Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

A long-time Wichita journalist and a political science professor from Atchison have been appointed to the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, the panel that oversees the licensing of doctors and various other health professionals.

The appointments of Randy Brown, a senior fellow at the Wichita State University School of Communications and John Settich, political science chairman at Benedictine College were announced today by the Governor's Office.

Brown, a former editor and columnist for the Wichita Eagle, also is executive director of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government.

Settich is a former executive director for the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association.

Reappointed to the healing arts board to represent the interests of chiropractors were Dr. Terry Webb of Hutchinson and Dr. Ray Conley, Overland Park, as a representative for chiropractic doctors.

Other appointments or reappointments by the governor to health boards or foundations included:

Dr. Michelle Haley of Parkville as a returning member of the REACH Healthcare Foundation.

Former state legislator Elizabeth Kinch of Derby was named to the board of the Delta Dental Plan of Kansas. Kinch will serve a four-year term as a public member.

Susan Rogers of Lansing was appointed to the Kansas Dental Board. Rogers is a dental hygienist with the Heartland Dental Group and acting treasurer for the Tri-County Dental Hygienist Association.

Reappointed to the dental board were James Showalter, Topeka, as a public member and Dr. Richard Darnell, Topeka as a representative for dentists.

The governor appointed Aaron Bennett of Wichita to the Governor’s Mental Health Planning Council. He will serve a four-year term as a youth member on the council. The council includes mental health service providers, mental health consumers, state agency staff and Kansas citizens. It advises state agencies about mental health services.

Jay Wedel of Hesston was named to the Physician Assistant Council. Wedel is a practicing physician’s assistant and an emergency medical technician for Hesston Emergency Services. He also serves on the boards of the Kansas Academy of Physician Assistants and the Schowalter Villa Retirement Center.