Desert Healthcare District to recognize 2 outgoing Board Directors at Nov. 26 meeting
Two Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board Directors who decided to not seek re-election this year will be honored for their service at the monthly Board meeting on November 26.
The Board terms of Les Zendle, MD, and Carmina Zavala, MA, PsyD, end this month. Zendle, a retired physician in internal and geriatric medicine from the District's zone 1, concludes eight years. Zavala, a mental health professional who was elected in 2020 from zone 3, is stepping down after four years.
On Nov. 5, valley citizens cast their votes to determine new Directors to fill the vacant Board seats, as well as the zone 5 seat. However, about 40,000 ballots are in the process of being counted, as of Wednesday. The Riverside County Registrar of Voters will accept ballots until Dec. 1, with final results announced thereafter. View the latest voting results.
Highlights of Dr. Zavala's service include recognition as the 2021 Association of California Healthcare Districts' Trustee of the Year and assisting the District & Foundation staff with its COVID-19 response and other outreach efforts.
Dr. Zendle said his proudest achievements as a Board member include the successful expansion of the District's geographic boundaries east of Cook Street in 2018 to encompass the entire Coachella Valley. Another highlight came this year as the Board voted to send a new lease-purchase agreement for Desert Regional Medical Center to the ballot as Measure AA. It won a majority of voters' support.
"It has been my honor to serve with Directors Zavala and Zendle," Board President Evett PerezGil said. "They exemplify what District & Foundation Board service is about, in significant ways. They not only brought their professional healthcare experience to the Board. Though elected from different zones or communities within the District, they approached their duties with the health and well-being of the entire District in mind. That's invaluable."
The public is invited to attend (in person or virtually) the special Board meeting where Dr. Zavala and Dr. Zendle will be recognized:
Desert Healthcare District & Foundation
Special Board Meeting
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26
Regional Access Project Foundation
41550 Eclectic Street
Palm Desert, CA 92260
See the meeting agenda and Zoom link
The District & Foundation Board plans to swear in its three newly elected Directors at a special meeting on Dec. 9. Board Director Leticia DeLara, who was unchallenged to return to the zone 7 seat, also will be sworn in.
About the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation
The Desert Healthcare District is a local government agency formed in 1948. Its mission is to achieve optimal health at all stages of life for all District residents. The District includes more than 400,000 residents and encompasses the entire Coachella Valley. The District and Desert Healthcare Foundation, together, are one of the largest funders in the valley. These funds are used to assist residents — especially the underserved — in accessing vitally needed resources, such as primary and behavioral healthcare. Learn more.