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HOME > ABOUT > PRESS > NORTH BAY'S HEALTH CARE LEADERS
Article published - April 6, 2009
Credit: NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL
The North Bay’s health care leaders: Sonoma and Marin counties
BY D. ASHLEY FURNESS
Jim Adams
Reach Air Medical Services
451 Aviation Blvd. Ste. 201, Santa Rosa 95403
707-324-2400
www.reachair.com
Reach Air Medical Services Chief Executive Officer Jim Adams has served in his current position since 2001, but he started his career with the company as a flight nurse in 1992.
Before taking on the executive role at the headquarters office in Santa Rosa, Mr. Adams worked as area vice president of ancillary operations for St. Joseph Health System–Sonoma County, which operated Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Petaluma Valley Hospital and North Coast Rehabilitation Center.
He also worked a stint as director of trauma and emergency services for Memorial Hospital, where he had a significant role in developing the facility’s designation as the region’s first Level II trauma center.
He still serves on the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Foundation board, where he is a member of the executive and strategic planning committee. Mr. Adams received his nursing degree from Pacific Union College and his master’s in public administration and health services administration from the University of San Francisco.
Larry Bedard, M.D.
Marin Healthcare District
201 Tamal Vista Blvd. Ste. 200, Corte Madera 94925
415-461-5700
www.marinhealthcare.org
Two-and-half-year Marin Healthcare District board member Dr. Larry Bedard assumed his position as chair last year.
“[The district] is in a very exciting time right now as we work toward the return of Marin General Hospital to community control. I think we are now establishing the foundations for health care here in Marin County for the next generation,” he said.
Born in the small city of Alpena, Mich., he moved to the North Bay in 1974 and currently resides in Sausalito. He said he decided to pursue medicine after seeing his brother prosper in the industry, and he wanted to follow his love of science and working with people. He worked as director of emergency services at Marin General for seven years and was on staff for 22 years.
He received his bachelor’s and doctorate from the University of Michigan and interned with French Hospital in San Francisco. He earned the William Filante Award for outstanding legislative service from the Marin Medical Society in 1992 and a California Legislature Assembly Commendation in 1993.
“My lifelong ambition is to be in the Oval Office when our President signs the bill bringing universal health care to our country,” he said.
Cathy Bryan
Blood Bank of the Redwoods
2324 Bethards Drive, Santa Rosa 95405
800-525-6634
www.bbr.org
Blood Bank of the Redwoods President and CEO Cathy Bryan has worked for the bank for 30 years, including 20 in her current position. During her tenure, she has increased blood donations from 19,000 to 45,000 units annually and increased employment from 25 to 125.
She developed the first-ever Food and Drug Administration-licensed blood-bank software program with the Eden Blood Bank User Group, an association she created comprised of eight independent community blood centers.
Guy Chicoine
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center
401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403
707-571-4000
www.kp.org
Medical Group Administrator Guy Chicoine joined Kaiser Permanente 16 years ago. He moved to his current position in Santa Rosa in 2008 after serving as director of national delivery system leaders at Kaiser’s program office in Oakland.
His primary duties include overseeing strategy and operations for the outpatient clinics, lab, radiology and emergency room in conjunction with the physician-in-chief of the medical center. Additionally, he works closely with unions to develop a culture of performance improvement in Santa Rosa.
Judy Coffey, R.N.
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center
401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403
707-571-4000
www.kp.org
As senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente since 2004, Judy Coffey oversees the delivery of health care to more than 235,000 members in Sonoma and Marin counties. She is the chief executive responsible for all hospital and health plan operations for the area.
Ms. Coffey has been with Kaiser for nearly 30 years, serving in a variety of positions in hospitals and medical groups. She is a member of the American Heart Association executive board, the North Bay Hospital Council, Sonoma County Sonoma Health Action Council, Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board, as well as several other community groups.
The Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce named her 2009 Business Woman of the Year. She is a registered nurse and earned her bachelor’s in management and a master’s in business administration.
