Health Care Personnel Update for November 2007
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made five appointments to the State Board of Optometry. Senate confirmation is not required for the positions, for which compensation is $100 per diem.
The appointments include:
- Alejandro Arredondo (R) of Brea, a private-practice optometrist;
- Martha Burnett-Collins (D) of Elk Grove, an optometrist for Kaiser Permanente and the U.S. Air Force Reserves;
- Lee Goldstein (D) of Three Rivers, who retired as a private-practice optometrist in 2006;
- Fred Naranjo (D) of San Francisco, a board member since 2003; and
- Kenneth Lawenda (R) of West Hollywood, chief of optometry for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Schwarzenegger appointed Leeza Gibbons to the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, which oversees the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
Gibbons, a former television reporter and host of several shows, co-founded the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation and Leeza's Place to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease (Sacramento Bee, "Capitol Alert," 11/14).
Linda Bailey of Escondido was appointed to the board of the Palomar Pomerado Health district on Nov. 1.
Bailey will fill the seat left vacant by Gary Powers, who resigned. She must run in the November 2008 election to keep the seat, which expires in 2010.
Bailey is the owner of Community Strategies Group, a community relations company, and previously served as executive director of the Escondido Education Foundation, which she founded (Lou, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11/3).
Frederick Ferrer has been named CEO of The Health Trust, replacing founder Gary Allen, who retired in June.
Ferrer will leave his consulting practice, Manzanita Solutions, to take the new job. He is the former executive director of Estrella Family Services in San Jose, a position he held for 18 years (Solovitch, San Jose Business Journal, 11/8).
The governor appointed Stanley Weisser (R) of Redlands to the State Board of Pharmacy.
Since March, Weisser has served as an associate clinical professor at Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy. He served as president and CEO of Network Pharmaceuticals Incorporated from 1969 to 2000. Senate confirmation is not required for the position, which offers compensation of $100 per diem.
Schwarzenegger made two appointments to the State Board of Psychology. Senate confirmation is not required for the positions, which provide compensation of $100 per diem.
The appointments include:
- Emil Rodolfa (R) of Winters, who has served as director of counseling and psychological services at UC-Davis since 2002 (Office of the Governor release, 11/1); and
- Alex Calero of San Diego, staff counsel in the enforcement division for the Department of Corporations since 2005, who declined to state a party affiliation (Office of the Governor release, 11/7).
Schwarzenegger appointed Martin Mariscal (R) of Santa Maria to the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
Since 2001, Mariscal has owned and served as CEO of Mariscal Rumbaugh Insurance Agency. He previously owned Martin Mariscal Insurance Services. Senate confirmation is not required for the position, which offers compensation of $100 per diem (Office of the Governor release, 11/14).
The governor appointed Katherine Kirchhoff (D) of Long Beach to the Continuing Care Advisory Committee.
Since April, Kirchhoff has served as senior vice president for senior health and housing for Cain Brothers. She previously served as senior vice president and manager for the western regional office of Herbert J. Sims & Company. Senate confirmation is not required for the position, which provides compensation of $25 per diem (Office of the Governor release, 11/28).
The governor appointed Jeffry Thompson (R) of Lodi assistant secretary for health care policy for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Since 2005, Thompson has served as vice president of learning programs for the Foundation for California Community Colleges. He previously held positions as a high school principal. Senate confirmation is required for the position, which provides annual compensation of $152,016 (Office of the Governor release, 11/16).
Schwarzenegger appointed Stanley Oppegard (R) of Granite Bay deputy secretary for veterans' homes at the California Department of Veterans Affairs.
Since October, Oppegard has served as interim CEO of Modoc Medical Center in Alturas and has managed a health care consulting practice, Stan Oppegard & Associates, since 2001. Senate confirmation is not required for the position, which provides annual compensation of $132,000 (Office of the Governor release, 11/28).
Schwarzenegger appointed Douglas Hatch (D) of Brewster, Mass., chief of the Division of Communicable Disease Control.
Hatch served as a CDC consultant this year and was CDC resident adviser for the Field Epidemiology Training Program in Brazil from 2000 to 2006. Senate confirmation is not required for the position, which offers annual compensation of $160,000 (Office of the Governor release, 11/20).
The governor appointed June Iljana (R) of Orangevale as assistant associate secretary for external affairs at the Health and Human Services Agency.
Since January, Iljana has served as communications manager for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. She previously held positions in the Department of Boating and Waterways and the Department of Toxic Substances Control. Senate confirmation is not required for the position, which provides annual compensation of $73,200 (Office of the Governor release, 11/9).