2 health-care leaders run for Sonoma Valley Hospital board unopposed

Two experienced health care leaders have filed to run for seats on the Sonoma Valley Health Care District’s Board of Directors in the Nov. 8 election.

Denise M. Kalos, the CEO of AffirmativHealth in Sonoma, and Wendy Lee Myatt, a recently retired senior-level executive at Kaiser Permanente, are the only candidates running for the two open seats. Board Chair Joshua Rymer and Michael Mainardi, who currently occupy the seats, will not seek reelection.

Bill Boerum, who has served on the board for the past 15 years, said that members had been actively encouraging potential candidates to run for the seats while explaining the required commitment. He said that Kalos and Myatt have some different strengths, but have demonstrated a similar eagerness to serve.

“I’m very excited that they have both stepped forward,” he said.

Kalos founded AffirmativHealth, which offers personalized treatment plans for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, in 2016. Under her leadership, this nonprofit research institute published a book on mitigating the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease.

She also leads the business development teams for ProMedica Hospice and Palliative Care in California and Arizona.

Kalos previously worked as the vice president of strategic business and cognitive well-being programs for Buck Institute for Research on Aging, a nonprofit organization in Novato.

“Denise will bring an innovative and strategic point of view to the board, which we need,” Boerum said.

She has been a member of the LabCures board of directors since 2014 and served as a human resources committee member for the Valley of the Moon Boys & Girls Clubs in 2014 and 2015.

An internationally recognized speaker, Kalos received a master’s degree in human resources management and training from the University of Leicester in England.

Myatt served in information technology and digital health transformation positions during her 17 years with Kaiser Permanente. Her final position was senior vice president of personal health.

She led the Personal Health Initiative, part of Kaiser Permanente strategy’s and ambition to transform health and health care in the U.S. In this role, she was responsible for leading a set of activations that were bold, human-centered and outcomes-focused so that they can serve as a platform for Kaiser Permanente’s more than 13 million members to live more healthy years.

She also worked for Bechtel Corp. for 25 years in a variety of technology delivery positions.

Myatt, who was selected as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by the National Diversity Council in 2016, also was appointed to the SVHCD’s finance committee in 2021.

“Wendy has been very active, with very good suggestions and advice for the administrative staff,” Boerum said.

Myatt also serves as a board member for Guiding Rage into Power (GRIP) Institute, which helps students comprehend the origins of their violence and develop skills to track and manage strong impulses to avoid acting out in destructive ways.

“In retirement and as a member of the finance committee of the Sonoma Valley Hospital and board member of the GRIP Institute, I am able to fulfill my passion to continue to serve and give back to communities,” Myatt said.

She received a bachelor’s degree in information technology from San Francisco State University and graduated from Harvard Business School’s Executive Leadership Program.

Myatt and her husband, Mike Myatt, have lived in Sonoma for 17 years.

Reach the reporter Dan Johnson at daniel.johnson@sonomanews.com.