As an Executive Medical Officer, Dr. Vernicka Porter-Sales has more than two decades of clinical experience and 12 years in managed care. Board certified in Pediatrics, Dr. Porter-Sales most recently served as Chief Medical Officer at Community Health Choice following many years of experience at Aetna as Regional Medicaid Medicare Director and United Health Care as Senior Medical Director.

As Legacy’s Chief of Population Health & Legacy Performance Services, Dr. Porter-Sales is directly responsible for all clinicians and the overall strategic direction and coordination of all population health, care coordination management, value-based care and outcome components. She also oversees pharmacy, manages care contracts and collaborates with leadership teams to identify opportunities and develop strategic plans with a focus on supporting the shift from care delivered in a fee-for-service model to value-based business and care models.

Dr. Porter-Sales earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Tuskegee University and went on to become a Neurophysiology Technician at the Baylor College of Medicine, Restorative Neurology Department. After next earning her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Porter-Sales completed her internship in Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and her Pediatric Residency at Cooper University Hospital.

Born and raised in the Independent Heights area of Houston, Dr. Porter-Sales has three daughters with her husband of over 23 years, Michael. She enjoys traveling, reading and singing.