Commissioners

Marcia L. Boyle, MS, is the founder of the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF), the national non-profit patient organization dedicated to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life of persons with primary immunodeficiency diseases through advocacy, education, and research (www.primaryimmune.org.) She served as president and CEO until her retirement in August 2017. She grew IDF from 5 volunteers in 1980 to an organization with approximately $10 million a year in revenue in 2017 and a full-time staff of 37. She was a co-founder of the International Patient Organization for Primary Immunodeficiencies (IPOPI), which currently includes the representation of patient organizations from 60 countries around the world. She also served on the Board of Directors of the National Health Council from 2015 to 2017. She was honored as a White House Champion of Change in Precision Medicine in 2015.

With 15 years of experience in healthcare strategy, Arin Foreman currently serves as Vice President and Deputy Chief of Staff at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, where he has been instrumental in integrating social determinants of health into corporate strategy and driving cost-saving initiatives across Maryland’s healthcare system. Prior to this role, Arin worked with Maryland hospitals as part of KPMG’s healthcare consulting practice, then joined Johns Hopkins Medicine, where he expanded pediatric programs and built out an ambulatory network.

A strong advocate for health equity, Arin serves on the Executive Committee for Health Care for the Homeless and has held leadership roles in Maryland’s Healthcare Financial Management Association. His deep experience, strategic insight, and passion for healthcare make him a valuable asset to the State.

Danielle S. Duncan, MLS, MEd, EdD., has over 20 years of experience as a Medical Laboratory Scientist and Clinical Educator in various healthcare settings throughout Maryland. With her vast knowledge, she has trained laboratory science professionals, medical assistants, and nurses to provide excellent patient care. 

Currently, Danielle is the Director of Education at COLA, Inc., where she oversees the creation and development of educational content for laboratory science professionals and physicians. Working with an interdisciplinary team, she promotes the visibility of laboratory science professionals through an educational approach, nurturing the pipeline in clinical laboratory science by advocating for initiatives to address the laboratory workforce shortage and utilizing laboratory data to improve patient outcomes. Stroughton Duncan strives to promote and advance understanding of the impact of laboratory science in the effective delivery of healthcare.

Danielle has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Morgan State University and Anne Arundel Community College. She sits on the advisory board for the Anne Arundel Community College Medical Laboratory Technician program.

Danielle holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University and a Master of Education degree from Northcentral University, where she is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in education. She was appointed in 2023 by Governor Wes Moore to the Maryland Health Care Commission as a Commissioner. Stroughton Duncan’s area of focus includes clinical chemistry, interprofessional education, and championing the advancement of the laboratory science industry.

Dr. Jovonni Spinner, MPH, CHES., is the CEO and Founder of Beacon Public Health, the vision of which is to support healthy and whole communities by focusing on health equity. She is an award-winning health equity strategist and thought leader with a deep passion for improving health equity across the lifespan through research, communication, multi-sector partnerships, and leadership. She creates culturally competent and inclusive public health programming but also shines at telling public health stories, giving voice to those rarely heard, and sharing outcomes with key influencers to provide programmatic strategic direction and influence organizational change. Dr. Spinner uses her voice to deliver dynamic speeches and to facilitate conversations on health equity.

She has led state and federal health equity programs like the Diversity in Clinical Trials Initiative, Community Health Worker Health Disparities Initiative, and Virginia Vaccines for Children Program, which have reached millions of consumers to help them make better-informed health decisions, obtain the services they need, and advocate for healthier communities. She was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to serve on the Maryland Health Care Commission in 2023.

Her passion is helping organizations and public health professionals overcome challenges in delivering dynamic, equity-driven, culturally tailored public health programs to meet the health needs of minority communities.

She is also a public health adjunct professor, serves on non-profit boards, and is active in her community creating programs to build the public health workforce and mentoring early-career professionals.

She is an alum of Virginia Commonwealth University, Emory University, and Morgan State University.

Hassanatu Blake, PhD, MPH, MBA., is a public health professional with over 15 years in spearheading innovative initiatives at the nexus of public health, educational technology, and social impact. She is a thought leader and catalyst for change, coupled with a unique blend of academic achievements and practical and research experience. 

In her current role as Director of Health Equity & Social Justice at the National Association of County & City Health Officials, Dr. Blake was instrumental in leading a $15.3M CDC-funded project to build COVID health equity infrastructure. Her role involves introducing cutting-edge technology, such as AI chatbots, to enhance training programs and streamline organizational processes for increased efficiency and impact. 

