KANSAS CITY, MO – The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City’s (HCF) Board of Directors have announced the retirement of founding President/CEO Steve Roling. Roling informed the Board of his intention to retire in 2013 at today’s meeting. Roling has been with HCF since December 6, 2004 and will continue operating as President/CEO until his replacement has been hired.

“We appreciate Steve's leadership at HCF and the culture that he has created at the Foundation,” said HCF Board Chair, Karen Cox, PhD, RN, FAAN. “That is a credit to Steve and the team he’s formed. We know that the talented and dedicated group of associates that he has brought on board will carry on the mission of the Foundation far into the future.”

HCF has formed a CEO search committee, chaired by Vice Chair Ken Southwick. An outside executive search firm will be hired to assist the Foundation in identifying candidates to be considered for the next President/CEO.

“I am so grateful to the dedicated and talented HCF associates and to the current and previous HCF Board and Community Advisory Committee for their leadership” said Roling. “I am particularly in debt to the outstanding HCF board chairs that I had the honor to serve with: Dr. Harry Jonas, Gurnie Gunter, Mary Lou Jaramillo, Larry Blankinship, Norm Siegel and Dr. Karen Cox. These outstanding community leaders helped establish the transparent, fair, inclusive and ethical culture that guides the work of the Foundation.”

HCF was created in 2002 as part of the Hospital Corporation of America’s (HCA) purchase of Health Midwest. It began grantmaking in 2005 and has invested over $160 million into its service area of Kansas City, MO and Cass, Jackson and Lafayette counties in Missouri and Allen, Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.

During the past eight years the Foundation has worked to preserve and expand health care and mental health services, reduce tobacco use and improve access to healthy eating and active living for the uninsured and underserved. Some of the key initiatives the Foundation has invested include:

• Providing support to build the effectiveness and reach of the safety net clinics and hospitals
• Working with area medical societies to provide specialty care low-income patients
• Improving access to oral health services for children and adults
• Joining with others to build a health prevention network of services and programs
• Successful clean indoor air campaigns throughout the metro area
• Providing leadership in advocating for the passage of a higher tobacco tax in Missouri.
• Providing free HPV vaccinations for 15,000 females
• Supporting programs to improve the safety of our neighborhoods and families
• Working to expand the health care workforce
• Providing leadership, education and resources to the non profit community

“During Steve’s tenure, HCF developed an ethics and conflict of interest policy that is an outstanding national model,” said Dr. Cox. “This transparency and the other guiding principles that shape the external and internal operations of the Foundation has created an environment where everyone – whether a community partner, an organization seeking funding, an associate or Board or CAC member - feels respected. It’s very commendable and sends a good message about how we live out the mission of the Foundation. “

Roling’s career includes positions in both the public and private sectors. Prior to his current position, Roling was Director of the Missouri Department of Social Services, Senior Vice President of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Publisher of the Kansas City Business Journal, Vice President of several local banks, Legislative Aide to US Senator Tom Eagleton in Washington, DC and in this first job he was Resident Director of Butterfield Youth Service in Marshall, MO. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia.

“I want to thank all of the funders and organizations who have partnered with us as we work toward our mission of eliminating barriers and promote quality health for the uninsured and underserved. I’ve been honored to join you on this journey,” said Roling.