Dr. Joseph Shumway was unanimously selected by the Board of Directors of the LBJ Tropical Medical Center Authority to be the new Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Shumway has been Acting CMO since Dr. Akapusi Ledua, who held the position in an acting capacity was picked by the Board to be Acting CEO last month, when former CEO Moefaauo William Emmsley was forced to resign.
Vice Chair of the Board, Dr. Jean Anderson, said—in response to KHJ News questions—that there were 3 applicants for the CMO position and Dr. Shumway was found to be the most qualified and unanimously selected by the LBJ Board to be the CMO, for the next 3 years and 6 months.
She explained Dr. Shumway “was identified as a medical professional that could help LBJ in multiple capacities, as a Board certified OBGYN physician, consultant and
potential CMO (if no local applicants were found to be equally qualified).”
Dr. Anderson communicated the board’s decision to the Governor’s Office to “ensure transparency.”
She explained in correspondence that “Dr. Shumway was asked to come to American Samoa and assist the Board and LBJ Executive Team on improvements both at the administrative and medical level. If Dr. Shumway was not chosen to be LBJ CMO, the Board and LBJ Executive Team would have utilized Dr. Shumway as a physician and consultant given his physician board credentials and experience starting up and managing hospitals, not only in the US, but globally.”
The vice chair outlined a succession plan by the board when Dr. Shumway leaves.
She said, “Although there were no equally qualified local applicants at this time, the Board and LBJ Executive Team have established a succession plan to train and develop a local Samoan physician who can serve as CMO in the next 3 years.”
In this regard, the Board and LBJ Executive Team intends to work with the LBJ Medical Executive Committee and local physicians to identify the most qualified local
physician who can undergo mentoring, training and development in healthcare leadership and executive management.
The plan would have a local physician deemed to be the most suitable candidate understudy Dr. Shumway.
The Board hopes that before the end of Dr. Shumway’s contract, the local physician—who demonstrates commitment and fulfillment of training and professional development—can step up and serve as Acting CMO, then eventually take over as CMO.
