
A member of the LBJ Tropical Medical Center Authority Board of Directors has disputed that the selection of Dr. Joseph Shumway as Chief Medical Officer of LBJ Hospital was unanimous.
Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Allen said that the board went ahead and selected the CMO while he was off island, so he didn’t take part in the vote. Therefore, he reasons that the statement by Vice Chair Dr. Jean Anderson, to KHJ News, that Dr Shumway was “unanimously” selected, is incorrect.
According to Dr. Anderson, there were three applicants for the CMO position, two of whom were local physicians.
She said, Dr. Shumway was deemed to be the most qualified.
Interviews were conducted on February 15.
Rep. Faimealelei said, the board should have waited for his return, for the interviews and selection.
When he spoke with KHJ News by phone this afternoon, he said that he was trying to get a meeting with Governor Lemanu to discuss the situation at the hospital. The Governor was supposed to return Thursday night.
The veteran lawmaker confirmed to KHJ News that two doctors have just resigned, Dr. Annie Fuavai and Dr. Reese Tuatoo.
Other than Dr. Anderson and Rep. Faimealelei, the other members of the Board of the Hospital Authority are Chairman Dr. Malouamaua Tuiolosega, Fonoti Jessop, and Afamasaga Talifa Talifa.
KHJ News has been informed of a move, by a group of local doctors, to petition the Governor to dismantle the present board, as they are unhappy with the appointment of Dr. Shumway as CMO and, also, that of Dr. Akapusi Ledua as Acting CEO.
KHJ News has sent questions to one of the members of the group, but he has yet to respond.
Senior nurses told KHJ News that they were also asked to join but they have opted not to. The nurses want to give Dr. Ledua and Dr. Shumway a chance to make improvements at the hospital.