MO HealthNet Oversight Committee Members
Timothy D. McBride, Chair
Timothy D. McBride, Ph.D., is currently a Professor in the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to joining the Brown School in August 2008, he spent five years in the Department of Health Management and Policy and served as Division Head of Health Policy at the School of Public Health, Saint Louis University. Dr. McBride also spent 12 years at the University of Missouri-St. Louis as an Associate Professor in the Departments of Economics and Public Policy and spent four years at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. from 1987-1991. Dr. McBride, who received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin, focuses his research in the areas of health economics, health policy, and aging. In particular, most of his research has focused on health reform, the uninsured and insurance markets, Medicare and Medicaid policy, rural health, and long-term care. McBride is co-author of a book, several book chapters, and several dozen articles in these subject areas. McBride is currently serving as a member on the nationally-recognized Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Rural Health Panel, which provides advice and briefings on rural health issues to the U.S. Congress and other policymakers. Dr. McBride received the "Researcher of the Year" award from the National Rural Health Association in 2012, and the "Distinguished Faculty" award from the Brown School in 2014. Dr. McBride is a member of several national committees and Boards, including the Methods Council for Academy Health.
Slot: One of Two Patient Advocates.
Margaret R. Benz, Co-Chair
Margaret R. Benz, APRN, ANP-BC. Saint Louis, is currently an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Saint Louis University. Two half days a week she works as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in the Saint Louis Housing Authority's Parkview Clinic. Previously she has been on staff at Myrtle Hilliard Davis St. Louis Comprehensive Health Center and the St. Patrick Center Heal Clinic. She received her BSN (1978), MSN (R) (1982), and Post-Masters Certificate as an Adult Nurse Practitioner (1995) all from Saint Louis University. She has been board certified by American Nurses Credentialing Center since 1996 as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and received her Documents of Recognition for the Missouri Board of Nursing. Mrs. Benz has served on the Board of Directors and Trustees of the St. Patrick Center. She chaired the St. Patrick Program Committee from 2002 – 2010 overseeing employment, housing and mental health programs including prisoner release programs and Veteran service related programs. She is a active member of several State and National nursing organizations, including Sigma Theta Tau International honor Society of Nursing, American Nurses Association, Missouri Nurses Association, Saint Louis Nurses in Advanced Practice, American College of Nurse Practitioners American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, Chairing the Distance Learning Special Interest Group. Margaret has received awards for Teaching Excellence at Saint Louis University and a Volunteerism award from President Obama for her community service.
Slot: Non-Physician Health Care Professional – Nurse
Representative Keith J. Frederick
Representative Keith J. Frederick represents Phelps County (District 149) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2010. In addition to his legislative duties, Rep. Frederick is a practicing orthopedic surgeon. He also has been employed as a registered pharmacist. He also owns a small business, Frederick Hardwoods & Flooring, located in Tunas, Missouri. Representative Frederick attends the Methodist Church in Rolla. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Missouri State Orthopedic Association and the American Osteopathic Association. He has served on numerous medical boards and committees. He is the current chairman in the Department of Surgery at Phelps County Regional Medical Center. Representative Frederick is a 1971 graduate of Cleveland High School. He received B.S. from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1976 and his D.O. from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1981. He also attended the University of Missouri – Columbia for graduate studies. Born in St. Louis, Representative Frederick currently resides in Rolla with his wife, Marylin. They have three children and one grandson.
Slot: Member-House of Representatives, Appointed by the House Speaker.
Steve Corsi
Steve Corsi was commissioned as Acting Director of the Department of Social Services on June 19, 2017. Corsi entered state government in March 2011, serving as the Director of the Wyoming Department of Family Services until May 2017. He previously held the positions of Chief Executive Officer of High Country Behavioral Health in Wyoming and Clinical Director and Principal of multiple behavioral health corporations. Corsi is currently an officer in the Army National Guard and was active duty enlisted Air Force for over nine years.
Brian holds BSBA and MA degrees in economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Slot: DSS Representative (ex officio member).
Gerard Grimaldi
Gerard Grimaldi, Kansas City, is Vice President of Health Policy & Government Relations for Truman Medical Centers. In this capacity, Grimaldi is responsible for government relations activities and strategies at the federal, state, and local level; federal grants and managed care.
Grimaldi currently services on the MO HealthNet Oversight Committee. He is an active leader in local, state, and national hospital and health care organizations and is a past chair of the Government Relations Committee of the National Association of Public Hospitals. In 2005, Grimaldi was a key strategist in the successful campaign for Kansas City, Missouri funding for healthcare and emergency services and its 2013 renewal which achieved a 76 percent YES vote.
His civic and community leadership includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Council. Grimaldi is a past chair of the Jackson County Community Mental Health Levy Board of Trustees and the Bannister Federal Complex Community Advisory Panel.