Mike Cohill
Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa
3325 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa 95404
707-576-4000
www.suttersantarosa.org
Mike Cohill is the president and CEO for Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County operations, including Sutter Medical Foundation North Bay. He has served on the leadership team for Sutter Health’s Sonoma County facilities for the last 20 years, and he concurrently provides guidance to Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City and to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport.
Additionally, he is responsible for systemwide supply-chain management, facility planning and development and Sutter VNA & Hospice.
Joel Criste
Marin Individual Practice Association
3 Hamilton Landing Ste. 160, Novato 94949
415-884-1840
www.marinipa.com
The Marin Individual Practice Association is a health care network of more than 300 Marin and Sonoma County physicians led by Chief Executive Joel Criste, who is also CEO and founder of the Prima Medical Group.
He has served on local, regional, statewide and national committees focusing on health care finance and practice management. Mr. Criste has a bachelor’s degree in finance from San Diego State University and a master’s in business administration from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga.
Lee Domanico
Marin Healthcare District
201 Tamal Vista Blvd. Ste. 200, Corte Madera 94925
415-461-5700
www.marinhealthcare.org
Marin Healthcare District CEO Lee Domanico was hired early last year to help guide the transfer of Marin General Hospital back to public control after extended management by Northern California-based Sutter Health.
The two entities agreed in 2006 to end the management contract early after differences concerning who should pay for required seismic upgrades. Mr. Domanico has led successful transition planning during the last year and will continue to complete necessary preparations before the transfer date, which will occur at midnight on June 29, 2010.
Previous to joining the Marin district, he led successful turnarounds at other hospitals, including as CEO of the Legacy Health System in Portland, Ore., and with Mountain View-based El Camino Hospital. During his tenure with El Camino, Mr. Domanico took the hospital from a deficit of more than $13 million to topping $20 million in earnings.
In total, he has more than 30 years work experience in health care.
Daymon Doss
Petaluma Health Care District
1425 N. McDowell Blvd. Ste. 103, Petaluma 94954
707-285-2143
www.phcd.org
Oklahoma-native Daymon Doss has worked as executive director for the Petaluma Health Care District for the last 12 years after serving the company in a different position for 17 years. He helped negotiate the lease of Petaluma Valley Hospital to the St. Joseph Health System.
Mr. Doss received most of his education in Sonoma County and began his health career as a registered nurse.
Wayne Fairchild
Redwood Regional Medical Group
121 Sotoyome St., Santa Rosa 95405
707-546-4062
www.rrmginc.com
Former Petaluma Valley Hospital vice president of operations, Wayne Fairchild, left the St. Joseph Health System–Sonoma County hospital last year to assume the interim CEO slot vacated by former chief Shahab Dadjou.
Born in San Diego, Mr. Fairchild moved to the North Bay in 2005 after living in Hawaii. He started his career as a surgical technician and has now worked in the industry for more than 30 years. Previous to working in Petaluma, he served as chief administrative officer for the Maui region of the Hawaii Health System Corp. During his time on the island, he also worked as CEO for Kula Hospital. Early in his career, he also led several health care facilities in southern California.
He received his bachelor’s in applied economics from Ambassador University.
Naomi Fuchs
Southwest Community Health Center
751 Lombardi Court Ste. B, Santa Rosa 95407
707-547-2222
www.swhealthcenter.org
Naomi Fuchs has been the chief executive officer of the nonprofit federally qualified clinic, Southwest Community Health Center, for more than eight years, where she oversaw the organization’s patient load increase from about 7,000 to more than 20,000 today. The clinic recently assumed operating control of the Chanate Family Practice Center, the Roseland Children’s Health Center and the Santa Rosa Free Clinic, and it is in the process of developing a new site.
She is a former CEO for the Redwood Empire Medical Group, and she spent five years consulting for national organizations, medical groups and hospitals before joining Southwest.
