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Committee recommends Belle Taylor McGee for Health Commission after public support
Summary
The Rules Committee advanced Mayor Ed Lee’s nomination of Belle Taylor McGee to the San Francisco Health Commission after McGee outlined priorities including equity, women’s health, Ryan White funding and charity-care oversight; multiple public-health professionals testified in support.
The Rules Committee voted to recommend the appointment of Belle Taylor McGee to the San Francisco Health Commission on April 5 after hearing her background in journalism, public-health advocacy and prior city service.
McGee told the committee she has worked on reproductive-health and public-health issues nationally and locally and emphasized equity in access to care: “I am interested in ensuring that all people have access to culturally appropriate preventative health care services regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, economic status and geographic location,” she said in her remarks.
Committee members asked about priorities the new commissioner would bring to the role. McGee said she would focus on listening to affected communities to shape policy and highlighted federal funding changes that affect local services. On the recent Ryan White funding reductions for HIV care, McGee said the Department of Public Health must examine impacts on patients and plan for service continuity.
Several health professionals and community leaders rose in public comment to back McGee’s nomination. Speakers included a UCSF nurse professor who cited McGee’s leadership on women’s health forums and a mental-health board director who said McGee understands behavioral-health issues as well as primary-care needs. The public speakers framed the appointment as strengthening the commission’s capacity to address disparities.
Supervisor David Campos moved to recommend the mayor’s appointment and Supervisor Mark Farrell seconded; the committee advanced the nomination to the full board without objection. The full Board of Supervisors will review the appointment at a subsequent meeting.
McGee said she intends to work with the Department of Public Health and community partners on charity-care benchmarks and to ensure that underserved neighborhoods receive equitable attention under the city’s Health Care Master Plan.
