December 26, 2006
Contact: Bev Pfeifer-Harms
314.345.5500 office

MFH Announces Five Board Members, Elects Officers

St. Louis - Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) announces four new members to its Board of Directors, along with the re-election of a current member. At the same time, the Board also elected its 2007 officers. The 15-member Board of Directors provides oversight of all MFH activities and grant-making. Directors may serve a maximum of two three-year terms.

The four new board members are: Wayne Goode, of Pasadena Hills; Bruce Horwitz, PhD, of Columbia; Dr. Timothy E. Tyler, of St. Louis; and Corrine Walentik, MD, of University City. Re-elected to his second term on the board is Will R. Ross, MD, of St. Louis.

"Each of these directors brings a passion for community service and to help improve the health of all Missourians," said Dr. James R. Kimmey, president and CEO of MFH. "We look forward to having their knowledge and individual expertise help guide the Foundation through the years to come."

The 2007 officers for Board are: Chairperson, Gertrude "Trudi" Scott, RN, MSN, CPNP, of Springfield; Vice Chairperson, Steve M. Pu, DO, of Kennett; Secretary, Rory Ellinger, JD, of O'Fallon; Treasurer, J. David Auner, MD, of Ironton; and Member-at-Large, Will R. Ross, MD, of St. Louis.

Additional information on the recently elected board members:
Wayne Goode, of Pasadena Hills - During his 22 years in the Missouri House of Representatives and 21 years in the Missouri State Senate, Goode served as chair of several influential committees and was the author of many significant pieces of legislation involving the environment, education, finance and transportation. He currently chairs the Second State Capitol Commission, to preserve interest in and knowledge of the State Capitol. He also sits on other boards, including the Missouri Historical Society, Trailnet, Inc., Ozark Natural Resources Foundation, L-A-D and the US Bank St. Louis Business Council. He previously was a member of MFH's Community Advisory Committee. He has won numerous awards for his community service.

Bruce Horwitz, PhD, of Columbia - Currently the director of University Behavioral Health, Horwitz has 26 years in delivering and administering public mental health services, and improving access to those services. He previously served in several capacities at Heart of Missouri Mental Health Services and Mid-Missouri Mental Health Center. Horwitz has been a board member of National Alliance on Mental Illness-Columbia chapter, Missouri Telehealth Advisory Committee, and a member of several other local, state committees and task forces focusing on mental health. He is also a licensed clinical psychologist.

Will R. Ross, MD, of St. Louis - Ross is currently a clinical assistant professor of medicine in nephrology at Washington University, and associate dean and director of diversity programs at Washington University School of Medicine. For St. Louis Regional Medical Center, he previously served as vice president of medical affairs, ambulatory care medical director and president of Physicians Services Corporation. Ross has been a member of the MFH Board of Directors since 2004, and is on the board for St. Louis Regional Health Commission and Mid-America Transplant Services. He also is a founding member of the American Society of Minority Health and Transplant Professionals, and is a member of the Missouri Council on the Prevention and Management of Overweight and Obesity, the Missouri Kidney Program, and the American Society of Nephrology. In 2005, he was named as one of America's Top Physicians by Consumer Research Council's Guide to Physicians.

Dr. Timothy E. Tyler, of St. Louis - In his current role as senior pastor for Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church, Tyler has been involved in developing member programs that focus on HIV/AIDS education and minority health issues. He previously was senior pastor at Johnson Chapel AME, in Santa, Ana, CA, Christ Our Redeemer AME, in Kansas City, and Wilkes Chapel AME, in Atlanta, GA, and adjunct professor at Claremont School of Theology, in Claremont, CA. He is dean of instruction, 5th Episcopal District, AME Church, and is a board member of People's Health Center. He also is the founder and chairman of Wayman Community Development Corporation.

Corrine Walentik, MD, of University City - Currently Walentik serves as Physician Executive for managed care and public policy at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, and as a professor of pediatrics for Saint Louis University's Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. She previously was director of nurseries for St. Mary's Health Center, neonatology chairman at St. Louis Regional Medical Center, and director of the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Louis City Hospital. She has been a member of MFH's Community Advisory Committee since 2000, most recently serving as chair. Walentik also is a board member of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission, St. Louis Maternal, Child, Family Health Coalition, Nurses for Newborns, Childgarden Child Development Center, St. Louis Association for Retarded Citizens, Delta Gamma Foundation for Visually Impaired Children, and committee member for Saint Louis University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and SSM Healthcare MCO.

Established in 2000, MFH is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in the state. MFH is in its fourth year of grantmaking, having issued more than $195 million in grants and awards to date. It is dedicated to serving the uninsured and underserved in 84 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis. For more information about MFH, visit www.mffh.org.

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