San Diego, Calif. (August 24, 2011) – Alliance Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today introduces its new Executive Director Nancy Sasaki. Formerly the Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties, Ms. Sasaki brings a diverse background spanning 29 years of experience in non-profit healthcare organizations. Her experience working in different communities as well as 16 years in San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial Counties enhances her ability to address the needs of diverse groups residing in this region. In addition, her experience working in a non-profit healthcare organization gives her a unique perspective of the organizational challenges they face.

“We conducted an extensive 5 month process with a retained search firm, surfaced numerous qualified prospects, and chose Nancy as the most qualified, knowledgeable and committed candidate. Nancy has a career-long dedication to improving the health of the individuals to whom AHF is dedicated,” said Robert B. McCray, Chairman of the AHF Board. “With management experience in substantial healthcare service providers, Nancy also understands the operational challenges of the agencies upon which AHF depends to deliver services to the AHF target population. She will help AHF find and implement the most impactful uses for our funds in the communities that we serve.”

AHF is committed to serving the most vulnerable populations in the San Diego area through funding projects and programs that address access to healthcare, with a focus on increasing the capacity and coordination of the healthcare delivery system. Since 1989, AHF has invested more than $45 million in grants into the San Diego community. Committed to the principle that everyone should be able to access appropriate, quality, and timely care, AHF works closely with nonprofit, government, and community agencies to further this goal. They accomplish this work through advocacy, education, and collaborative grant making.

Ms. Sasaki’s career at Planned Parenthood began as a Health Educator in Austin, Texas. In addition to Austin and San Diego, Ms. Sasaki has worked as the CEO in Los Angeles and the interim CEO in Hawaii. Throughout her experience she is most proud of the work she has done to expand access for women in need in each of the communities served, enhanced cultural awareness for employees and customers/patients, and brought creative and innovative alternatives to the organization. For a short time, Ms. Sasaki also worked as the Executive Director of the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

“One of the most exciting aspects of this position is the ability to look at the community as a whole, work with a broad range of organizations and, as a community, determine how to address healthcare access issues in San Diego and Imperial Counties,” said Ms. Sasaki. “At AHF, we have an opportunity to be a true catalyst for change to encourage non-profits to think innovatively to create long-term sustainable changes that will truly impact the access to healthcare in our communities.”
Ms. Sasaki plans to facilitate conversations amongst unlikely partners to uncover and explore innovative, out of the box ideas that will open doors for healthcare access for those who are underserved or who otherwise do not have access and to work with our community organizations to support their work and their ability to expand the tools in their toolbox so they are able to serve more of those in need.