Ms. Fuchs is a member of the Redwood Community Health Coalition, Sonoma County Health Action, Sonoma County Managed Medi-Cal Planning Group, Mental Health Services Act Prevention and Early Intervention Planning Steering Committee, among others.
Carl Gerlach
Sonoma Valley Hospital
347 Andrieux St., Sonoma 95476
707-935-5000
www.svh.com
Thirty-five year health industry veteran and Sonoma Valley Hospital CEO Carl Gerlach has led the facility through an eventful several years, leading the successful acceptance of a $35 million bond measure last year that will help upgrade the facility and equipment.
During his term, he assisted in the launch of a joint-powers authority agreement with Palm Drive Hospital, Healdsburg District Hospital and Mendocino Coast Hospital in 2007. Before joining SVH, he worked as director for Livingston Community Health Services and for Oakland-based HFS Consultants. He also worked previously as CEO of the East Bay Medical Network.
Gary Greensweig, D.O.
St. Joseph Health System–Sonoma County
1165 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa 95405
707-546-3210
www.stjosephhealth.org
Gary Greensweig is the chief medical officer of St. Joseph Health System–Sonoma County, where he provides leadership and directs performance improvement and medical staff services. He is a family physician and has practiced in Santa Rosa for the past 23 years.
Robin Hagenstad, R.N., M.S., M.S.N.
Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa
3325 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa 95404
707-576-4000
www.suttersantarosa.org
Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa’s chief nursing officer, Robin Hagenstad, has led patient care services with the Northern California-based health system’s Sonoma County hospital for six years. She is the executive responsible for nursing services, emergency, surgery, pharmacy, diagnostic lab and imaging services.
She was previously employed with St. Joseph Health System for 28 years in several roles, including vice president of patient care services in Santa Rosa.
During her time with Sutter, Ms. Hagenstad assisted in the implementation of the current care intervention model at the Santa Rosa hospital, which resulted in a quality of care award from the Voluntary Hospital Association in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
She received her nursing degree from Providence College of Nursing in Oakland and her master’s in community health administration from the California College for Health Sciences in San Diego. She also holds a master’s in nursing from Sonoma State University and a bachelor’s in management from Pacific Christian College.
Susan Janvrin, R.N., M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center
401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403
707-571-4000
www.kp.org
Susan Janvrin has worked for Kaiser Permanente for the last 16 years, three of which have been as chief operating officer at the Santa Rosa Medical Center.
She is a member of the Association of California Nurse Leaders and recently served as the board secretary for the California Parenting Institute. She has worked in health care for more than 35 years in a variety of roles, including as a clinical and pediatric nurse.
Pat Kendall, R.N.
Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center
99 Montecillo Road, San Rafael 94903
415-444-2000
www.kp.org
Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center Medical Group Administrator Pat Kendall has been in her current position for 17 years and with the organization since 1973.
Among several awards in her career, she received the 2008 San Rafael Chamber of Commerce Ann Weston Community Services Award and the 2004 Community Action Marin Dorothy Hughes Humanitarian Award.
Ms. Kendall is a registered nurse with a specialty in emergency medicine. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in organizational development and human resource management with an emphasis on leadership and change management.
In addition, she completed post-graduate work at both Stanford University and U.C. Berkeley. Active in many community organizations, she currently chairs the North Bay Leadership Council and the Healthy Marin Partnership.
Kevin Klockenga
St. Joseph Health System–Sonoma County
1165 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa 95405
707-546-3210
www.stjosephhealth.org
Kevin Klockenga was named permanent CEO and president for St. Joseph Health System–Sonoma County this March after assuming the chief operating officer role in early September, followed by interim CEO later that month.
Mr. Klockenga joined the health system from Catholic Healthcare West, where he served as an administrator for two Bakersfield hospitals. In total, he has more than 18 years health care administration experience and in his previous post was able to markedly increase quality of care and employee satisfaction scores.
Bruce Lee
Verihealth Inc.
