2025-2027 Board Members

Philip Higgins Weimer is an experienced registered nurse with over 23 years of dedicated service in the healthcare field. Beginning his career in oncology, Philip transitioned into the emergency room, where he found his true calling in providing critical care in high-pressure environments. He is currently a Clinical Coordinator at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Campus in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he plays a pivotal role in educating and supporting nursing staff across several departments, including the Emergency Room, Clinical Decision Unit, and Ambulatory Treatment Center.

With a passion for leadership and nursing education, Philip is committed to enhancing the professional development of nurses in the emergency department and improving patient care. His responsibilities as Clinical Coordinator involve providing ongoing training, developing clinical protocols, and promoting a culture of excellence in patient care.

In addition to his work at Kaiser, Philip is continuously striving for professional growth. He is currently pursuing his third master’s degree through Kaiser, after already earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Healthcare and a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) in Informatics. His extensive education allows him to bring clinical and administrative expertise to the forefront, strengthening technology integration and data-driven decision-making in nursing practice.

As the President of the Hawaii State Council Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association, Philip is dedicated to advocating for emergency room nurses across the state, fostering professional development, and supporting efforts to improve healthcare delivery in emergency settings. His vision is to continue advancing the standards of care and ensure that nurses are empowered with the knowledge and resources they need to excel in their critical roles.

TJ Donayri is a dedicated emergency department and trauma nurse with over 22 years of experience in Level 1 Trauma Centers. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Hawaii Pacific University and a Master of Science in Health Science from George Washington University in 2024. As a certified Faculty member for ENPC, TNCC, and ATCN, TJ plays a vital role in RN trauma education by coordinating all American College of Surgeons courses at The Queen’s Medical Center Manamana. In addition to overseeing these courses, she developed a comprehensive trauma onboarding program to standardize trauma education for new nurses, ensuring a strong foundation in emergency and trauma care. TJ also works closely with frontline ED nurses, fostering collaboration and continuous learning.

Six years ago, TJ transitioned into her current role as the Clinical Coordinator for Injury Prevention, Outreach, and Education for the Trauma Service Department at The Queen’s Medical Center. A key aspect of her work involves tracking injury prevalence within the community to design and implement targeted injury prevention initiatives in high-risk areas. Leveraging her extensive clinical background, TJ has been instrumental in collaborating with community partners and national organizations, including KIPC, TCAA National Injury Prevention Committee, and Hawaii Traffic Commanders. Her passion for community engagement and reducing health disparities continues to drive her efforts in advancing injury prevention, trauma education, and outreach programs that create lasting positive change.

TJ is here today to emphasize the importance of collaboration and breaking down silos both within the hospital and in the broader community. She firmly believes that fostering strong partnerships enhances patient care, strengthens trauma systems, and improves overall outcomes. TJ takes great pride in the dedication, perseverance, and expertise of the frontline ED nurses, whose commitment to excellence has been instrumental in the success of trauma education initiatives at The Queen’s Medical Center (QMC). The ability to host and sustain these vital trauma courses is a direct result of the knowledge, support, and teamwork of the ED RNs, demonstrating the power of a united and well-trained emergency care team.

Ruthie Clearwater is a dedicated nursing leader, educator, and clinician with extensive experience in emergency, trauma, and critical care nursing. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing Education and is pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. With over two decades of experience in frontline patient care, education, and leadership, she brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for advancing nursing practice.

As Secretary/Treasurer of the Hawai‘i State Council of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), Ruthie plays a pivotal role in supporting the mission of advancing excellence in emergency nursing. She oversees financial operations, maintains records, and facilitates communication to ensure the council’s initiatives align with ENA’s goals of professional development, advocacy, and education.

Ruthie has held multiple leadership roles, including serving as a faculty member in nursing programs across Hawai’i, where she mentors future nurses and contributes to developing nursing education tools. She has played a key role in shaping national nursing standards as a test item writer for the NCLEX-RN, NCLEX-PN, and multiple specialty certification exams, including the Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) and Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) exams.

A seasoned emergency and critical care nurse, Ruthie has an extensive background in air and ground transport medicine, serving as a Flight Nurse, Base Manager, and Program Director for air medical transport services. Her expertise spans emergency department care, intensive care, trauma resuscitation, and home health nursing, demonstrating her versatility and dedication to high-quality patient care.

Ruthie is a highly credentialed nurse with multiple specialty certifications that reflect her expertise in emergency and critical care. She is a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN), and Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN). In addition to these credentials, she serves as a Course Director and Instructor for Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Her commitment to trauma education is further demonstrated by her role as an Instructor for the Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) and the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC).

As a lifetime member of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and past Board Director-at-Large of the Hawai’i American Nurses Association, Ruthie is a recognized advocate for nursing excellence. She also serves as an Ambassador for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), supporting professional development initiatives.

Her commitment to fostering a supportive environment for nurses, promoting evidence-based practice, and ensuring high-quality patient care continues to shape the future of nursing in Hawai’i and beyond.

Dr. Hobbs is a semi-retired clinician and educator with over 54 years of experience in many healthcare positions. Currently he is a Lecturer/Adjunct Faculty in the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, University of Hawai’i at Manoa. His area of focus is clinical simulations. He is a lifetime member of The Emergency Nurses Association, active at both a state and national level. 