Previously, Grimaldi was Kaiser Permanente's Vice President of Strategy and Human Resources in the Kansas City market. Early in his career, Grimaldi was a U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives staffer; in that capacity, he played a key role in numerous economic developments, healthcare, and other projects in Western Missouri. A Kansas City native, Grimaldi graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Journalism. Grimaldi and his wife, Julie, are the proud parents of four children.
Slot: State Hospital Association Representative.
Jennifer Tidball
Jennifer Tidball currently serves as the Acting Director of the Department of Social Services (DSS). The Department, an umbrella agency consisting of the Children’s Division, the Family Support Division, the MO HealthNet Division, and the Division of Youth Services, is responsible for a broad array of services to protect children, to provide access to health care, to rehabilitate troubled youth and to promote strong and self-supporting families. DSS serves over two million Missourians annually with a budget that exceeds $9.5 billion and 6,862 FTE in over 180 offices across the state. Jennifer served as Department Deputy Director prior to her current temporary role.
Prior to the Department Deputy Director position Jennifer was the DSS Director of the Division of Finance and Administrative Services and served as the Interim MO HealthNet Division Director (Missouri’s Medicaid agency). She has worked with the Missouri Department of Social Services in the divisions formally known as the Division of Family Services and the Division of Child Support Enforcement and worked at Systems & Methods, Inc. implementing statewide child support receipt and disbursement systems.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Slot: DHSS Representative (ex officio member).
Representative Cora Faith Walker
Representative Cora Faith Walker, a Democrat, represents part of North St. Louis County (District 74) in the Missouri House of Representatives and was elected to her first term as a State Representative in November 2016. Representative Walker is a licensed attorney who has extensive experience with working on crucial issues such as Medicaid expansion and health reform and came to the legislature with a reputation as an expert in the field of health law and public policy.
As a legislator, Representative Walker is committed to fighting for justice and equity in the areas of health, early childhood education and development, criminal justice, and jobs and the economy. She has been able to advance her work not only through legislation she has filed, but also through her service as a member of the House Health and Mental Health Policy Committee and the House Children and Families Committee. Both committees play vital roles in addressing the issues that Representative Walker has championed in the committee process and on the floor of the House. Representative Walker is also a member of the House Administration and Accounts Committee, the Joint Committee on Life Sciences, and the MO HealthNet Oversight Committee.
In addition to her work as a legislator, Representative Walker is actively involved in her community and serves on multiple nonprofit boards, including Nurses for Newborns, St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, University City Children's Center/LUME Institute, and Civic Arts Company. Representative Walker also serves on the Community Advisory Board for the St. Louis Regional Health Commission and was selected as a 2017-2018 FOCUS St. Louis Impact Fellow.
Representative Walker earned her Bachelors of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis, where she also attended graduate school and earned her Master of Public Health as part of the inaugural MPH class at the Brown School of Social Work. She received her Juris Doctorate and Health Law Certificate from the St. Louis University School of Law.
Representative Walker is the youngest daughter of a disabled combat veteran and a public school teacher and provides a wealth of support for her immediate and extended family. She and her husband, Tim, currently reside in Ferguson, Missouri.
Slot: Member-House of Representatives, Appointed by the House Minority Leader.
Bridget McCandless
Bridget McCandless is the President and CEO of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City which focuses on leadership, advocacy and provision of resources to eliminate barriers and promote quality health for uninsured and underserved residents in the Greater Kansas City area. The Foundation has granted $200 million over 10 years to 6 counties surrounding Kansas City to address opportunities for Healthy Lifestyles, Safety Net and Mental Health services. She currently serves on the Healthy KC Commission and the Urban Neighborhood Initiative.
Dr. McCandless received an M.D. from the University of Missouri–Columbia School of Medicine, completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia, and received an M.B.A. in Health Care Leadership from Rockhurst University. She has had a special interest in chronic disease management, poverty medicine, health policy and population health. Prior to joining the foundation, she practiced Poverty Medicine as the founder and Medical Director of the Shared Care Free Clinic for 14 years.
Slot: One of Two Primary Care Physicians.
Senator Jill Schupp
Senator Jill Schupp, a Democrat, was elected to the Missouri Senate in 2014 and represents the 24th Senatorial District, which is located in St. Louis County. Schupp serves on the Senate Committees: Veteran’s Affairs and Health; General Laws and Pensions; Seniors, Families and Children; Progress and Development; Ways and Means; and Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections.
