PORTLAND, Ore., June 9, 2014 – University of Western States (UWS), a leader in the education of health care professionals, announced that Vice President of Finance and Administration Eric Blumenthal, has been elected chairman of the Pioneer Educators Health Trust (PEHT) by the PEHT trustees at their May meeting at George Fox University Portland.
In addition to being a PEHT Trustee, Blumenthal is a peer evaluator for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and serves as an academy of site team visitor for the Council on Chiropractic Education. He is the former director of business affairs at Portland State University. Blumenthal succeeds Edwin “Ed” McFarlane as chairman. McFarlane, Vice President and Treasurer of Reed College, is retiring after 41 years of service to Reed. “I am honored to chair the trust,” Blumenthal said. “I look forward to working with the other PEHT trustees collectively serving our institutions by providing medical, dental, vision and prescription benefits to employees and dependents in a responsive and cost efficient way.”
Blumenthal joined UWS in April 2011 as vice president of finance and administration overseeing the institution’s financial and administrative operations including financial services, master planning, human resources, auxiliary services, facilities, campus operations and maintenance.
About Pioneer Educators Health Trust PEHT, organized in 2003, is a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA) providing medical, dental, vision, and prescription benefits to employees of participating member colleges and universities of the Oregon Independent Colleges Association and their covered dependents. PEHT is the second oldest MEWA in the State of Oregon. Oregon colleges and universities participating in the Trust include George Fox University, Lewis & Clark College, Linfield College, Pacific University, Reed College, University of Western States and Willamette University.
