May 24, 2017
(Austin) – The Austin City Council voted unanimously to appoint Maram Museitif to the all-volunteer Central Health Board of Managers.
Museitif is a public health and health care professional with more than 10 years of experience in research, academic, and government settings, and has expertise addressing challenges facing domestic and international health care delivery. Since 2015, Museitif has served on the 60-member Central Health Equity Policy Council, which includes policy, data, and community experts who provide recommendations for local chronic disease prevention policies. She was also a member of the inaugural class and is currently alumni president of the Central Health Community Health Champions, a group of diverse community members dedicated to improving the health of Travis County and ensuring everyone has access to health care.
“I’m very familiar with Central Health’s mission and the needs of the people we serve,” said Museitif. “I bring a broader representation to the board. Austin has a growing Muslim, Arab, and refugee community and they need a voice at the table. I can be that voice. I’m a Muslim and speak fluent Arabic, which is the third most common language in the CommUnityCare patient population. The passion and diversity I bring is important for now and for future generations. It is vital we close the gap of health inequities for all our underserved populations. I understand the health disparities our community faces and can make a significant difference in improving their health outcomes.”
Museitif is chair of the Legislative Policy and Advocacy Committee for the Texas Public Health Association where she advocates for statewide policies, programming, and funding to address public health issues. Previously, Museitif worked as a surveillance and program specialist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and provided technical consulting to the Texas Department of State Health and Human Services. She was also a global health research intern in Amman, Jordan with United Nation of Relief Works Agency (UNRWA). In addition, Museitif worked for Yale University Center for Health Outcome Research and Evaluation.
Museitif holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Texas Health Center and a certificate in public health from the University of Houston Health Science. She also holds a bachelor of science in psychobiology from Ohio State University with a minor in international studies. She is also an alumna of Leadership Austin Emerge 2016.
Museitif will take over the appointment formerly held by Richard Yuen, a member of Central Health’s Board of Managers since January 2016, and will serve until January 2020.
The Central Health Board of Managers is an all-volunteer board comprised of four members appointed by the Austin City Council, four by the Travis County Commissioners Court, and one joint appointee between both bodies. Board members are appointed to four-year terms.