Educationally, Dr. Hobbs holds associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing, a bachelor’s in biomedical science, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, and a Ph.D. in Nursing - focusing on Informatics in Nursing. His clinical specialty is in the areas of Emergency, Trauma, and Education in Nursing. Professionally, he has held staff/management/administrative positions in Chemical Dependency, emergency trauma, Investigative Assistant to the Medical Examiner, Flight/Air Medical Services, Insurance, and Undergraduate/Graduate nursing basic and continuing education, as well as EMT and Paramedic training. Dr. Hobbs is a National Faculty for the Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) and Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course (ENPC). He is a member/past Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Psi Chapter officer.

 In the community, Dr. Hobbs is a former Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader and a Brotherhood of the Order of the Arrow. He is a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. While born in Minnesota, he’s lived on island for 33 years with his R.N. wife and extensive family in Kahalu’u, Hawai’i. Their interests include traveling and raising their Samoyed dogs.

Dr. Maria Moreno-Chow is a native of Delano, California. She is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She graduated in 1992 from Hawai¢i Loa College Kaneohe Hawai¢i with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. In 1999 obtained a Bachelor’s in Premedical Studies from Hawai¢i Pacific University. In 2005, she attained a Master of Science degree in Nursing and in 2017, a Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree from the University of Hawai¢i at Mānoa School of Nursing. In 2023, she completed a Global Health and Global Health Engagement certificate from the Uniform Services University.

Dr. Moreno-Chow’s civilian employment includes Family Nurse Practitioner at Waimanalo Health Center and Adventist Health Castle (AHCS) Hawaii.  Staff nurse in the emergency department and an educator as Director/Instructor of Trauma Nursing Care Course, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support for AHCS and American Medical Response Hawaii. She is a board member of the Hawai¢i State Council of the Emergency Nurses Association and a member of the Coalition for Tobacco Free Hawai¢i Public Health Institute Policy Workgroup.

Moreno-Chow was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy Reserve Nurse Corps in 1994. Deployments include Family Nurse Practitioner to NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit Kandahar, Afghanistan. Chief Nurse Officer Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay Cuba Joint Medical Group. CAPT Moreno-Chow mobilized in support of Operation DoD Response COVID-19 Javits New York City and Navy Medicine Readiness Training Command Great Lakes Illinois. Her shipboard experience includes Pacific Partnership, USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), Continuing Promise USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), and Senior Medical Officer USNS Brunswick (TEPF-6). She currently serves as the Executive Officer for Navy Reserve Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Camp Lejeune.

Dr. Jackie Thomas is a dedicated emergency and critical care nursing professional with a distinguished career in flight nursing, emergency and critical care nursing, nursing education, and nursing leadership.

With over four decades of experience in emergency, critical care, and transport nursing, she has been instrumental in advancing clinical education, patient care, and leadership within high-acuity environments. She has contributed to developing and implementing emergency and trauma education programs for flight and emergency nurses, ensuring competency in critical care decision-making, resuscitation, and transport medicine. As a regular manuscript reviewer for Air Medical Journal, she evaluates and promotes research that enhances emergency nursing protocols, clinical guidelines, and best practices.

Through her current faculty roles, Dr. Thomas mentors doctoral, master’s, and prelicensure nursing students in leadership, emergency and trauma care, pediatrics, healthcare policy advocacy, and simulation.

Dr. Thomas holds a doctorate in nursing from Duquesne University, as well as a master’s in nursing and a bachelor’s in healthcare management. She is a Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) and Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), demonstrating her commitment to the nursing profession and to excellence in emergency and critical care. She is a co-editor and contributing author of Critical Care Transport Core Curriculum and the Critical Care Transport Certification Review Manual, resources that support emergency and transport nurses in advancing their certification, clinical expertise, and professional growth.

Ivan “Kapena” Clute is a dedicated emergency and trauma nurse with nearly two decades of experience in high-acuity trauma and critical emergency care. He began his nursing career in 2007 at Molokai General Hospital before transitioning to The Queen’s Medical Center in 2010, where he has remained a key member of the emergency department.

Kapena holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is board-certified in Trauma Nursing (TCRN). As part of the Core Trauma Nurses team, he manages severe trauma cases, ensuring critically injured patients receive expert and timely care. Beyond bedside nursing, Kapena is a passionate mentor, dedicated to guiding and educating graduate nurses as they adapt to the fast-paced and demanding field of emergency nursing.

In addition to his clinical expertise, Kapena is actively involved in professional nursing advocacy. He serves as a board member for the Hawaii State Council Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association and contributes to advancing emergency nursing by supporting the goals and objectives. His commitment to patient care, education, and professional development makes him a valued trauma and emergency nursing leader.

Dr. Erich Weldon is a passionate healthcare leader whose journey began in 1996 as a paramedic and evolved through hands-on nursing in high-pressure areas like medical oncology, neurotrauma, and emergency care. He earned his doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from USC and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Dr. Weldon has advanced into leadership roles, steering teams and programs that drive change and excellence in healthcare environments. Beyond his professional work, Erich has devoted time to volunteer initiatives—supporting community events and healthcare services—which reflect his ongoing commitment to making a positive impact.