200 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95404
707-303-8000
www.verihealth.com
Verihealth Inc. CEO Bruce Lee had more than 25 years experience in emergency services before assuming the ambulance services company role this March. He was born in San Mateo but just moved to Santa Rosa to join Verihealth after working as EMS director for the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.
He previously worked as operations supervisor for the University of California Police Department in Santa Barbara and holds a bachelor’s in health services administration from Saint Mary’s College. He also graduated from the Daniel Freeman Hospital School for Paramedics in Los Angeles. In 1990, Mr. Lee received the California Governor’s Office award for excellence in emergency management from Gov. Deukmajian. Also, in 2007, he was appointed to the California Commission on Emergency Medical Services by Gov. Schwarzenegger and currently serves as the chair.
Last year, he was recognized as EMS Administrator of the Year by the California EMS Authority.
Sandra Lew
Hospice by the Bay
17 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Larkspur 94939
415-927-2273
www.hospicebythebay.org
Twenty-six-year health care veteran Sandra Lew assumed the role of CEO for Hospice by the Bay after longtime chief Mary Taverna left the nonprofit last April. Previously, she worked as vice president of clinical operations and chief operating officer with the hospice for six years. The nonprofit provides hospice and palliative care and grief support to communities in Marin, San Francisco, Northern San Mateo and Sonoma counties.
Beginning in social work, Ms. Lew had her first experiences with death and dying as a worker in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS epidemic.
She was recently appointed to the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association board as regional director, and she sits on the board of Marin’s Center for Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership.
Jill Magri, R.N.
Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center
99 Monticello Road, San Rafael 94903
415-444-2000
www.kp.org
Jill Magri has served as chief operating officer for the Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center for the last six years. Her responsibilities include overseeing all hospital and patient care operations for the 120-bed acute care facility.
She also works as chair for the North Bay Hospital Council Section, a board of director’s president for the Petaluma Health Center and member for the Marin County Workforce Investment Board, where she is also co-chair for the health care sector committee.
Ms. Magri is a registered nurse with a master’s in business administration. She’s worked in health care for 25 years in administrative and clinical positions, including in perioperative nursing.
Larry Meredith, Ph.D.
Marin County Department of Health and Human Services
20 N. San Pedro Road Ste. 2028, San Rafael 94903
415-499-6924
www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/hh/main/index.cfm
Larry Meredith has served as director of the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services since September 2001. He leads more than 700 full- and part-time employees in five locations and oversees a budget of about $135 million.
He assisted in the development of the recently opened Marin Health & Wellness Campus, which includes coordinated health, social and economic services. The campus provides a unique opportunity for residents and organizations to become engaged in the planning for and provision of an array of educational, training and prevention activities designed to promote health, well-being and self-sufficiency.
Gary Mizono, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center
99 Montecillo Road, San Rafael 94903
415-444-2000
www.kp.org
Gary Mizono has worked as physician-in-chief of Kaiser Permanente Medical Group in San Rafael since 2007 and as a physician with Kaiser for more than 16 years.
He completed his residency in head and neck surgery, graduating to launch his own private practice in San Francisco in 1985. He is a board member for Hospice by the Bay and Kimochi Inc.
Jack Neureuter
Alliance Medical Center
1381 University Ave., Healdsburg 95448
8465 Old Redwood Hwy. Ste. 400, Windsor 95492
707-433-5494
www.alliancemed.org
Buffalo, N.Y.-native Jack Neureuter was promoted to the position of CEO of Alliance Medical Center in 2005 after serving as the federally-qualified health center’s chief operating officer. He said his current focus is financial stability in the face of state funding cuts and providing quality care with a wellness focus.
In addition to his work at the clinic, Mr. Neureuter serves on the board of trustees for the Alexander Valley School District and on the board of directors for the Redwood Community Health Coalition, Hospice of Petaluma and Memorial Hospice and the Healdsburg Rotary.
Mr. Neureuter moved to the west coast in San Francisco in 1960 and to the North Bay in Alexander Valley in 1980. He received his bachelor’s in economics and political science from Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y.
