Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: President David J. Canepa, District 5
Subject: Reappointments to the San Mateo Health Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Recommendation for reappointments to the San Mateo Health Commission, each for a 4-year term ending December 31, 2029:
A) Kenneth Tai, M.D. representing Physician, for a third and final term; and
B) Amira Elbeshbeshy, representing Public At-Large, for a first full term.
body
BACKGROUND:
The San Mateo Health Commission negotiates exclusive contracts with the California Department of Health Care Services to arrange for the provision of health care services to qualifying individuals.
DISCUSSION:
Dr. Kenneth Tai has served on the Commission since 2018 and will be serving for a final third 4-year term (years 9-12) upon approval of this reappointment from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2029. Amira Elbeshbeshy was initially appointed in April 2025 for an existing partial term and is being recommended for reappointment to a first full 4-year term effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2029.
Dr. Kenneth Tai has worked for North East Medical Services since 2005, as Chief Medical Officer from 2015 to 2019; and Medical Director from 2009 to 2014 overseeing 12 clinics with various departments. He is currently serving as Chief Health Officer and Internal Medicine Residency Program Director. He oversees primary care, specialty services, PACE, mental health and acupuncture across fourteen FQHC clinics serving over 68,000 patients. Dr. Tai serves on Physician Advisory and QI Committees for Health Plan of San Mateo and San Francisco Health Plan. He has also been elected to San Francisco Marin Medical Society Board of Directors and continues to give back to the community by also serving on the Quality Improvement Committee for the San Mateo Health Commission.
He has special interest in reducing health disparities; and has presented NEMS’ hepatitis B and colorectal cancer screening efforts at conferences on local, state, and national levels. Under his leadership, NEMS CRC screening rate has improved from 60% to 84%. Dr. Tai received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Washington University in St. Louis and medical degree from University of Illinois in Chicago. He completed internal medicine and pediatrics residency program at Loyola University.
Amira Elbeshbeshy is the Director of the Health Consumer Center at the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County which exclusively serves San Mateo County residents. The vast majority of their clients are Medi-Cal or dual Medi-Cal/Medicare beneficiaries enrolled with Health Plan of San Mateo. In this role she helps low-income San Mateo residents navigate the maze of the current healthcare system.
After graduating from UC Irvine with a double major in Political Science and International Studies as well as a minor in Middle East Studies, Amira moved to New York City to pursue her law degree at The Fordham University School of Law. Upon graduating in 2011, she worked as an agency attorney at the New York City Transit Authority, doing civil litigation defense for the Transit Authority. After moving back to the Bay Area, Amira earned her master’s degree in social work with plans to continue working as an attorney in the non-profit sector.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.