RIZE Massachusetts, an independent nonprofit foundation working to end the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts, today announced the election of five new members to its Board of Directors and the appointment of three new staff members.

Patricia Ma, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health was elected to the board. Patricia Ma provides legal and executive leadership and strategic counsel to advance the work of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health in support of its mission and vision. With over 25 years of experience in navigating health care legal, regulatory and compliance matters, she has served in executive leadership roles and as general counsel for both private and publicly traded health care companies. Before joining CareQuest Institute, she was general counsel and chief compliance officer for Active Day, the country's largest operator of adult day health centers.

Ma earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Johns Hopkins University and a Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law.

Other board members are Michael Curry, President and CEO, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers; Christie L. Hager, Former Regional Director, New England Region, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Steven Lipiner, Chief Financial Officer, State Street Global Advisors; Frank Robinson, Vice President of Public Health, Baystate Health

"Our board represents a range of interests, but we all are united in the fight to end the overdose crisis in Massachusetts by supporting evidence-based research and solutions," said Steve Pollock, President & CEO of DentaQuest and Chair of the Board of Directors at RIZE. "We're honored to have this group of experienced leaders join the board, as their expertise and commitment will further our mission of reaching zero stigma and zero deaths in the Commonwealth."