Portland, Ore.

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has appointed Sandra Assasnik, M.A., as program manager for the Office of Program Development and Outreach for the Center for Women's Health. Assasnik began her new position Nov. 27, 2006.

Assasnik was most recently employed by Marion County as a Rural and Prevention program supervisor. Prior to that, she worked at the OHSU Office of Rural Health, where she collaborated with the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program and assisted with the recruiting of rural health care professionals.

Assasnik earned her undergraduate and her master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Utah. While in Utah, she also completed all but her dissertation toward a doctoral degree in Medical Anthropology. She has more than 10 years' experience in health care, beginning with her work in the Utah state government as the program manager of Primary Care and Rural Health and as the Utah Diabetes Control Program director. While in Utah, she also created a state Cultural Competency in Health Care Program and the Utah J-1 Visa Waiver program, designed to help sponsor foreign medical graduates to work in underserved communities.

In her spare time, Assasnik enjoys gardening, painting and working with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.  She has two children who attend Portland Community College and a husband of seven years.

Assasnik replaces Wendy Mitchell, M.A., who will retire Feb. 28, 2007.

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The OHSU Center for Women's Health was founded in 1997 to define a new model of health care for women. The center is changing the health care experience for women by combining the best in clinical care with cutting-edge research and empowering patient education. For women in Oregon and throughout the Northwest, the center offers a new style and quality of care, centered on women and their families, and backed by the medical excellence of OHSU.