Dear members of the HealthierHere community,  

This month, we have some bittersweet but exciting transitions among HealthierHere’s Governing Board. First, we will be saying a grateful goodbye to ten board members who are completing the terms of their seats. Their names and details about their board involvement, as well as reflections on their time with HealthierHere are shared below. We are also happy to say hello to a new cohort of incoming board members.

On behalf of all of HealthierHere, I deeply thank each of our departing board members for your dedicated service in building HealthierHere into what it is today. You have each been incredible educators, advocates, and collaborators in the challenging but critical work of transforming King County’s health and social systems to better and more equitably serve the people of our region. The collective impact of your leadership will be felt in our organization, network, and community for many years to come. I look forward to continuing to build our relationships in new ways and seeing all that you will continue to do!
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Our Outgoing Board Members:
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Yusuf Bashir, Falis Community Services
Delegate: Abdulahi Osman
Seat: Community & Consumer
Committee: Community and Consumer Voice (CCV)
Board member since 2020

Roi-Martin Brown, WA Community Action Network
Seat: Community & Consumer
Committee: CCV, Finance Committee, & CEO Hiring Committee
Board member since 2017

‍Kristin Conn, Kaiser Permanente Medical Group
Delegate: Raj Sundar  
Seat: Family Practice Provider
Board member since 2017

Steve Daschle, Southwest Youth & Family Services
Seat: CBOs & Social Determinants of Health
Committee: Executive Committee, Finance Committee, CEO Hiring Committee  
Board member since 2017

Jeff Foti, Seattle Children’s Hospital
Seat: Hospital/Health Systems
Board member since 2020

Elizabeth Tail, Cowlitz Indian Tribe Health & Human Services
Seat: Cowlitz Tribe
Committee: Executive Committee, CEO Hiring Committee, & Indigenous Nations Committee (INC)
Board member since 2021

Esther Lucero, Seattle Indian Health Board
Delegate: Christina Diego
Committee: INC
Seat: Urban Indian Health Board
Board member since 2017

Tricia Madden, Harborview Medical Center
Seat: Hospital/Health Systems
Board member since 2020

Daniel Malone, Downtown Emergency Service Center
Seat: Behavioral Health Providers
Board member since 2017

Nwando Anyaoku, Swedish Medical Center
Delegate: Jesus Elizalde- Lindgren & Kevin Wang
Seat: Hospital/Health Systems
Board member since 2021

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Reflections from Our Outgoing Board Members

We asked our departing board members to share some reflections on their time with HealthierHere’s Governing Board. Read their comments below.

What did you most appreciate about being on HealthierHere’s board?  

• As I’ve said a million times before, the diversity of opinion and representation has made this one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. The commitment of so many for so long to this effort and the seemingly constant delicate balance of vision and what is possible has resulted in some amazing work. We push the limits of what is possible.
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• This board and staff are committed to actually implementing equitable practices that will inform other processes and decision-making bodies. Community being the center of all decisions is a hallmark of this organization and I hope it will be for years and decades to come!
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• The commitment to equity across sectors, population cohorts and geography.
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• The investment in data and data systems enables primary care and behavioral health providers to provide much more informed care more efficiently.
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• The acknowledgement of the social determinants of health and the recognition of their role in service provision and health outcomes.  
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• The quality of the interactions among Board members.
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• HealthierHere’s board has been an open platform where you can freely share your ideas, contribute what you have to say, and be actively involved. Our organizations have grown together, and I’m blessed to have been a part of the journey.
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• I’m so appreciative of everything I’ve learned from this board over the last several years. In particular, it’s how HealthierHere has authentically centered community in the work. It’s one thing to talk about centering community, but I’ve learned so much in this space about how you make that happen, how you’re intentional and open and show up where it matters. Being nimble, fostering really productive dialogue, and being reliable.  
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• The work that we’ve done together to build this diverse and incredibly representative board is a model not just for health care efforts and the work of the ACH’s, I think it’s a model for cross-sector collaboration that is critical if we’re ever to build a system that truly meets the needs of its people. I think we’re doing groundbreaking work and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.

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Words of wisdom or advice you have for the board going forward?  

• Stay true to that vision of multi-sector communication with community at its core.  
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• Take the time to build relationships between board, staff and community.  
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• Continue the work of building bridges between primary care and the social determinants of health both in terms of treatment and funding.
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• I’ve reflected on the full day session where we learned a lot about health and health care for American Indians. That just opened my eyes. I could site a number of those kind of sessions that have helped me. I am glad to know there will be intentional orientation and education for incoming board members moving forward.
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• The scientist and physician in me says the data is so important, so keep tethering the stories and the quantitative data together to really make the case for the incredible work that’s being done at HealthierHere.

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Introducing Our New Governing Board Members

These fond farewells are also followed by hellos: we are thrilled to welcome a new cohort of governing board members to HealthierHere!

Over the past several months, we have been searching for new governing board members who bring fresh perspectives to help us continue to serve and center our community effectively. We are delighted to introduce our new governing board members to you.

Claudia D’Allegri, Sea Mar Community Health Centers
Seat: Behavioral Health Provider

‍Swee May Cripe, Best Starts for Kids
Seat: Community and Consumer Voice  

‍Ryan Gilbert, Seattle Indian Health Board
Seat: Urban Indian Health Board

‍Junson Hu, Interim Community Development Association
Seat: Community and Consumer Voice  

‍Laurent Rotival, Cambia Health Solutions
Seat: Business/ Tech/ Communications

‍Ixtlixochitl Salinas-White-Hawk, Ancestral Sisterhood
Seat: Indigenous Nations Committee  

‍Jennifer Vickers, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Seat: Philanthropy

‍Jolene Williams, Snoqualmie Tribal Council
Seat: Tribal

‍Denise Yu, Kaiser Permanente WA
Seat: Family Practice Provider

‍Zakeyo Ngoma, Association of Zambians in Seattle WA (AZISWA)
Seat: Community and Consumer Voice Committee

As we move forward, we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. We remain committed to our mission of eliminating health disparities and improving the health and well-being of all people in King County through innovative, cross-sector collaborations. It is only together that we can make meaningful, sustainable changes in the lives of the people we serve.

Thank you for your continued support of HealthierHere.

Sincerely,  

Thuy Hua-Ly

Interim CEO, HealthierHere

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