William I. Park, MD

Specializing in advanced laparoscopic surgery, including intestinal, anti-reflux, and endocrine procedures.

Dr. Park graduated from The College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York and trained at UCLA and Cedars-Sinai medical centers in Los Angeles. His professional experience includes head and neck surgery, advanced laparoscopic surgeries, thoracic surgery, and resident training at academic medical centers as senior teaching staff, and as chief of surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Group.  He was the senior attending surgeon at Bassett-Columbia University teaching hospital in Cooperstown, N.Y. until he relocated to North Hawaii Community Hospital in 2005.

Dr. Park is also an inventor who conceptualized the transoral incisionless antireflux procedure (TIF) in 1999. This procedure is currently being introduced to the Big Island community as a noninvasive alternative to laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication for selected patients with severe heartburn symptoms. He is also the founder of the popular prescription drug price comparison website, DestinationRx.com, that has helped patients find better prices for their medications.

Since arriving at Waimea in 2005, Dr. Park has been engaged in clinical practice of surgery as well as spearheading an effort to upgrade the medical information system. He has promoted adoption of the latest surgical techniques and technology and the electronic medical record system in the North Hawaii Medical Group and the community of Waimea. He is currently engaged in spearheading the effort to develop community-wide health information exchange.

Howard Wong, MD

Dr. Wong was born and raised in Honolulu, graduated from Punahou School and from the University of California, Berkeley, with an A.B. in Biochemistry. Dr. Wong worked for 3 years at The Queen’s Medical Center before entering medical school.  He graduated from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed his surgical training at the University of Hawaii and the University of Nevada, where he stayed for 2 years on faculty in the Department of Surgery, training and supervising residents. He returned to Hawaii in 2001 and opened a general surgery private practice in Kamuela. 

In January of 2007, Dr. Wong joined the North Hawaii Community Hospital Specialty Clinic, where he continues his practice as a member of the North Hawaii Medical Group. Dr. Wong’s professional experience encompasses the full spectrum of general surgery, including benign and malignant diseases of the abdomen, gastrointestinal tract, breast, skin and soft tissue, and endocrine systems (thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands), as well as hernia repairs, wound care and trauma management. Dr. Wong has particular interest and expertise in laparoscopic/minimally invasive surgeries and continues to work with Dr. William Park to bring new technologies and innovative procedures to Big Island communities.

Dr. Wong was Chief of the Department of Surgery from 2003 through 2011 and is currently Vice Chief of Staff and Medical Director of Kohala Home Health Care.  He is also spearheading NHCH’s Trauma Program as Medical Director and making great strides toward attaining Level III Certification.