California Health Care Personnel News Update for April 2013
California Autism Foundation
John Rockefeller has been named CEO of the California Autism Foundation.
Rockefeller formerly served as director of social venture initiatives at the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation.
He will replace John Visbal, who was CEO of the autism organization for five years (Frojo, San Francisco Business Times, 4/2).
California Board of Podiatric Medicine
On April 5, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) appointed Melodi Masaniai (D) to the state Board of Podiatric Medicine.
The position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $100 per diem (Office of the Governor release, 4/5).
California Board of Registered Nursing
On April 8, Gov. Brown appointed Joshua Groban to the state Board of Registered Nursing.
Groban has been a senior adviser to Brown since 2011.
The position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $100 per diem (Office of the Governor release, 4/8).
California Commission on Emergency Medical Services
On April 30, Gov. Brown made two appointments to the state Commission on Emergency Medical Services:
- Linda Broyles (R), who has served as a continuous quality improvement coordinator at the Regional Cooperative Care Program since 2006 and as a clinical coordinator at American Medical Response since 2007; and
- Richard Johnson (R), who has served as a pediatrician at the Southern Mono Healthcare District since 1996 and as a health officer at the Mono County Health Department since 2002.
The positions do not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation (Office of the Governor release, 4/30).
California Health and Human Services Agency
On April 5, Gov. Brown appointed Katherine Johnson as deputy secretary of special programs at the state Health and Human Services Agency.
Johnson has been assistant secretary for program and fiscal affairs at the agency since 2012.
The position requires Senate confirmation, and annual compensation is $108,288.
California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission
On April 5, Gov. Brown made four appointments to the state Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission:
- Bill Brown (R), who has served on the commission since 2010;
- Paul Keith (D), who has served as medical director of behavioral health at the WellPoint West Region of Anthem Blue Cross since 2000;
- David Pating (D), who has served on the commission since 2007; and
- Tina Wooton (D), who has served on the commission since 2010.
The positions do not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation.
California Respiratory Care Board
On April 5, Gov. Brown appointed Mary Ellen Early (D) to the state Respiratory Care Board.
Early has been an IT security analyst at Valley Presbyterian Hospital since 2007.
The position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $100 per diem (Office of the Governor release, 4/5).
Covered California
On April 23, Karen Ruiz was named the new program director for the computer system that will handle eligibility, enrollment and retention for Covered California, the state's health insurance exchange.
Ruiz previously was project director for an overhaul of CalPERS' computer system.
Ruiz began working at Covered California on May 1 (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 4/24).
Dental Board of California
On April 5, Gov. Brown made four appointments to the Dental Board of California:
- Katie Dawson (D), who has served as a dental hygienist at a private dental practice since 2009;
- Judith Forsythe (R), who has served as director of education development at Pacific Dental Services since 2009;
- Meredith McKenzie, who has served as vice president and deputy general counsel at Juniper Networks since 2012; and
- Yvette Chappell-Ingram (D), who has served as president and CEO of the African American Board Leadership Institute since 2010.
The positions do not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $100 per diem.
Dental Hygiene Committee of California
On April 5, Gov. Brown made three appointments to the Dental Hygiene Committee of California:
- Sherrie-Ann Gordon, who has served as an employee of AARP since 2006;
- Garry Shay (D), who has served as an associate trial attorney at Stockwell Harris Woolverton and Muehl since 2012; and
- Susan Good (D), the owner of Susan Good Consulting since 2010.
The positions do not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $100 per diem (Office of the Governor release, 4/5).
GroupMD, San Francisco
GroupMD, an online communication platform for health care providers, has selected Robert Rowley as its chief medical officer, the San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area BizTalk" reports.
Rowley previously was CMO at Practice Fusion, a health IT company in San Francisco (Rauber, "Bay Area BizTalk," San Francisco Business Times, 4/25).
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto
On April 29, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital hired physician Yasser El-Sayed as the hospital's new obstetrician-in-chief, the San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area BizTalk" reports.
El-Sayed formerly served as the hospital's associate director of maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics.
He replaces Maurice Druzin, who stepped down to focus more on patient care, teaching and research (Rauber, "Bay Area BizTalk," San Francisco Business Times, 4/29).
Riverside Community Hospital
Riverside Community Hospital has announced the appointment of Dan Bowers as its new COO, effective April 15, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
Bowers formerly served at Northridge-based Heritage Provider Network as vice president for accountable care and clinic operations. He replaces Doug Long, who left the hospital Jan. 1 to become CEO of West Hills Medical Center (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 4/26).
State Rehabilitation Council
On April 30, Gov. Brown appointed Robert Metts (D) to the State Rehabilitation Council.
Metts previously served as a professor at the University of Nevada-Reno. The position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation (Office of the Governor release, 4/30).
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