Missouri Foundation for Health is proud to introduce the four new members of its Community Advisory Council (CAC), Judy Baker, Joel Ferber, Sosunmolu Shoyinka and Kimberly Stemley. Each of these newcomers will offer their unique expertise and skillsets to this important group, ultimately giving the Foundation greater insight into the most pressing health issues facing Missouri.
The 13-member CAC serves as a liaison between Missouri’s communities and the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Council members help ensure the Foundation’s Board has a deeper understanding of how its grants are impacting communities and what health concerns need to be addressed. The CAC also oversees the recruitment of highly qualified candidates interested in serving on the Board of Directors.
Judy Baker, of Columbia, Missouri, is an experienced health care executive, policymaker, adjunct professor and health economist, as well as a former lawmaker. Currently she serves as a senior fellow for the Governing Institute, lending her knowledge in health and human services, health information technology and Pay for Success policy initiatives. While a state lawmaker from 2005-2009, she was ranking member of the budget, health care and education committees in the Missouri General Assembly. From 2009-2012, she served as the regional director, Region 7, for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of the Secretary.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve my community as an appointee to this Council and as a team member with all of the passionate people at the Foundation,” said Baker. “I hope to continue the excellence in health care leadership that has always been characteristic of the Foundation.”
Joel Ferber, from St. Louis, currently acts as the director of advocacy at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. Since 1985 he has fostered the organization’s mission of “providing high-quality legal assistance and equal access to justice” for low-income Missourians. Ferber has conducted extensive policy analysis and advocacy regarding public benefits, Medicaid, managed care, the Food Stamp Program and low-income health care issues. He has litigated Medicaid and other public benefits cases in the United States District Courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Dr. Sosunmolu Shoyinka is a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist. Shoyinka currently serves as medical director for behavioral health with Cenpatico Behavioral Health with Sunflower State, Home State, Buckeye and managed Health Services Health Plan, where he oversees planning and delivery of mental health services. He also holds a faculty appointment at the University of Missouri – Columbia and maintains an active clinical practice.
Shoyinka shared his excitement about joining the Council, stating that “Missouri Foundation for Health fills a critical niche in advancing the wellbeing of all Missourians.” He explained that the Foundation existed uniquely “at the intersection of health care funding, research and policy.”
Kimberly Stemley works as the chief financial officer of Rx Outreach in St. Louis and is responsible for ensuring that medications are affordable for people in need by assessing the underinsured and uninsured patient population. She is passionate about health advocacy, awareness and legislation surrounding Medicaid expansion and is committed to addressing the health needs of underserved communities.
K. Brooks Miller, Jr. and Claudia Preuschoff were both reelected for another three-year term, with Miller chosen to serve as chair. Deborah Kiel has taken the role of vice-chair.
The CAC began its new session on July 1, 2015.
