Rules Committee recommends Norlissa Cooper for San Francisco Health Authority seat

The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously recommended Norlissa Cooper on Sept. 11 for appointment to seat 9 of the San Francisco Health Authority, sending the nomination to the full Board for confirmation on the Sept. 19 agenda.

Cooper, who joined the meeting remotely, cited her clinical and leadership background as qualifications for the post. “With my 15 years of clinical experience all at San Francisco General Hospital, my 10 years of executive committee leadership … and my training as a critical ethnographer,” she told the committee, she would focus on reducing health care disparities and increasing access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services for Medi‑Cal beneficiaries.

Committee members praised Cooper’s background and asked how the Authority might address ongoing prevention needs. A committee member referenced past local efforts, noting work on Healthy San Francisco and recent public‑health challenges. Cooper said prevention and outreach should extend beyond adults: “Also just thinking about expanding it beyond just adults and really talking to children … talking to children in high school is about smoking cessation as well, and really making it a family affair,” she said.

The committee chair placed a motion to recommend Cooper to seat 9; no public comment was received on the item. During roll call, Supervisors Chan and Safae voted aye and Chair Dorsey recorded an affirmative vote. The motion passed without objection, and the recommendation will appear on the full Board agenda on Sept. 19, 2023.

The San Francisco Health Authority was described during the hearing as the local initiative under the Medi‑Cal program that contracts with the California State Department of Health Services to organize integrated care for Medi‑Cal beneficiaries and others the Authority deems appropriate. The seat vacancy at issue carries a term ending Jan. 15, 2024.