For Immediate Release:
April 3, 2014

 Contact: Brad Green
(573) 751-1141
Senator Dempsey Sponsors Appointments of
District 23 Citizens to State Boards and Committees
JEFFERSON CITY – Senator Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, recently had the distinct privilege of sponsoring two citizens from the 23rd Senatorial District to serve as members of important state boards and committees.   On Wednesday, March 26, 2014, the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee conducted a hearing on the appointment of Dr. David E. Tannehill, DO, as a member of the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts.  Created in 1939 as Missouri’s licensing board for physicians, board members are responsible for promoting ethical standards, examination, licensure, regulation, investigation of complaints and discipline of individuals practicing in the field of medicine.
 
“As one of the newest members on the board, I know Dr. Tannehill will protect the citizens of our state by monitoring the licensure of physicians and other health professionals practicing in Missouri, while also investigating all complaints against those licensed by the board in a fair and equitable manner,” said Sen. Dempsey.  “The timing of Dr. Tennehill’s appointment was crucial.  With only one other doctor of osteopathy serving on the board prior to Dr. Tannehill’s appointment, there was the potential for the board to not have a quorum and hold its vita meetings.” 

The Gubernatorial Appointments Committee also held a hearing on the appointment of Judith Grace O’Connor as a member of the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee.  As a member of the committee, O’Connor will be responsible for focusing on cost containment through health cost management, assurance of community need and the prevention of unnecessary duplication of health care services. 

Senator Dempsey continued, “With more than 20 years serving as a lawmaker in the Missouri House of Representatives and her vast experience on legislative panels ranging from the Judiciary Committee to the Budget Committee on Health and Safety, including serving as chairwoman of the Public Health and Safety Committee, Ms. O’Connor will bring a wealth of knowledge to the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee.”

With the full Senate’s confirmation on Thursday, March 27, 2014, Dr. Tannehill’s appointment to fill a vacant term on the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts became official; his four-year term will end in 2018.  O’Connor’s appointment to the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee was confirmed by members of the Senate on Thursday, April 3, 2014, and her term will end in 2015.

“I was honored to sit alongside Dr. Tannehill and Ms. O’Connor during their respective gubernatorial appointment hearings and proud when the Senate voted to confirm their important appointments,” said Sen. Dempsey.

To learn more about the 200 plus state boards and commissions, view a list of current vacancies and expired terms of various panels, or to read more about the panels mentioned in this release, please visit boards.mo.gov.

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Senator Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, sponsors the appointment of Dr. David E. Tannehill as a member of the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts before the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee on Wednesday,
March 26, 2014. 

Senator Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, sponsors the appointment of Ms. Judith Grace O’Connor as a member of the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee before the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee on Wednesday,
April 2, 2014.

For a high resolution copies of these photos, please contact Senate Communications by calling (573) 751-3824.