Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: President Noelia Corzo, District 2
Subject: Appointment and Reappointments to the Emergency Medical Care Committee
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for the appointment and reappointments of the following individuals to the Emergency Medical Care Committee (EMCC):
A) Appointment of Eric Zabala, representing Fire Chiefs Association, for an initial partial term ending March 31, 2029; and
B) Reappointment of Sunil Bhopale, representing Emergency Physician in San Mateo County Hospital, for a second term ending March 31, 2030; and
C) Reappointment of Patrice Callagy, representing Registered Nurse as Emergency Nurse in San Mateo County Hospital, for a third and final term ending March 31, 2030; and
D) Reappointment of Veena Vangari, as Consumer representative, for a second term ending March 31, 2030; and
E) Reappointment of Jenel Lim, as Consumer representative, for a second term ending March 31, 2030; and
F) Reappointment of Benjamin Martin, as Consumer representative, for a first full term ending March 31, 2030; and
G) Reappointment of Rosemary Welde, as Consumer representative, for a first full term ending March 31, 2030.
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BACKGROUND:
The Emergency Medical Care Committee (EMCC) reviews and provides recommendations to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMS Agency) regarding the County's emergency medical services system.
The EMCC consists of twenty (20) members, including:
• One (1) Emergency Physician currently practicing at a San Mateo County receiving hospital;
• One (1) Registered Nurse currently an emergency nurse at a San Mateo County receiving hospital;
• Five (5) Consumer representatives with no pecuniary or professional interest in emergency medical care and who reside in San Mateo County; and
• Two (2) local fire service representatives, at least one of whom represents the San Mateo County Fire Chiefs Association.
DISCUSSION:
Chief Eric Zabala of the Woodside Fire Protection District is recommended for appointment by the San Mateo County Fire Chiefs Association as the Fire Chiefs Association representative, replacing former representative Tom Cuschieri. Upon approval of this appointment, Chief Zabala will serve an initial partial term ending March 31, 2029.
The above-recommended re-appointive members have indicated their desire and/or have been recommended by their represented organizations to continue to serve and remain in good standing as active contributors to the EMCC. Their continued service supports continuity and subject matter expertise in the Committee's work. Approval of these reappointments reflect a four-year term effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2030.
Dr. Sunil Bhopale has served on the EMCC as Emergency Physician Representative since his initial appointment began in April 2022 and is being recommended for a second full term. He is a practicing emergency physician at Kaiser Foundation Hospital Redwood City, where he also holds a physician leadership role in Emergency Medicine, and is a San Mateo County resident.
Patrice Callagy has served on the EMCC as Registered Nurse representative since her initial partial term beginning September 2014, and is being recommended for a third and final term after years of dedicated service on the EMCC. Patrice Callagy is Vice President of Emergency Services at Stanford Health Care, a Registered Nurse, and a San Mateo County resident.
Veena Vangari and Jenel Lim were each appointed to the EMCC as Consumer representatives in 2022 and are being recommended for a second term. Veena Vangari is a Chief Nurse with the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, bringing clinical leadership experience and insight into diverse and immigrant communities.
Jenel Lim holds a Master of Public Health and has extensive experience in public health communications, including roles with San Mateo County Health and the San Mateo County Human Services Agency.
Benjamin (Ben) Martin has served as a Consumer representative since his initial partial term began in 2022 and is recommended for a first full term. He is a Redwood City-based attorney advising startups and small businesses on risk, contracts, and entity formation, with an interest in health systems and EMS delivery.
Rosemary Welde began serving as a Consumer representative since her initial partial term began in September 2025 and is being recommended for a first full term. She is a registered nurse with over 50 years of experience, including emergency, trauma, and perioperative leadership at Stanford Health Care, and remains active in community service and nonprofit work.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.