Sen. Schupp was previously elected to the Missouri House, Ladue School Board and Creve Coeur City Council. Schupp has championed legislation which aimed at training educators to spot the signs of suicide; made workplace environments smoke-free; protected children in unlicensed daycare settings, allowed seniors the opportunity to age in their own homes, and has continually fought legislation that shifted tax burdens onto the middle class. Borne out of her passion to honor the service and sacrifice of our military veterans, Sen. Schupp founded the Missouri Veterans History Project. Schupp has received numerous awards and recognitions which include the 2017 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention “Allies In Action” State Award; 2017 Healthcare for All Champion Recognition; 2017 Missouri Community College Association Distinguished Legislator Award; 2017 Empower Missouri Justice Champion Award; 2017 Provident “Betty Sims Mental Health Advocacy Award; 2017 Brain Injury Association of Missouri Legislator of the Year Award; 2016 KC Diversity Coalition Recognition Award; 2015 Missouri Coalition for Community and Behavioral Healthcare Award for Leadership in Behavioral Health; and the 2015 Shaare Emeth Tzedek Award. Born and raised in the St. Louis area, Sen. Schupp attended Parkway North High School and is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is married to Mark and they have two grown children, Brandon and Alex.
Member-Senate, Appointed by the Senate Minority Floor Leader
Carmen D. Parker-Bradshaw
Carmen D. Parker-Bradshaw, Springfield, serves as the Director of Care Management Projects for the Sisters of Mercy Health System, an integrated health system which implements and advocates for innovative health and social services to improve the health and quality of life of communities served, with particular concern for people who are economically poor. Prior to this, Ms. Parker-Bradshaw served as the Executive Director for The Health Commission; Health Policy Administrator for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department and a health policy fellow for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Global Health Affairs in Washington, D.C. Ms. Parker-Bradshaw has bachelor degrees in government and biology and a masters degree in public administration with a concentration in health policy. Ms. Parker-Bradshaw is an active member of several community boards and organizations.
Slot: Consumer Representative.
Mark Stringer
Mark Stringer is director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health. He is responsible for programs and services delivered through three divisions: Behavioral Heath, Developmental Disabilities, and Administrative Services. The Department has an annual budget of over $1.8 billion and more than 7,200 employees. It serves approximately 170,000 Missourians each year through state psychiatric hospitals, habilitation centers, and contracted community providers.
Mark is a licensed professional counselor and a nationally certified counselor with over 30 years of experience in the mental health field. He is a member of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and is immediate past president of the board of directors for the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors. He serves on the Missouri Drug Courts Coordinating Commission.
Slot: DMH Representative (ex officio member).
Joseph E. Pierle
Joseph E. Pierle, MPA, was appointed chief executive officer of the Missouri Primary Care Association in April 1999. The Association serves as a voice for the medically underserved and represents Missouri's Community Health Centers, or FQHCs. Prior to this appointment, he worked for United States Senator Christopher S. Bond in Washington D.C., serving as an advisor on issues concerning health, children, the elderly, and veterans.
Mr. Pierle has shared his experience as a member of the National Advisory Committee on the National Health Service Corps, Missouri HITECH Advisory Board, and as a board member of the National Association of Community Health Centers. For six years, he served as board chair of the Central Missouri Division of the March of Dimes. Currently, he is a member of the Community Advisory Committee to the UMKC School of Dentistry and Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health. Locally, he serves on the Board of the Special Learning Center.
Mr. Pierle received a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Kansas and a Masters in Public Administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. He also received health executive certificates from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Mr. Pierle is a dedicated volunteer and is committed to the betterment of the community in which he resides.
He has been honored by the March of Dimes for his work promoting healthier babies, the National Association of Children's Hospitals for child advocacy efforts, and by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) for Exceptional Service on behalf of community health. He was inducted into NACHC's Hall of Fame in March 2012.
Slot: DIFP Representative.
Mark Sanford
Mark Sanford, St. Louis, serves as the Executive Vice President of Betty Jean Kerr People's Health Centers in St. Louis. He received his Bachelor's degree from Washington University, graduating magna cum laude; he received his Master's degree from St. Louis University in Health Care Administration where he was honored as an A.U.P.H.A. Fellow; and his Nursing degree from St. Louis Community College. He has worked for People's Health Centers, a federally qualified health center, since 1989. His responsibilities progressed from outreach coordinator, planning and development officer, chief financial officer to his present position. Prior to working for People's Health Centers, he served as Vice President of St. Mary's Hospital of East St. Louis. Sanford has hands on experience understanding of principles and practices of community health, healthcare delivery systems, and program development along with 29 years experience in health administration. Sanford's many past community activities include involvement in the several groups and organizations including the American Heart Association, Promise Center for the Developmentally Disabled among several others. Current responsibilities are supervision of the program, outreach and business development areas of senior healthcare management including: service expansion, project development and implementation, grant writing, community development, facility maintenance and patient navigation. In his free time he enjoys traveling and is the proud father of two children.
