ATTORNEY GENERAL PRUITT APPOINTS MERCY HEALTH CENTER PRESIDENT JIM GEBHART TO TOBACCO TRUST BOARD. - States News Service

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- The following information was released by the office of the Oklahoma Attorney General:

Attorney General Scott Pruitt has appointed James R. Gebhart Jr. to the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust. His term begins Feb. 1 and will end June 30, 2018.

'I am proud to announce my appointment of Jim Gebhart to the TSET Board. I know Jim's leadership will be an asset in promoting sound strategies that directly impact tobacco cessation to improve the health and quality of life for residents across the state,' Pruitt said.

Gebhart is president of Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City and an advocate for reducing tobacco usage in Oklahoma through education, prevention and treatment.

'I am honored to join the TEST Board, whose passion for preventive care directly aligns with mine,' Gebhart said. 'Their work to improve the health of Oklahomans is inspiring and I look forward to contributing to the overall efforts that ultimately make our state a better place to live, work and raise a family.'

Gebhart joined Mercy from Hillcrest Health System in Waco, Texas, where he served as senior executive vice president and chief operating officer. Gebhart, a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, has more than 20 years of experience in health care. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee and a master's degree in business administration and health services management from the University of Dallas.

'Jim Gebhart brings valuable experience and perspective to our board,' said Tracey Strader, TSET executive director. 'His knowledge of the health care industry and passion for reducing the number of Oklahomans who use tobacco will be a great asset to TSET as we work together to improve the health of all Oklahomans.'

The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust was created in November 2000 through a constitutional amendment approved by Oklahoma voters. Oklahomans created an endowment to assure that Oklahoma's share of the multi-state tobacco settlement would be invested and made available for tobacco prevention.

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