Rama Khalsa of Santa Cruz County Health Named Woman of the Year

 Assemblymember Bill Monning (D-Carmel) has named Rama Khalsa, Ph.D., as the 27th Assembly District’s 2012 “Woman of the Year”.  As part of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus annual tribute to outstanding California women during Women’s History Month, Dr. Khalsa will be honored on the Floor of the Assembly on March 26, 2012.  Each Legislator is honoring a woman from his or her district who has made exceptional contributions to her community.
 
“For more than 26 years, Dr. Khalsa has gone above and beyond what her duties require when providing healthcare service, as well as public policy guidance, as Santa Cruz County’s Health Service Director,” stated Assemblymember Monning.  “She is a tireless champion for children’s health, ensuring access to quality healthcare for all who need it, and improving the health and well-being of all Santa Cruz County residents.  I am delighted to be able to recognize Dr. Khalsa’s many contributions to the Central Coast community by naming her as a 2012 Woman of the Year.”
 
Until her recent retirement as Health Services Agency Director for Santa Cruz County, Dr. Khalsa’s work included the direction and supervision of three primary care clinics, local mental healthcare programs, substance abuse treatment, public and environmental health, emergency medical care, MediCruz for the uninsured, and a large health benefits unit working on a wide range of health benefits.  A key leader in the development of the local children’s health coverage initiative, Healthy Kids, Dr. Khalsa serves on the Central California Alliance for Health Board, was a founding member and the first chair of the nonprofit Health Improvement Partnership Council, and was a co-founder of the Safety Net Clinic Coalition of Santa Cruz County.
 
Assemblymember Monning was first elected to represent the 27th Assembly District in 2008 and re-elected in 2010.  The 27th Assembly District includes portions of Monterey, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties.  Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assemblymember Monning was a professor at the Monterey College of Law and a professor of International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.