On January 8, 2007 Janet Liang, MHA 1993, was named president of the Hawaii Region for Kaiser Foundation Hospitals/Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. Liang, who most recently served as executive vice president, Columbia Region at Seattle-based Group Health Cooperative (GHC), began her new role with Kaiser Permanente on March 5.

"I am extremely excited that Janet will be joining Kaiser Permanente's leadership team," said Bernard Tyson, senior vice president, health plan & hospital operations at Kaiser Permanente. "I, along with my colleagues in the Hawaii Region, look forward to her fresh energy, vision, successful track record, and her ability to work well with others while getting things done."

Liang, who joined Group Health in 1992, has held numerous leadership roles in hospital, ambulatory care and health plan operations. Most recently, she was the executive vice president for a division with 180,000 enrollees across Washington and Idaho, and the board chair for KPS Health Plans, Inc., a PPO subsidiary of Group Health. Additionally, she led numerous process improvement efforts across the organization, resulting in clinical advancements and a more competitive cost structure.

She is an active community leader, having served on the boards of the Washington State Hospital Association, Washington Health Foundation, Washington Technology Center, and Asian Counseling and Referral Services. She was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal in 2005 as one of the region's "40 under 40" leaders.

Liang graduated cum laude from Boston University with a bachelor's degree in political science. She earned her master's degree in health administration from the University of Washington.

"Joining Kaiser Permanente Hawaii brings a renewed professional calling for me," said Liang. "As the Hawaii Region's president, I'll have the responsibility of leading a vision and strategy that fulfills an agenda to thrive, as well as the opportunity to learn and influence national business practices."

Liang relocated to Hawaii with her husband Zack and their two young daughters.