FOR RELEASE April 25, 2005
Contact: Heather McClurg
Director of Communications
314.345.5500 office

Foundation Promotes Four, Hires Two Policy Staff

St. Louis, April 25 - The Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH), the largest health foundation in the state, announces four staff promotions and two new employees. The promotions are:

POLICY ANALYST II
M. Ryan Barker, MSW
Mr. Barker came to the Foundation in September 2002 after interning with The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. There he gained valuable experience in program evaluation, participated in site visits, and researched policy papers. Prior to this position, he worked with runaway and street youth at the Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center in Cincinnati, and in Portland, Oregon as a Harm Reduction Worker at Outside In. He has a great deal of volunteer experience, working with an orphanage, a children's hospital and a youth group in the Cincinnati area. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Xavier University and holds a MSW from the University of Cincinnati.

PROGRAM OFFICER
Matthew Kuhlenbeck, MHA
Mr. Kuhlenbeck joined the Foundation in September 2002 as a program associate. Prior to coming to the Foundation, he served as Graduate Coordinator for St. Louis University's Department of Housing and Residence Life. He also interned with KASS-MSO, a management services organization for primary care physicians. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Medical Group Management Association. Mr. Kuhlenbeck obtained his Masters of Health Administration from Saint Louis University.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
Toni McTyer, BA
Ms. McTyer has been the Senior Administrative Assistant since joining the Foundation in March 2002. Her new position reflects her expanded responsibilities with the Foundation's Board of Directors and committee support. As Executive Assistant to the President, she serves as Assistant Secretary for MFH and as Open Meetings Administrator, coordinating and assuring compliance with the requirements of RSMo 610 (Sunshine Law). Her experience prior to joining MFH included administrative experience in both governmental and non-profit settings in Washington DC and St. Louis.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR HEALTH POLICY
Leslie Reed
Ms. Reed has served as the Foundation's Director of Policy Studies for the past two years. She has provided strong and creative leadership to the development of the Foundation's policy area and has established an effective Health Policy Committee for MFH. She has played a key role in bringing together policy and advocacy groups in Missouri and coordinating their efforts in support of improved services for the uninsured and underinsured in the state. Ms. Reed works in collaboration with foundations across the country to exchange ideas and link health policy efforts on issues of common concern, such as Medicaid funding. She joined MFH in April, 2002, as its first Senior Program Officer and became Director of Policy Studies in December, 2002. Prior to joining MFH, she served in program and policy positions with several foundations in Hawaii and California.

The new employees are:

POLICY ANALYST
Carlos Benitez
Mr. Benitez joined the Foundation after serving as Data and Communications Coordinator for the Center for Social Development/Global Service Institute at Washington University in St. Louis. He has a Master's of Social Work Degree from George Warren Brown School of Social Work with a concentration on social and economic development and research.

POLICY ASSOCIATE
Moira Cahan
Before joining the Foundation, Ms. Cahan was a program associate and consultant with Futures Group, an organization specializing in the design and implementation of public health and social programs for developing countries. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Davidson College in North Carolina and is currently completing her Master's of Public Health degree.

Established in January of 2000 through the for-profit conversion of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, MFH is the largest health care foundation in the state and the second largest health conversion foundation in the country. Its mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves. Current assets stand at approximately $1.1 billion.

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