Dr. Blake also serves as an Adjunct Professor at both Tufts University School of Medicine and Brooklyn College; and as a researcher at University of Alabama Birmingham School of Public Health, focused on the use of social media for HIV prevention among female sex workers in Cameroon. She was appointed in 2023 by Maryland Governor Wes Moore to the Maryland Health Care Commission as a Health Commissioner.

Hassanatu was recognized for her wealth of expertise by the US White House Champions of Change Initiative under the Obama Administration; has been featured in Black Enterprise; has been a TEDx Speaker; and has served as a keynote speaker at numerous education, business, and tech conferences, and at leading institutions of higher education.

Hassanatu Blake has a BA from Tufts University, a MPH from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, a MBA from Plymouth State University, and a PhD from University of Alabama Birmingham School of Public Health.

Hemi Dawn Tewarson, J.D., M.P.H., is an accomplished health policy leader currently serving as the Executive Director of the National Academy for State Health Policy since June 2021, where she provides strategic vision and leadership to improve health policies across the U.S. Previously, she was a Visiting Senior Policy Fellow at the Robert J. Margolis Center for Health Policy at Duke University, focusing on critical areas such as COVID-19 vaccine access and health equity. She has extensive experience in state health policy, having led the health division at the National Governors Association from 2014 to 2020, where she developed innovative projects and secured multi-million-dollar grants to support state initiatives. Her legal expertise includes serving as a Senior Attorney at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, where she advised on various health care issues and received multiple awards for her outstanding performance. Hemi holds a Juris Doctor with honors and a Master of Public Health from George Washington University, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Howard M. Haft is a distinguished physician and healthcare executive with extensive experience in public health and primary care. He holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Rhode Island, an M.D. from Pennsylvania State University, and a Master of Medical Management from Tulane University, focusing on health systems. Dr. Haft has served in various leadership roles, including as the Deputy Secretary for Public Health in Maryland, where he oversaw a $1 billion budget and implemented significant public health initiatives, such as the statewide opioid prescription guidelines. He has been actively involved in academia, currently serving as an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. 

Dr. Haft is also the founder of Haft Healthcare Consulting, providing guidance on health equity and value-based payment systems. His contributions to healthcare have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Governor’s Citation for Leading Public Health in Maryland. 

Ms. Gelrud, retired as Luminis Health’s Chief Quality and Population Health Officer, was responsible for system-wide quality, safety, infection prevention, patient experience, accreditation, care management, community outreach, performance improvement, population health, value-based programs, and progressive payment models for all entities of Luminis Health.

Prior to Luminis Health, Ms. Gelrud was responsible for care, treatment, and services for 12.4 million Kaiser Permanente members as the Senior Vice President of Kaiser Foundation’s Health Plan and Hospital Quality, Co-Executive Director of Kaiser Permanente’s Care Management Institute, and the Executive Director of the Improvement Institute in Oakland CA.

Ms. Gelrud also served as Vice President of Quality, Safety & Regulatory and Chief Nurse Executive at Kaiser Permanente’s Mid-Atlantic States Region. Prior to her roles with Kaiser, Joan was the Vice President at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown, MD.

Ms. Gelrud is currently spending her time as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children experiencing abuse or neglect, as a member of the Agency for Research Healthcare and Quality’s National Advisory Committee, and as a new member of the Maryland Health Care Commission. To help combat hospital expenditures, Joan is also on the Advisory Board for LIBERTAS, a new company working to reduce the cost of physician preference items for cardiac and other procedures.

Karl Douglas is a nationally respected executive leader, educator, and nonprofit founder whose career has been defined by transforming organizations, developing leaders, and creating meaningful impact in the community.

He currently serves as Director of Talent Development for Brightview Senior Living, where he leads enterprise-wide talent and leadership strategies supporting more than 6,000 associates across multiple states. Known for building high-performing cultures and scalable people systems, Karl’s work has helped strengthen leadership pipelines, retention, and organizational growth.

Karl is also the Founder and President of Synergy Baltimore, a nonprofit organization committed to addressing health disparities, food insecurity, workforce readiness, and economic inequality in underserved communities. Through innovative partnerships and grassroots outreach, Synergy Baltimore continues to serve families and individuals across the city with dignity and purpose.

In addition to his executive leadership, Karl is a respected professor, speaker, and mentor who teaches business, leadership, and healthcare-related courses at the collegiate level. He is frequently recognized for his ability to inspire others, bridge corporate excellence with community service, and empower people to reach their highest potential.

