The TranZed Alliance, a nonprofit organization serving children and families in Maryland and the District of Columbia, named Dr. Paul Rao vice chair of its board of directors. Rao brings over 45 years of experience in health care leadership and speech-language pathology.

Rao is a rehabilitation health care consultant and retired after 28 years in 2014 as vice president of inpatient operations and compliance at Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital in the District of Columbia. Previously, he held positions including vice president of clinical services, privacy officer and corporate compliance officer at Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital.

Rao has presented more than 100 lectures in 35 states, Canada, Brazil and New Zealand as well as published pieces covering clinical and administrative topics. He has served as a member of expert panels for organizations including Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Rand Corporation, The Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and The Joint Commission.

Among his honors, he was recognized in a Washington, D.C., Council Resolution for his distinguished career and received a Certificate of Distinction and Recognition by Mayor Vincent Gray. Rao is a fellow with ASHA and the American College of Healthcare Executives and presented the John W. Goldschmidt Lecture on Excellence in Rehabilitation and The Susan Carter Lectureship at Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital. He also received lifetime achievement awards from Loyola University Maryland and the District of Columbia Speech and Hearing Association.

Rao served as president of ASHA in 2011 and chaired boards for the association. He is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the National Association of Healthcare Quality. He also served as president of the Maryland Speech and Hearing Association and chair of the Maryland Board of Examiners for Speech Pathologists and Audiologists. Rao currently serves on the University of Maryland’s Board of Visitors.

In addition, Rao has received academic appointments from the University of Maryland, Gallaudet University and Loyola University Maryland and is a member of the SLP Advisory Board for the Rush University Medical Center. He holds a doctorate in hearing and speech science from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in speech pathology from Catholic University and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Vincent College.

The TranZed Alliance is a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations and is dedicated to transforming how America educates and cares for its children through education, behavioral health and national training and consultation services. Affiliates of the TranZed Alliance include The Children’s Guild, Monarch Academy schools, The Children’s Guild D.C. Public Charter School, The Upside Down Organization, the National At Risk Education Network, the TranZed Alliance Conference Center, The National Children’s Guild Fund and TranZed Apprenticeship Ventures. (www.childrensguild.org)