HONOLULU – The Queen’s Health Systems today announced that Darlena Chadwick, MBA, MSN, FACHE, will become the next Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Queen’s Medical Center – West O‘ahu, effective January 23, 2022. Chadwick will succeed Susan Murray who will be retiring in March 2022.
In this new role, Chadwick will serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team for Queen’s and as the senior executive overseeing the operations of QMC-West O‘ahu. Because West O‘ahu has the largest Native Hawaiian community in the state, a key aspect of Chadwick’s role will be to work in tandem with the Queen’s Native Hawaiian Health Program as well as with other stakeholder organizations to develop programs and services to improve the health and well being of Native Hawaiians.
“I’m honored and humbled to have been selected for this position,” Chadwick said. “I look forward to working with the caregivers at QMC-West O‘ahu to deliver the highest quality and most accessible health care as we strive to help improve the health and wellbeing of Native Hawaiians and all our community members within the West O‘ahu region.”
A member of the Queen’s ‘ohana since 2005, Chadwick currently serves as Vice President of Patient Care for The Queen’s Health Systems. She began her tenure as The Queen’s Medical Center’s Vice President of Patient Care for Oncology, Women’s Health and Professional Services with Neuroscience and Pharmacy coming under her purview soon after. While in that position, Chadwick also served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Hawai‘i Cancer Consortium for the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center.
Before joining Queen’s, Chadwick held administrative positions at Hawai‘i Pacific Health and worked in both clinical and administrative capacities at Kuakini Health System. Chadwick received her Master of Business Administration in Healthcare from California Coastal University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina, and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. Prior to moving to Hawai‘i, Chadwick spent 11½ years on active duty in the Air Force and nine years in the Air Force Reserves.
An active community leader, Chadwick currently serves as a board member for St. Andrew’s Schools (Board Chair), Hawai‘i Homeless Healthcare Hui (H4), Queen’s Development Corporation, Hamamatsu/Queen’s Medical Center Management Committee, and the American College of Healthcare Executives (Past President). Previously, she served on the boards of the Hawai‘i Children’s Cancer Foundation (remaining as Advisory Director), the Kumulani Association (Treasurer), Legacy of Life – Hawai‘i, and Susan G. Komen (past Treasurer and remaining as Advisory Director). Chadwick also holds memberships in numerous professional organizations including the Hawai‘i Society of Clinical Oncology, Association of Cancer Executives, State of Hawai‘i Cancer Steering Committee, and the Association of Nursing Leaders to name only a few.
“We are grateful for Darlena’s leadership and dedication over many years and believe she is exactly the right person to lead QMC – West O‘ahu into the next generation,” said Jason Chang, Executive Vice President and COO of The Queen’s Health Systems and President of The Queen’s Medical Center. “And to ensure a seamless transition for our staff and patients, Darlena and Susan will work together closely beginning in late January 2022.”
“We are delighted that Darlena will take the helm of our health care operations in West O‘ahu,” said Jill Hoggard Green, PhD, RN, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Queen’s Health Systems. “We look forward to what we know will be a most successful transition of leadership and the continuation of high-quality health care delivery in this growing area of our state.”