For Immediate Release
November 2, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO - After a nationwide search that attracted an excellent pool of candidates, the board of directors of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) today announced that Ms. Kathy Lim Ko has been chosen to be the president and chief executive officer. "Ms. Ko joins us with a distinguished background in healthcare advocacy, social activism and community engagement," said Fatima Angeles, board chair of APIAHF. "We look forward to her leadership and guidance in continuing our work to further shape, advance, and deliver policies and programs that will improve the health of our communities."
Ms. Ko comes to APIAHF with more than 30 years experience in leading community-based and philanthropic organizations, most recently as program director for the Community Clinics Initiative, a joint project by Tides and The California Endowment to support the infrastructure development of community clinics and health centers in California. Her tenure as the president and CEO of APIAHF will begin in January, 2010.
"I am honored to be chosen to continue the work that Dr. Tran and the staff have done to elevate APIAHF to national prominence as an effective and renowned advocate for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander health issues," said Ms. Ko. "I look forward to this new opportunity to lead a health justice agenda, and to working with our diverse communities, partners, and policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels to address health disparities and to assure health equity."
Ms. Ko has worked in a number of health care settings and community clinics across the country, including San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco Institute for Health Policy Studies, Planned Parenthood SF, South Cove Community Health Center in Boston, and Asian Health Services.
Ms. Ko has chaired and served in a voluntary board of directors capacity for many committees and organizations, including Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, Asian Women's Shelter, CompassPoint Management Services, the Cal-Mortgage Loan Committee, the Investment Committee of Catholic Healthcare West, and the WellPoint Investment in a Healthy California Program Advisory Committee.
The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
###
