UW Medicine has appointed two new members to Valley Medical Center’s (VMC) board of trustees.

Mike Miller, and Donna Russell, MHA, appointed to serve effective July 1, 2013, are replacing departing trustees Don Jacobson and Beverly Fletcher. As part of the strategic alliance formed July 1, 2011 between UW Medicine and Valley Medical Center, the board of trustees provides oversight for Valley Medical Center and its clinics.

“We would like to thank outgoing trustees Don Jacobson and Beverly Fletcher for their commitment and service to the people in south King County. Their guidance helped to establish a new board and through their efforts The Valley Medical Center Board of Trustees has helped to improve healthcare in the region,” Dr. Paul G. Ramsey, chief executive officer, UW Medicine said in a press release.

“The new appointees, Mike Miller and Donna Russell, have experience, knowledge and passion for improving the health of the community, and we are excited they are joining the board. Additionally, Julia Patterson will remain on the board for a second term. Julia’s leadership and drive to improve services and access for the people of south King County has been palpable. We are very pleased that she will be with us for two more years,” he continued

Mike Miller has been an avid supporter of Valley Medical Center and served as a Commissioner of the Valley Medical Center Board from 1996 – 2009.  He has been involved in the community through his work in business development as a Senior Vice President at Valley Bank in Kent.

During his career he has held a variety of financial management positions, including overseeing the health industries market of major medical clinics, physicians and dentists in Western and Central Washington. A Rotarian, Miller has had leadership roles with the Kent Downtown partnership, Kent Chamber of Commerce, and the Kent School Board.

Currently he is chairman of the Kent Events Center Public Facilities District.

Donna Russell, MHA, is passionate about health, and in particular, improving maternal, newborn and child health outcomes globally. Russell is principal of Donna Russell Consulting, LLC, a global health consulting firm that specializes in building coalitions and forming strategic partnerships to identify funding opportunities for research that leads to new global health strategies.

Throughout her career she has served as a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control, a senior policy advisor to the Washington State Board of Health, a consultant to the Washington State Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board, and provided program oversight to Steps to a Healthier Washington State, among many other research and leadership accomplishments in the fields of health and health policy.

“We are grateful for the time that Don and Beverly gave us as we established the new Valley Board and delivered expanded services in the district,” said Lisa Jensen, chair, board of trustees, Valley Medical Center. “We welcome Mike and Donna as they join us on the board. Their depth and breadth of experience will help us ensure that Valley continues to meet the needs of the community.”