Slot: One of Two Patient Advocates.
Senator Rob Schaaf
Senator Rob Schaaf represents Buchanan and Platte counties in northwest Missouri. He chairs the Senate General Laws Committee. Before being elected to the Senate, Senator Schaaf represented Andrew and northwest Buchanan County (District 28) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to the House in November 2002 and served for four two-year terms. Senator Schaaf has been a family physician in northwest Missouri since 1985 and is Chairman of the Board of the Missouri Doctors Mutual Insurance Company (MoDocs), which he helped form in 2004 to provide medical liability insurance to Missouri doctors. In addition to his legislative duties, Senator Schaaf is a member of the St. Joseph Area Chambers of Commerce; past president of the Buchanan County Medical Society; the Missouri Pilots Association; councilor of the Missouri State Medical Association; and a board member of the Missouri State Medical Foundation. Senator Schaaf received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Missouri Western State College (now Missouri Western State University) in 1979, and earned his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1983. Senator Schaaf has two adult children, and resides in St. Joseph with his wife Debbie.
Slot: Member-Senate, Appointed by the Senate President Pro-Tem.
Ingrid D. Taylor
Ingrid D. Taylor, MD, Clayton, is a board-certified family physician with Family Care Health Centers in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to her practice, Dr. Taylor is President and CEO of Allies in Healthcare, LLC and Allies in Healthcare Publishing, LLC. The mission of Allies in Healthcare is to provide supportive health information through multimedia venues to both patients and health providers. Dr. Taylor has been on staff at the Institute for Research and Education in Family Medicine and practiced family medicine at the John C. Murphy Health Center, Evangelical Children's Home, and the Community in Partnership Services Health Center – all of which serve the underserved and underinsured. Dr. Taylor received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans and was a Kruker Scholar at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She completed her internship in surgery/urology at the University of Cincinnati Hospital and finished her residency in family medicine at Kansas University Medical Center. Dr. Taylor is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians; the St. Louis Metropolitan, Missouri state, and national medical associations; and the Mound City Medical Forum. She has served on the Board of Directors of Health Literacy Missouri; Board of Trustees of the National Medical Association (NMA); and received the NMA's 2007 Woman in Medicine Award.
Slot: One of Two Primary Care Physicians.
Randall W. Williams
Randall W. Williams, MD, FACOG, is an obstetrician and gynecologist who graduated from the University of North Carolina with Honors in History and Zoology and received his medical training at the University of North Carolina where he was a Holderness Fellow.
DHSS accomplishments to date with Dr. Williams include passage of Missouri’s Good Samaritan Law and Universal Narcan Availability Law; working with Governor Grietens on the Executive Order establishing a statewide PDMP; holding opioid summits throughout the state; and bringing together all 115 Local Health Departments for the first time in more than a decade. The department is also working to increase the number of providers in rural and underserved areas; improve behavioral health services for veterans and their families; promote physical fitness and community engagement through the My Missouri Steps Up initiative; enhance interagency coordination and collaboration with the state Departments of Social Services and Mental Health; and improve all aspects of women’s health, especially to reduce infant and maternal mortality.
Dr. Williams’ efforts to improve the health of Missourians extend from the Capital to the classroom: beginning in the spring of 2018, he’ll be co-teaching a course in Public Service, Government and Public Health for the University of Missouri’s Master of Public Health program.
Dr. Williams previously served as both the Deputy Secretary for Health and State Health Director in the Department of Health and Human Services in North Carolina. His responsibilities there included developing, integrating and communicating state health policy and helping lead a 17,000 member agency with a 20 billion dollar budget that combined Medicaid, social services, public health and mental health services.
To help patients and families affected by the opioid crisis, Dr. Williams led efforts in North Carolina that resulted in the legislature voting unanimously to implement a statewide standing order to treat narcotic overdoses by making naloxone available to everyone in North Carolina under his authority. He also visited stakeholders and citizens in all 100 counties in the state during his time with the department.
Dr. Williams has also previously served on local and state boards of health, in addition to delivering 2000 babies as a practicing obstetrician. He also helped serve the medical needs of people in overseas conflict zones. His ongoing work has taken him to Iraq 12 times, and he has worked in Afghanistan, Libya and Haiti. Recognition of these efforts was reflected in his selection as Triangle Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year and the Raleigh News & Observer’s Tar Heel of the Week.
He is an avid runner. Dr. Williams believes physical exercise contributes greatly to a sense of wellness and led a campaign to encourage families to run 5Ks for charity. He enjoys training for and running marathons and has run marathons in Boston, New York, Paris, Athens, Florence and Jerusalem.
Slot: DSS Representative (ex officio member).