Robert Ostroff
Petaluma Health Care District
1425 N. McDowell Blvd. Ste. 103, Petaluma 94954
707-285-2143
www.phcd.org
Longtime Petaluma doctor and former South Sonoma County Medical Group chief Robert Ostroff was elected as president of the Petaluma Health Care District board last November.
He said his favorite part of the new position is that he is “able to get off the sideline and into the game with some ideas and energy.”
The Baltimore native moved to the North Bay in 1972 and has practiced in Petaluma since 1980, though he is now semi-retired. He was an emergency room doctor for close to 30 years and director of emergency services for Petaluma Valley Hospital for 25 years. He said he chose health studies to follow in his father’s footsteps but reaffirmed his goal while working road construction through college. He received his bachelor’s from Washington and Lee University in Virginia and his doctorate from the University of Maryland.
In his spare time he spends time with his grandchildren and travels with his wife Eileen, as well as playing golf each week at the Petaluma Golf & Country Club.
Nancy Oswald
Redwood Community Health Coalition
1180 Fourth St. Ste. B, Santa Rosa 95404
707-542-7242
www.rchc.net
Nancy Oswald is the executive director of the Redwood Community Health Coalition, where she advocates on behalf of a network of about 18 community clinics and other health organizations in Sonoma, Napa, Marin and Yolo counties. The group is currently leading the implementation of an electronic medical records system across 10 North Bay centers.
Ms. Oswald has more than 23 years experience in health care, beginning with work in a New York public hospital system, and she is a past president of the National IPA Coalition. She received her doctorate from the Union Institute in community health systems development, and she joined RCHC in 2005.
Kirk Pappas, M.D.
Sonoma County Medical Association
3033 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa 95403
707-525-4265
www.scma.org
Sonoma County Medical Association recently appointed Dr. Kirk Pappas president. He is Vancouver-born but grew up in San Mateo and attended U.C. Berkeley. He left the state briefly to pursue his master’s from Wayne State University and interned with the Detroit Medical Center. He completed a three-year residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s, where he also achieved chief resident.
In 1992, he returned to California and opened a private practice for two years in the East Bay before settling in Sonoma County as a physician with Kaiser Permanente, where he still practices today as a physiatrist specialist.
Additionally, he serves on the United Way board of directors, Sonoma County Health Action Council community engagement committee and the Sonoma County Managed Medi-Cal Steering Committee. He is an associate clinic professor at UCSF though the Sonoma County residency program.
His wife, Maria Pappas, is a past president of the SCMA Alliance.
Kathryn Powell
Petaluma Health Center
1301 Southpoint Blvd., Petaluma 94954
707-559-7500
www.phealthcenter.org
Petaluma Health Center CEO Kathryn Powell has led the nonprofit, federally qualified community health center for six years, doubling its capacity and leading it to a position of strong financial stability. The clinic provides medical, obstetrics, gynecology, mental health and dental services to about 6,000 low-income, un- or under-insured patients monthly.
She was also recently appointed to the Petaluma Health Care District board of directors, where she serves as vice president. She also sits on the board for the Redwood Community Health Coalition, which is currently implementing an electronic health records system at 10 centers in Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Yolo counties.
Evan Rayner
Healdsburg District Hospital
1375 University St., Healdsburg 95448
707-431-6500
www.nschd.org
Healdsburg District Hospital CEO Evan Rayner has worked in health care for more than 22 years, two of which have been as chief of the north Sonoma County hospital.
He is a board member of the Northern California Healthcare Authority and the Rural Healthcare Advisory Board. He has a bachelor’s in political science and a master’s in health care administration.
Chris Rogers
Sutter Medical Foundation North Bay
3883 Airway Drive Ste. 300, Santa Rosa 95403
707-521-8830
www.sutternorthbay.org
Chris Rogers has served as executive director for the Sutter Medical Foundation North Bay since December 2007, where he is responsible for administrative oversight of the doctor’s group.
