Health Boards Staying Active

La Marque –At regularly scheduled meetings in September, the Galveston County United Board of Health and the 4C’s Governing Board elected new officers and welcomed new members.

The services provided by the Health District are overseen by the two boards which review and adopt health policies. 

The United Board of Health is a thirteen member policy-making board responsible for ten essential public health functions. The 4C’s Governing Board is a policy-making board responsible for the operations of federally funded community health clinics currently located in Texas City and Galveston.  The 4C’s clinics provide discounted healthcare services to Galveston County residents.

The United Board of Health (UBOH) voted to retain all current officers for the new term to end in April 2007.  John Zendt, representing the food service hospitality industry, will continue to serve as Chairperson; Dr. Ben Raimer, UTMB’s Vice Chair of Community Outreach, will continue as Vice Chair; and Ms. Mary Anne Holcomb, a Kemah City Council person, will continue serving as Secretary-Treasurer.  The board also reappointed its finance committee members – Ms. Holcomb and Scott Bentley, the CFO of Mainland Medical Center.

Donald Cleary, DVM was welcomed as a new member of the UBOH, representing veterinarians, replacing previous member Dr. Carlos Zamora.  Dr. Cleary brings many years of experience as a practicing veterinarian to the board.  Cleary has been an active member of the District’s Animal Services Advisory Committee which was created as the result of an interlocal agreement with participating local governments.

UBOH members review and set policy for the Health District.  Recent actions taken by the members include revisions to a policy order pertaining to establishing and permitting and enforcement of state laws and rules for food service establishments, retail food stores, mobile food units and roadside food vendors in Galveston County. The 4C’s Governing Board sets policy for the two 4C’s Clinics in Galveston County.  One clinic is located at 2000 Texas Avenue in the Texas City Community Family Center; and the other is located in Galveston’s Island Community Center at 4700 Broadway.

The 4C’s Governing Board held an election to fill the President’s position left vacant by the resignation of Brian Maxwell who is Galveston County’s Director of Special Projects.  Dr. Milton Howard, DDS, a community representative and member of the United Board of Health, was elected Chair of the 4C’s Governing Board.  Dr. Howard is a dentist with a private practice in La Marque who started his career in public health with the District in 1972.  Ms. Mary McCall, a consumer representative, will continue to serve as Vice Chair as well as Ms. Virginia Valentino as the Secretary-Treasurer.  Ms. Valentino is a consumer representative on the board and an educator at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Hitchcock. 

In addition to officer elections the Governing Board also welcomed two new members.  Ms. Elizabeth Kinard was appointed as a community representative.  Ms. Kinard is the Program Director at Catholic Charities in Galveston.  Dr. Barbara Thompson was appointed as an ex-officio (non-voting) member representing the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Department of Family Medicine and currently serves as Chair of the department.  

Dr. Howard appointed members to the Governing Boards finance committee with Harvey Bazaman a community representative and attorney for Galveston County, Virginia Valentino, and Elizabeth Kinard serving over the next year. 

During the past year 4C’s Governing Board members have been instrumental in overseeing a redesign of services provided in the clinics.  To enable further service improvements the board has approved initial plans for renovation of the 4C’s clinic located in Texas City.  

Dr. Mark Guidry, Galveston County Health Authority and Chief Executive Officer for the Health District says, “Board members give their time and support to Health District priorities and activities.  With the active involvement of both boards we have expanded our services in the 4C’s clinics and made many improvements to our traditional public health activities.” 

According to Dr. Guidry, “Galveston County is unique in that it has two boards which look out for the health of Galveston County by reviewing and adopting policies in the best interest of our community.”

The boards approve the District’s Strategic Health Plan and operating polices for district activities and programs.  More information can be found at www.gchd.org.

Reported in Guidry News Service 10/10/06

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
409-938-2211 or 409-392-0007
kkoopman@gchd.org