California Health Care Personnel News Update for December 2012

California Board of Psychology

On Dec. 17, 2012, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) appointed Miguel Gallardo (D) to the California Board of Psychology, where Gallardo has served for two years.

Gallardo is the director of research and training at the Orange County Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies, an independent practitioner at the Neurobehavioral Clinical and Counseling Center and an associate professor of psychology at Pepperdine University.

Gallardo's new position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $100 per diem (Office of the Governor release, 12/17/12).

California Commission on Emergency Services

On Dec. 19, 2012, Brown made three appointments to the California Commission on Emergency Medical Services:

• Mark Hartwig (R), who has served as fire chief at the San Bernardino County Fire District since 2011;
• Joy Stovell (D), who has served as a fire engineer and paramedic for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District since 1997; and
• Dave Teter (D), who has served on the commission since 2010 and also has served in several positions at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The appointments do not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation (Office of the Governor release, 12/19/12).

California State Independent Living Council

On Dec. 14, 2012, the California State Independent Living Council -- or SILC -- announced that it has hired Kathleen Derby as its legislative analyst.

Derby currently serves on several committees that seek to advance disability rights and mental health care, including the California Department of Education's Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup (SILC release, 12/14/12).

CalOptima

On Jan. 2, CalOptima -- Orange County's Medi-Cal managed care plan -- has named Clayton Chau as its new medical director of behavioral health services.

Chau previously served as the associate medical director for the Orange County Health Care Agency Behavioral Health Services (CalOptima release, 1/2).

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

On Dec. 4, 2012, Brown appointed Carol Monahan Cummings (D) as chief counsel for the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, where she has served since 2003.

Cummings also served as assistant general counsel at the California Environmental Protection Agency from 2001 to 2003.

The position does not require Senate confirmation, and annual compensation is $130,116 (Office of the Governor release, 12/4/12).

Social Interest Solutions

On Dec. 6, 2012, Social Interest Solutions co-founder Claudia Page announced that she will leave the organization on June 15.

Bobbie Wilbur, an SIS employee, will assume Page's responsibilities of leading the organization's technology development to prepare for implementation of the Affordable Care Act (SIS release, 12/6/12).

Sutter Health

On Dec. 31, 2012, Stephen Nolte became the CEO of a new Sutter Health HMO plan that is under development, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.

Nolte has consulted with Sutter on the HMO project for the past several months. Sutter applied for an HMO license from state regulators in August 2012 and expects to receive approval in the first half of this year.