Sam Felker Confirmed as New Board of Health Member
Partner with Bass, Berry and Sims
Sam Felker joins the Metropolitan Board of Health after being appointed by Mayor Karl Dean and confirmed by the Metro Council. He will serve a five-year term on the Board of Health, which oversees the Health Department of Nashville Davidson County. Felker joined the law firm Bass, Berry and Sims in 1980, immediately after graduating from law school at the University of Virginia.
"I am extremely honored that Mayor Dean is giving me this opportunity and I look forward to serving Nashville and getting involved in the important work of making Nashville a healthier city" said Felker.
The six member Board of Health includes William N. Hance, J.D., Chairman, Ruth Stewart, M.D., Vice Chair, Samuel O. Okpaku, M.D., Secretary, Henry Foster, M.D., and Janie E. Parmley, R.N. Felker replaces Margaret L. Behm, J.D., who served as a Board of Health member for the past nine years.
Under the Metro Charter, the Board of Health are composed of six members. Three members must be doctors of medicine certified for practice by the state board of medical examiners and licensed by the state licensing board for the healing arts. Each of the three must have at least five years experience in the active practice of medicine. Per the Metro Charter requirements, one of the doctors must have experience in the field of psychiatry. One member of the board must be a registered nurse. The two remaining members of the Board are chosen without reference to occupation. Each Board member serves his or her duties without compensation.
Felker specializes in litigation and dispute resolution, and he has represented and advised numerous pharmaceutical and medical device companies, local hospitals, doctors and medical personnel. He is listed in Lawdragon 3000 Leading Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers in America®.
Felker will serve at his first Board of Health meeting on Tuesday, October 9th.