Teresa Sands is a seasoned healthcare executive with a proven track record of driving operational excellence,strategic growth, and financial performance across complex healthcare organizations. With 20 years ofexperience Ms. Sands is a valuable addition to the OPEN MINDS team. ​

As former Chief Operating Officer of McKenzie Health, a health system in western North Dakota, Ms. Sandsled a $200 million enterprise, overseeing hospital operations, ambulatory services, specialty clinics, andphysician practices, while ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care delivery. Ms. Sands was instrumental inthe service line onboarding and expansion of: Inpatient Dialysis, Pediatric PT/OT/Speech, IT, Informatics,Fitness and Wellness Center.​

Prior to McKenzie Health, Ms. Sands was the Regional Operations Director for Riverside Medical Clinic,headquartered in Riverside, CA. Here, she was responsible for executive leadership, financial, operational,and clinical oversight of six multi-specialty clinics, physician practice management (200 providers), threeambulatory surgery centers, three urgent care locations, four radiology and imaging locations, a communityeducation and wellness program, infection prevention and a university sports clinic.​

Before her work with McKenzie Health, Ms. Sands was the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer for San DiegoCounty. In this role, she provided leadership across multiple public health clinics and medical facilities. Shewas also responsible for managing policy, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance, as well asoverseeing the nurse residency program and field operations.​

In addition to her health system leadership, Ms. Sands brings executive consulting experience as former CEOof The Vincitori Group, Vice President of Nexera Consulting, and Regional Vice President of NESHealth where she advised organizations on strategy, operations, and leadership development. She is knownfor building high-performing teams, strengthening organizational accountability, and aligning operations withlong-term strategic goals. ​

Ms. Sands is also committed to global health initiatives, participating in international medical and surgicalmissions in Guatemala, Peru, Panama, and the Philippines, supporting underserved communities throughdirect patient care and clinical collaboration.​

Ms. Sands holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from RegisUniversity and is a Registered Nurse with Multi-State Compact licensure.​