Health Foundation Appoints New Members to Board of Directors

A wealth of experience in public health, community health improvement and family medicine

NEW BRITAIN (July 24, 2008) - The board of the Connecticut Health Foundation (CHF) selected three new members to serve a three-year term during its recent quarterly meeting. 

"This is an exciting time for the foundation and these new appointments will play a vital role in moving forward our work to support children's mental health, oral health and reducing racial and ethnic health disparities," says Board Chair Leo Canty.  "They all have shown real leadership in promoting quality and accessible health for the people of Connecticut." 

Laurel G. Holmes, MSW, director of community health, outreach and partnerships at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital (New London) -- Holmes, who served on the foundation's community advisory committee for six years, has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector. She began her career at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital as director of Community Partnerships, after having served as director of development for Summer Music, Inc., co-chair of the Connecticut Coalition for Choice and executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice America, Inc. (Hartford). 

"As a long-time member of the community advisory committee, I have come to appreciate the foundation's approach to funding health systems change and particularly its commitment to reducing racial and ethnic health disparities," says Holmes.  "To be able to participate on the board level allows me to have an even deeper role in this work."

Steven J. Huleatt, MPH, R.S., director of health for West Hartford-Bloomfield health district -- Huleatt brings 16 years of expertise in public health and seven years in housing.  Prior to serving as director of health, he was health services manager for the Town of West Hartford.  He also has served on the Connecticut Department of Public Health subcommittees and work groups, Capitol Regional Council of Governments, Connecticut Association of Directors of Health, and Southern Connecticut State University Department of Public Health Advisory Council.  

"I look forward to sharing with the foundation my knowledge of population-based public health principals and practice, and my experience working in Connecticut's public health system," says Huleatt. 

Tory Z. Westbrook, M.D., shareholder, family physician and site manager for ProHealth Physicians Inc. (East Hampton) and medical director at Water's Edge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Facility (Middletown) -- Dr. Westbrook received his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, and his bachelors degree from Howard University.  He completed his residency in general surgery at the Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, his postgraduate work at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and was chief resident at Middlesex Hospital Family Practice Residency Program.  He concurrently serves as the medical director at Water's Edge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Facility in Middletown, CT. 

"I'm excited to add my voice to those already working to stop this silent discrimination in health care, where individuals receive different levels of care for the same problems because of racial or ethnic differences," says Westbrook. "I am looking forward to working with an organization that recognizes the importance of the task of addressing health care disparities."
 
The Connecticut Health Foundation (CHF) - www.cthealth.org - is the state's largest independent, nonprofit grantmaking foundation dedicated to improving the health of the people of Connecticut through systemic change, program innovation and public health policy analysis. Since it was established in July 1999, CHF has awarded 445 grants in 44 cities and towns totaling $37.5 million in three priority areas -- children's mental health, reducing racial and ethnic health disparities, and oral health. 

For additional information, visit www.cthealth.org. or contact Maryland Grier, Communications Officer, at (860) 224-2200, ext. 32 or maryland@cthealth.org.