DENVER, COLO. (Dec. 15, 2020) — The National Service Office for Nurse-Family Partnership® and Child First announces the appointment of four new members to the Board of Directors: Paurvi Bhatt, president of the Medtronic Foundation and vice president of Medtronic Philanthropy; Karen Howard, partner and founder of Crossover Partners, LLC; Richard Ostuw, an active volunteer in a number of community organizations; and Amy Young, vice dean of professional practice for Dell Medical School and chief clinical officer for UT Health Austin. Howard and Ostuw are serving on the NSO board as a continuation of their service on the Child First board. Bhatt and Young are new to the Board of Directors.
Paurvi Bhatt brings deep experience in global health, philanthropy and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to her role on the NSO board. Through her work at Medtronic and the Medtronic Foundation she leads philanthropic efforts to expand access to health care in underserved communities. Her previous work includes global health and CSR roles at US GAO, USAID, CARE, Abbott and Levi Strauss & Company. Bhatt holds a Master of Public Health from Yale University and a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Northwestern University.
“Paurvi’s background in public health and her focus on underserved populations will serve the board and organization well as we work to serve more families living in poverty and enduring adversity,” said Christian Soura, chair of the board. “We are working to address health disparities faced by the women and families we serve, and Paurvi will lend important insight to that work.”
Karen Howard’s service is a return to NFP, where she worked previously as director of policy and was instrumental in securing the enactment of the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program in 2008. Howard’s career in legal, policy and advocacy arenas includes serving as legislative counsel in the office of Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), where she focused on health and education policy, and as vice president of early childhood policy at First Focus on Children where she focused on policy initiatives impacting the early health, development and well-being of children. Howard also worked as a senior policy director for the Alliance for Early Success, where she managed a portfolio of state and national investments focused on early childhood and child welfare policies and where she led the Alliance’s racial equity initiatives. Currently, Howard is a private consultant working with philanthropic and non-profit organizations on racially equitable and inclusive policies and practices in home visiting, child welfare and family economic stability for young children, youth and their families. Howard earned her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany and her juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center.
“NFP is committed to racially equitable policies and practices that effectively address the systemic inequities that children and families residing in poverty face in their health, educational and economic mobility,” said Soura. “Karen’s expertise in advocating for expanded public and private resources for home visiting, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, will help inform and advance our mission to create a future where children are born healthy, families thrive and communities prosper.”
Richard Ostuw spent his career as a consultant to large employers helping them manage their health and welfare benefits. At Towers Perrin (now Willis Towers Watson), where he spent most of his career, he was the firm’s chief actuary and served on the Board of Directors. Since his retirement he has been an active volunteer serving on the boards of Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut and other organizations providing health care and affordable housing to challenged populations. He has also been a volunteer with Junior Achievement and the American Red Cross. Ostuw has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in actuarial science from Northeastern University.
“Richard is bringing a unique skillset with his experience in financial analysis and involvement with a variety of organizations,” said Soura. “His commitment to service and community combined with his business acumen will serve us incredibly well.”
Prior to joining Dell Medical School and UT Health Austin, Dr. Amy Young was the Abe Mickal Professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and the vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Young has held leadership positions in the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She studied at Vanderbilt University and University of Mississippi School of Medicine, completed an internship at Emory University and did her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine.
“Dr. Young’s medical background gives her firsthand knowledge of the needs of women and families. Her knowledge of medical practice and the health care system will be valuable to the organization, as we continue to refine how we can best serve families in need,” said Soura.
The National Service Office Board of Directors is comprised of dedicated and diverse professionals from across the country who volunteer their time and skills to provide governance and leadership to help Nurse-Family Partnership and Child First advance their missions.