Teresa Sands is a seasoned health care executive with a proven track record of driving operationalexcellence, strategic growth, and financial performance across complex systems. With 20 years ofexperience in the field, 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. Sands led a $200 million enterprise, overseeing hospital operations, ambulatory services,specialty clinics, and physician practices, while ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care delivery.Ms. Sands was instrumental in the service line expansion initiatives including pediatric physicaltherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, and a fitness and wellness center.​

Prior to McKenzie Health, Ms. Sands was the Regional Operations Director for Riverside Medical Clinic, based in Riverside, California. In this role, Ms. Sands was responsible for executive leadership, financial, operational, and clinical oversight of six multi-specialty clinics, physician practice management (with 200 physicians), three ambulatory surgery centers, three urgent care locations, four radiology and imaging locations, a community education and wellness program, infection prevention, and a university sports clinic.​
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Ms. Sands also served as the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer for San Diego County. In this role,she provided leadership across multiple public health clinics and medical facilities. She was alsoresponsible for managing policy, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance, as well as overseeingthe nurse residency program and field operations.​

Ms. Sands has had a lifelong commitment to global health initiatives. She has participated ininternational medical and surgical missions in Guatemala, Peru, Panama, and the Philippines,supporting underserved communities through direct patient care and clinical collaboration.​

Ms. Sands holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Regis University. She is a Registered Nurse with multi-state compact licensure.​