Attorney General's News Release

November 29, 2000

Nixon announces 15 directors of Missouri Foundation for Health

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today announced the selection of the 15 members of the board of directors of the Missouri Foundation for Health, the state's largest non-profit foundation, created by an out-of-court settlement between the state and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri. The board members were chosen from a panel of 35 nominees who were selected by community leaders representing more than 90 public interest groups.

The Missouri Foundation for Health is the result of a challenge by the state to a 1994 reorganization of Blue Cross which moved nonprofit assets into RightChoice, a for-profit insurance company. The new foundation will fund healthcare needs in the 85 counties and the city of St. Louis served by the former Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri.

The foundation will be funded with $12.78 million in cash from Blue Cross and the 15 million shares of RightChoice stock held by Blue Cross. The stock shares are valued today at close to $400 million.

"This new foundation provides a historic opportunity to help Missourians in need of health care," Nixon said. "I am confident that the new board provides the knowledge and skill needed to effectively manage the assets in the best interest of Missourians in need, and I appreciate their willingness to serve."

Board of Directors for the Missouri Foundation for Health

J. (John) David Auner, M.D.

Ironton. Dr. Auner began his private practice in Ironton in 1982. He has served as director of the William Edgar Foundation, legislative chairman for the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians, and board member of the MacAlester Society at the University of Missouri School of Health.

John A. Bogert, D.D.S., M.S.D.

Springfield. Dr. Bogert was in the active practice of pediatric dentistry from 1960 until 1986 in Kansas City. From 1986 to 1999, he was the executive director of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in Chicago. He retired at the rank of captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve and has served on several national boards and task forces relating to public health issues.

Mary C. "Mikki" Brewster

St. Louis. Ms. Brewster is a former licensed practical nurse who received an MSW from Washington University and has served as an administrator with the St. Louis Public Schools. She was an elected member of the board of the St. Louis Community College district. She is a breast cancer survivor who chairs the St. Louis Breast-Cervical Cancer Partnership and works on breast cancer awareness in the minority community.

Melvin F. Brown

St. Louis. Mr. Brown has a law degree from Washington University, serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Washington University, and is the retired president and CEO of Deutsche Financial Services (formerly ITT Financial Corporation). He is a trustee of the Whitaker Charitable Foundation and is a past president of the Gateway Chapter of the Leukemia Society.

Erma Cunningham

Jefferson City. Ms. Cunningham is an active member of AARP. She helped organize the Hospice of Jefferson City and served on its board of directors for 10 years, including chairing the board for two years.

Rory Ellinger

University City. Mr. Ellinger is an attorney in O'Fallon who has been actively involved in the Northeast Missouri Legal Aid. He has experience in philanthropic activities and school board leadership.

Martha Gragg, R.N., MSN, CPHQ

Milan. Ms. Gragg is the CEO of Sullivan County Memorial Hospital and is an emergency room nurse. She has an MS in Nursing and previously worked for the Kirksville Osteopathic Medical Center, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and the Health Care Financing Administration.

Coleen Kivlahan, M.D.

Columbia. Dr. Kivlahan is a physician employed by the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has had extensive experience in delivering health care to the poor, and started and arranged funding for a public health clinic in Columbia. In addition she has provided health service in Sierra Leone and in Guatemala. From February 1993 until January 1997, she was the director of the Department of Health for Missouri.

James Knight, M.D.

St. Louis. Dr. Knight has operated his private medical practice in north St. Louis since 1981 after obtaining his medical degree from the St. Louis University School of Medicine. He serves on the boards of several hospitals, including Central Medical Center, Compton Heights Hospital and is a past member of the Tenet Hospital Board. Dr. Knight currently serves on the Advisory Council for ConnectCare.

F. William McCalpin

St. Louis. Mr. McCalpin is a Harvard Law School graduate and has served on many boards of for profit and not-for-profit institutions, and held top positions in various bar associations. He was recently named to the new Missouri Statewide Legal Services Commission.

Tracy M. Reed, DPM

Florissant. Dr. Reed recently opened her private podiatry practice in north St. Louis but has unique perspective on healthcare delivery. As a healthcare consumer, Dr. Reed has experienced the problems of getting affordable healthcare coverage for persons with pre-existing conditions. Dr. Reed has sickle cell anemia, and was rejected for healthcare coverage many times or had to pay insurance premiums substantially above normal rates. She is passionate about affordable coverage for the disadvantaged and uninsured, and has dedicated her life to eradicating gaps in coverage for poor individuals.

Rev. B.T. Rice, Jr.

St. Louis. Rev Rice is senior pastor of New Horizon Seventh Day Christian Church and has served on the boards of a number of commuity groups, including YMCA Monsanto Branch and City of St. Louis Health Issues Board. He is the past president of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition and a member of the St. Louis Public School Community Advisory Board and St. Louis 2004.

Don Rudd

St. Louis. Mr. Rudd is president of Service Employees International Union, Local 50 and has held that position since 1995. He has served on numerous boards, including the Greater St. Louis Pension Fund, Contract Cleaners Pension Fund, and the Local 50 Health and Welfare Fund.

Alberta C. Slavin

Clayton. Ms. Slavin is former chair of the Missouri Public Service Commission, and consumer editor/reporter for KMOV-TV in St. Louis. She is a community volunteer and has served on several not-for-profit boards.

Karl Eugene Wilson

Warrenton. Dr. Wilson is a psychologist who serves as president and CEO of Crider Center for Mental Health in Warrenton. He has extensive experience with respect to the provision of mental health services in rural counties as well as mental health and public health education programs. He serves on the board of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818