Previous to taking the Santa Rosa position, he worked as chief operation officer for the Greeley Medical Clinic in Greeley, Colo., which encompassed 65 providers and 350 total employees with revenues exceeding $120 million.
He also worked with the Banner Health System of Colorado and National Medical Enterprises and Humana Inc. He graduated with a master’s in business administration from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s in finance, accounting and real estate from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Greg Rosa, M.D.
Palm Drive Medical Center
6800 Palm Ave. Ste. C1, Sebastopol 95472
707-823-7616
www.palmdrivehospital.com/medicalcenter
Thirty-three year West County family practice physician Greg Rosa was recently named director of the Palm Drive Medical Center, a primary and specialty office launched in May 2008 by the neighboring health district that also operates Palm Drive Hospital.
Dr. Rosa founded the Occidental Community Health Center and served on the board for the Health Plan of the Redwoods. He is also the current chairman of the community health committee for the Sonoma County Medical Association and sits on the board for Healthy Kids.
Jim Russell
Palm Drive Hospital
501 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol 95472
707-823-8511
www.palmdrivehospital.com
Palm Drive Hospital CEO Jim Russell has a long history of health care administration in Sonoma County and elsewhere, serving as the previous CEO for the Community Hospital in Santa Rosa before it was assumed by the Sutter Health system. While in that position, he cut operating losses by 70 percent in two years and increased net revenues by $3 million.
Mr. Russell took over the reins of Palm last year during efforts to pull the district hospital out of bankruptcy, as well as complete extensive refurbishing and additions. The facility recently announced that is just weeks away from completing the court process and will soon be out of Chapter 9 and profitable.
Immediately preceding his current title, Mr. Russell worked as a consultant and operations executive in Orange County after serving as CEO and CFO for Health First Medical Group in Memphis, Tenn. He received his master’s in business administration from the University of Utah and his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.
Rita Scardaci, R.N., M.P.H.
Sonoma County Department of Health Services
3313 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa 95404
707-565-4700
www.sonoma-county.org/health
Rita Scardaci is the director of the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, where she is responsible for a $200 million budget and more than 750 employees.
She is currently in her fourth year at the post, and she co-chairs and helped create the county health-advocacy group Sonoma County Health Action Council. She is on the board of the California Endowment, and she chairs the Sonoma Health Alliance Leadership Group. She has worked in health care for more than 40 years, and she helped form the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Consortium, which will take over administration of the residency program in Sonoma County.
Bob Schultz, M.D.
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center
401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403
707-571-4000
www.kp.org
Health care veteran Dr. Bob Schultz has been with Kaiser Permanente for more than 28 years, 14 of which he has served as physician-in-chief for the Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center.
He oversees medical group operations, which include all physicians and outpatient clinical staff including lab, radiology and emergency department staff.
John Shen
Marin Community Clinics
300 Professional Center Drive Ste. 311, Novato 94947
415-448-1500
www.marinclinic.org
Marin Community Clinics Executive Director John Shen oversees the group’s three federally qualified health centers in Novato, San Rafael and Greenbrae that care for more than 20,000 patients. The company recently completed its third location in San Rafael and relocated its Novato clinic to 6100 Redwood Blvd. effective April 6.
Mr. Shen joined the clinics in August 2007 after moving to the Bay Area from Hong Kong in 1978 and working in previous health care positions for 28 years.
Ruth Skidmore
Northern California Medical Associates Inc.
3536 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 95403
707-573-6150
www.ncmahealth.com
Northern California Medical Associates CEO Ruth Skidmore has more than 30 years experience in outpatient and inpatient clinical and financial administration, serving in her most recent position since 1992. In the past year, she led the company in the development of a downtown surgery center and negotiating a partnership with the Petaluma Health Care District.