With leadership experience spanning healthcare, operations, workforce development, and Fortune 500 business environments, Karl brings a rare combination of strategic insight, executive presence, and servant leadership.

Above all, Karl is known as a builder of people, a champion for opportunity, and a leader who believes success is greatest when it creates pathways for others.

Dr. Letitia Dzirasa is a distinguished public health leader and physician with a proven track record of driving impactful health initiatives. Her current role is Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services. She is also the Founder and CEO of Sage Monarch, LLC. She provides strategic advising on public health and population health strategies, focusing on addressing social determinants of health and eliminating health disparities. Previously, she served as the Deputy Mayor of Equity, Health, and Human Services for Baltimore City, where she managed a portfolio of health and human services agencies and led citywide youth violence reduction efforts.

Dr. Dzirasa's tenure as Commissioner of Health for the Baltimore City Health Department was marked by her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she spearheaded the city's response, resulting in significant vaccination rates and reduced health disparities. She also launched innovative programs such as the Baltimore Health Corps, which created over 250 public health jobs during the pandemic.

With a background in healthcare innovation, Dr. Dzirasa served as the Health Innovation Officer at Fearless Solutions, where she developed healthcare IT solutions and grew the business line to $7M in contracts. Her earlier roles include serving as Medical Director of School Based Health at Baltimore Medical System, where she implemented new care delivery models and improved clinical quality metrics.

Dr. Dzirasa holds a Doctorate of Medicine from Meharry Medical College and has completed coursework towards a Master's in Health Systems Management from the University of Baltimore. She is board-certified in pediatrics and has received numerous awards for her contributions to public health, including the 2022 Inaugural Executive of the Year and the 2021 Marylander of the Year.

Dr. Dzirasa is committed to improving health outcomes and equity, leveraging her expertise to create sustainable, community-informed health solutions.

Mark Jensen, Esq,  is a founding partner of Jensen & McComas, LLC, a law firm based in Baltimore Maryland. Mr. Jensen and his partner are committed to advancing innovative and creative solutions for their clients. The firm has decades of experience in law, business, and technology.  They are committed to creativity and innovative ways to practice law. Mr. Jensen is a former founder and senior partner of Bowie & Jensen law firm. There he was responsible for Mergers & Acquisitions and oversaw the firm’s work with major clients, including counseling established private companies on decisions and transactions that advance critical corporate objectives. Mark also serves as outside general counsel for several private companies, helping them to identify and triage a range of legal and business issues, including governance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate issues, intellectual property, real estate, and employment matters. Mr. Jensen has been active in the community and public service throughout his career. He has provided pro bono assistance to numerous non-profit organizations, including the Intrepid Foundation and the Bates/Vincent Foundation.

Mr. Jensen has been engaged with the Maryland health care system for over two decades. He served on, and ultimately chaired, the Board of MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and later on the MedStar Health System Board from 2011-2019, where he chaired the Patient Safety and Quality Committee. He held leadership positions with the Maryland Hospital Association, including Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Search Committee for the new MHA President and CEO, and a member of the Clinical and Quality Issues Committee. Mr. Jensen earned his J.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Tinisha Cheatham, MD, is a Physician in Chief (PIC) of the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (MAPMG) for the Baltimore service area. She is responsible for the clinical care that MAPMG delivers to over 134,000 members at Kaiser Permanente’s integrated outpatient medical centers, contracted hospitals, and affiliated skilled nursing facilities across the Baltimore metropolitan area. Dr. Cheatham is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician who currently practices throughout the Baltimore Service Area. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Biology from North Carolina State University and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens, Ohio. She completed her Family Medicine training at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Cheatham has been recognized by her peers as a top doctor and was acknowledged by the National Committee for Quality Assurance Diabetes Recognition Program from 2011 to 2014.

Margaret O'Kane (Peggy) is the founder and former (until December 2025) President of NCQA. Under her leadership, NCQA became the gold standard for quality measurement and accountability. NCQA pioneered health plan accreditation, the HEDIS system of performance measurement, and the Patient-centered Medical Home for primary care.

Peggy has lived in Montgomery County, Maryland for over four decades. She is interested in bringing her experience and expertise to bear to serve the people of Maryland and the public servants who work every day to ensure affordable, high-quality healthcare for Marylanders. She believes strongly in the need to reform our health policy to achieve those ends.

Peggy is a proud graduate of the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins and has received the Distinguished Alumna Award from Johns Hopkins University. She is also a proud member of the Institute of Medicine and was named a Champion of Prevention by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.