Nevada Public Health Foundation elects new President, Vice President to Board of Directors

The Nevada Public Health Foundation (NPHF) has elected its 2009 president, vice president and board members to the organization. Dr. Lawrence Sands, chief health officer for the Southern Nevada Health District, was elected as president, and Marena Works, director of Carson City Health and Human Services Department, was elected vice president.

Sands brings more than 20 years of experience in public health, preventive medicine and health planning and administration to the NPHF. Prior to becoming chief health officer, he previously served the Southern Nevada Health District as its founding director of the newly created Division of Community Health, and as assistant health officer.

Board certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine as a specialist in general preventive medicine and public health, Sands received his osteopathic medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, and his master’s of public health from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Marena Works holds vast experience in health and human services previously serving as the Community Health Program manager/clinical nurse specialist prior to her role as director of Carson City Health and Human Services Department. Works received her master’s of science in nursing (MSN) and master’s of public health (MPH), in addition to her bachelor’s degree in nursing (BDN) from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Elected NPHF board members include: Dr. Mary Anderson, district health officer for the Washoe County District Health Department; Dr. Bob Brunner, associate professor at University of Nevada, Reno; Larry Curley, executive director of the Indian Health Board; Craig Ganger, tax manager at Freeman & Williams; Louise Helton, executive director of the Communities in Schools program; Dr. Trudy Larson, professor at the University of Nevada, Reno; Larry Matheis, executive director of the Nevada State Medical Association; Dr. John Packham, director of Health Policy Research at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Center for Education and Health Services; Casey Strachan, vice president of creative services for KPS|3 Marketing;  Dr. Larry Weiss, director of the University of Nevada, Reno’s Sanford Center for Aging; and Rota Rosaschi, executive director of NPHF.