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Board of Commissioners

Verdant Health Commission, formerly the South Snohomish County Commission for Health, is governed by a board of five elected commissioners, each elected for a term of six years by the registered voters in Public Hospital District No. 2, Snohomish County. The terms of the commissioners are staggered to expire in alternate years.

Commissioner Fred LangerFred P. Langer, President
Mr. Langer is a nurse attorney whose educational credentials include a bachelor's of science degree (BS) in nursing from the University of Utah and a BS in health planning & administration from Penn State University, as well as a juris doctor (cum laude) at Seattle University. He is married and has two boys who were born at Stevens Hospital. Mr. Langer is the managing partner of the law firm of Nelson Langer Engle, PLLC. He is currently serving his third term, which will expire in 2015.

Commissioner Bob KnowlesBob Knowles, Secretary
Mr. Knowles is a resident of Brier and has a B.S. in Exercise Science from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY and an M.A. in Exercise Physiology from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. From 1997 to 2010, he served at Stevens Hospital and then Swedish/Edmonds in various capacities, most recently as Director of Education and Director Preventive Care. He is currently the Manager of Disease Management at Premera Blue Cross. Mr. Knowles has volunteered for many area organizations. In November 2011, he was elected to complete the remaining two years of a vacated position on the Board of Commissioners. His term expires in 2013.

Commissioner Deana KnutsenDeana Knutsen, member
Ms. Knutsen has lived in the community for more than 20 years and her three children were born at Stevens Hospital. She has been co-chair of the Washington Citizen Action organization and has had a successful track record of advocacy for patients' rights and affordable, high quality health care. She was instrumental in winning passage of a bill of rights for nursing home patients in Washington. Her education is a BA, University of Washington 1980. Ms. Knutsen is serving her third term, which will expire in 2017.

Commissioner Bruce WilliamsBruce Williams, MD, FACP, member
Dr. Bruce Williams is a board certified physician and Fellow of the American College of Physicians who practices internal medicine in Edmonds. Dr. Williams has been a member of the National Health Service Corps, U.S. Public Health Service, which helps to expand access to health services and improve the health of people who live in urban and rural areas where health care is scarce. In addition, he worked for the Harvard Community Health Plan and was on the clinical faculty of Harvard Medical School in Boston. Closer to home, Dr. Williams served on the Edmonds School Board for 10 years and chaired the Stevens Physician Hospital Organization (PHO) from 1992-1997. Dr. Williams is serving his first term, which will expire in 2015.

Commissioner Karianna WilsonKarianna Wilson, member
Ms. Wilson was elected to the commission in November 2011 and has been active in healthcare for more than 15 years. She holds a B.S. in Psychology and a Masters in Health Administration (MHA) from the University of Washington. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Northwest Physicians Network and was previously with Premera Blue Cross. An Edmonds resident, she is also a wife and mother of two children, and she volunteers as a board member for PEPS (Program for Early Parental Support). Ms. Wilson is serving her first term, which will expire in 2017.

Public Meeting Dates & Information
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