To ensure the health and safety of all Kansans, Governor Parkinson has appointed Brenda Sharpe to the State Board of Healing Arts. Sharpe, Overland Park, is currently the president and chief executive officer of the REACH Healthcare Foundation, a nonprofit healt hcare conversion foundation that aims to create access to quality health care for the poor and underserved.
“Brenda has been relentlessly protecting Kansans’ right to quality health care at REACH and in the community for many years,” said Parkinson. “Her leadership and experience in the medical industry will make her a great addition to the Board of Healing Arts.”
As the first CEO of the REACH Healthcare Foundation, Sharpe built the public charity into a fully operational and accountable foundation.
She was recognized for her charitable efforts in 2007 when she was named the Nonprofit Professional of the Year by the Council on Philanthropy, and she currently serves on numerous boards and committees for multiple philanthropic organizations in the Kansas City area.
Sharpe received her bachelor’s in human development and family studies as well as her master’s in student counseling and personnel services from Kansas State University.
The State Board of Healing Arts is charged with regulating health care professions and ensuring that Kansas health care professionals meet and maintain certain qualifications. Its purpose is to protect the public from incompetent practice, unprofessional conduct and other proscribed behavior by individuals who have been credentialed to practice in Kansas.
Governor Parkinson also appointed and reappointed a number of Kansans to various boards and commissions.
Physician Assistant Council
The governor reappointed Sheri Floyd, Lindsborg, to the Physician Assistant Council. The council advises the State Healing Arts Board on issues involving physician assistants.
State Board of Mortuary Arts
Governor Parkinson has appointed Diane Minear to the State Board of Mortuary Arts. Minear, Tonganoxie, has served state government for the past six years; currently as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Legal Counsel.
She was also the litigation counsel on transportation, gas and electric actions for the Kansas Corporation Commission as well as a publication assistant at the Office the Revisor of Statutes. Minear attained her juris doctorate from the University of Kansas and was recently appointed to the Kansas Legal Services Board of Directors.
The State Board of Mortuary Arts works to ensure that licensees perform their services in the funeral profession in a manner providing maximum protection of the health, safety and welfare for the people of Kansas. In addition, the board informs the public of the laws and options available when dealing with the funeral profession.
State Building Advisory Commission
The governor appointed Dwight Zwiener to the State Building Advisory Commission. Zwiener, Auburn, was with Martin Tractor Company, Inc. in Topeka, serving most recently as the vice president of strategic planning/corporate interaction. He has been a member of the Kansas Contractors Association, serving on numerous committees, and was a past president of the Planning and Leadership Network of Topeka. Zwiener holds a bachelor’s in industrial technology, building design and construction from Pittsburg State University.
The State Building Advisory Commission is part of the Department of Administration and is tasked with reporting and making recommendations on capital improvement budget estimates. The commission also nominates and rates firms that provide capital improvement projects.
TOPEKA —
