ASHEVILLE – Dogwood Health Trust (“Dogwood”), a recently formed North Carolina nonprofit, private non-operating foundation, announced on Thursday, Aug. 23 additions to its initial Board of Directors which includes former Principal Chief Michell Hicks, CPA. Dogwood Health Trust will become operational only if the contemplated transaction between HCA Healthcare and Mission Health is finalized.
BOARD: Former Principal Chief Michell Hicks has been appointed to serve on the Board of Director of the Dogwood Health Trust. (File photo)
“When selecting Board members, we’ve taken into account skill, competence, willingness, time and capacity to serve as well as geographic diversity,” said Janice Brumit, Founding Chair of the Dogwood Health Trust. “Most importantly, Board members must have a firm commitment to our bold mission to dramatically improve the health and wellbeing of all people and communities in Western North Carolina and understand they do not serve on behalf of any particular geography, but rather as a fiduciary steward to ensure that Dogwood’s mission is achieved for everyone in every community across this region.”
In addition to Brumit as its chair, Jack Cecil, president of Biltmore Farms, will serve as Dogwood Health Trust’s Vice Chair. The other selected Board members are:
- John R. Ball, MD, JD (Buncombe County)
- Sam Lupas (Jackson County)
- George Renfro (Buncombe County)
- Robert C. Roberts (Buncombe County)
- Wyatt S. Stevens, JD (Buncombe County)
- Martha Tyner (Yancey County)
Brumit, Cecil and the seven other initial Board members will select the additional directors as the Dogwood Health Trust develops its vision and strategic plan. An on-line process has been established to receive nominations. Currently, there are Board members from Buncombe County, Jackson County, Yancey County, and the Qualla Boundary, and Dogwood anticipates building an initial board of 12 to 15 members comprised of members residing throughout the region. Board members’ terms will be staggered to allow for ongoing change over time.
Dogwood’s goal is to partner with local non-profit organizations to analyze, understand and address core social determinants of health and well-being for the people and communities of western North Carolina, including helping local organizations build or expand their capacity to be effective collaborators within their own communities.
“What we have learned from numerous others with deep experience in this area is that the single most important thing for the Board to do at this stage is to be deliberate, focused, strategic and not driven by an artificial timeline,” Brumit said. “The activity associated with creating and eventually operating Dogwood Health Trust will involve engaging the community in a collaborative, multi-year process.”
– Dogwood Health Trust