Also during her tenure as NCMA chief, she has increased revenues from $4 million to $35 million and the number of offices from four to 18. Previous to moving to Sonoma County, she worked as vice president of the Ambulatory Management Corp. and as an instructor at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, both in Chicago. She received her master’s in health systems management from Rush University and her bachelor’s in nursing from Loyola University. She is a member of the Medical Group Management Association and the American Medical Group Association.
Mary Ellen Smith
Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County
132 Mill St., Healdsburg 95448
707-473-0583
www.healthcarefoundation.net
As chairman of Health-care Foundation Northern Sonoma County, Mary Ellen Smith has led the group’s $14.5 million capital campaign to support Healdsburg District Hospital. So far the campaign has produced the Wetzel Family Emergency Department, the Kozel Stroke Institute, the Patricia and Raymond Chambers intensive care unit and the Dry Creek Rancheria Women’s Health Center.
Ms. Smith was born and raised in Southern California and had a lengthy career in the fashion industry in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. She began her community services career at very young age, volunteering in child and family welfare programs. She also served nine years as a board of directors’ member for the Edgewood Center for Children and Families, which aids more than 5,000 children in crisis in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In 1991 she and her husband, Dick, purchased a weekend home in Healdsburg, and in 2000 they made it their full-time residence.
Mary Szecsey
West County Health Centers Inc.
P.O. Box 1449, Guerneville 95446
www.wchealth.org
Mary Szecsey has worked as executive director for West County Health Centers for the last 14 years, where she has overseen the community clinic network’s consolidation, growth and electronic records transformation. The organization recently opened a new clinic in Sebastopol, bringing the total sites to five, including the Russian River Health Center, Occidental Area Health Center, Sebastopol Community Health Center, Forestville Teen Clinic and the Russian River Dental Clinic and Mental Health Services.
Ms. Szecsey is a board member for the California Primary Care Association, which is the primary voice for clinics in the capitol. Additionally she serves as a Palm Drive Healthcare District board member, and she is a member of the Redwood Community Health Coalition, Sonoma County Health Action Council and the Sonoma Health Access Coalition.
Alena Wall
Northern California Center for Well-Being
365 Tesconi Circle Ste. B, Santa Rosa 95401
707-575-6043
www.norcalwellbeing.org
Northern California Center for Well-Being Executive Director Alena Wall joined the wellness center in April 2007, bringing more than a decade of experience in health care. Since joining the center, she has secured contracts to expand the center’s pediatric and adolescent health programs to address childhood obesity and iron-deficiency anemia throughout the county.
Ms. Wall currently chairs the Community Activity Nutrition Coalition steering committee, and she serves on the health care delivery system task force for Sonoma County Health Action Council. She also serves in leadership roles for the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professional’s Network and with the Sonoma County Employer’s Coalition on Health.
Last year, she helped complete a collaborative project with the Sonoma County Economic Development Board called the Worksite Wellness Toolkit – a free online guide for employers who want to start their own wellness program.
Lucy Weiger
St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare, Sonoma County
1165 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa 95405
707-547-5444
www.stjosephhealth.org
Lucy Weiger became the director for the newly re-launched medical foundation of St. Joseph Health System–Sonoma County in May last year, called Heritage Health Care. She was previously vice president of physician relations and clinical development for Sonoma Valley Hospital.
The organization, which also operates Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and Petaluma Valley Hospital, introduced the Sonoma County foundation in September after six years out of operation. It formed a professional services agreement with pediatric doctors formerly with the now defunct Primary Care Associates and changed the name to Annadel Medical Group.
Ms. Weiger was born in Ohio but also lived in New Jersey, Massachusetts, West Africa and other locations before moving to the town of Sonoma is 2004. She decided to pursue health care after a stint in the Peace Corps where she volunteered in Ghana and saw a need to improve health care systems. She said she hopes to continue work improving health care in third world countries and has visited Africa twice in the last four years.
Previous to moving to Sonoma County, Ms. Weiger interned with a Kaiser Permanente facility in Vallejo, where she eventually managed the inpatient and outpatient departments for five years. She received her bachelor’s from Connecticut College and her master’s from Yale University.
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