vice president for government and industry relations from 1978 through 
1993. In 1994, he was promoted to the position of consultant for health 
care advocacy.
  Yoshi's contributions in the health care field have always gone far 
beyond his employment. First and foremost, he knows and counts as 
friends virtually every major player in the health care arena, both in 
California and in

[[Page E818]]

Washington, DC. He has access everywhere. Second, he has contributed 
his time and experience to serve as a mentor to many, many young people 
entering the health care field. Truly, his legacy continues through 
them. Finally, he has made it his special mission to increase the 
diversity of people making health care management their career, serving 
as a founding board member of the Institute for Diversity in Health 
Care Management, and serving tirelessly in many capacities in that 
organization.
  He has been a long-time advocate and friend for graduate medical 
education, both through his activities at Cedars-Sinai and his 
membership of the Government Relations Steering Committee at the 
Association of American Medical Colleges. At the national level, he was 
also an active member of the National Health Planning and Development 
Council.
  In addition, Yoshi has been actively involved in health care policy 
development and implementation for Los Angeles and California. He was a 
Commissioner on the California Health Policy and Data Advisory 
Commission for ten years from 1987 through 1997. While serving on the 
commission, he was instrumental in shaping California's health policy, 
and he has been appointed to countless other posts, sharing his 
experience and knowledge with pivotal commissions and committees.
  Yoshi's tremendous contributions have been recognized many times 
through the awards and honors he has received. He has been honored by 
the American Hospital Association, the USC Alumni Association, the 
California Healthcare Association, and the USC Health Services 
Administration Alumni Association, to name a few.
  The citizens of Los Angeles and our health care institutions owe 
Yoshi a great debt of gratitude, as do all of his friends and 
associates who have relied for so long on his guidance and help.
  We know that his retirement may be beginning, but his involvement and 
influence in the field of health care will continue. I ask my 
colleagues to join me today in wishing all the best to Yoshi and his 
wife May.

                          ____________________