Blue Shield of California Foundation Announces New Group of Clinic Leadership Institute Participants

34 Community Healthcare Professionals From Across the State Selected to Participate in Innovative Leadership Training Program

San Francisco, February 11, 2009 - Blue Shield of California Foundation today announced 34 community healthcare professionals from around the state will participate in the 2009-2010 class of its Clinic Leadership Institute (CLI), an innovative program designed to identify and cultivate the next generation of community clinic leaders. 

“The men and women who participate in the Clinic Leadership Institute have demonstrated a long-term commitment to assuring families in California communities have access to health care when they need it,” said Crystal Haying, BSCF president and CEO. “Our goal is to invest in tomorrow’s leaders today to ensure that we have a strong and vibrant network of community clinics now and into the future.” 

Over the next 18 months, CLI participants will attend six intensive, multi-day learning seminars that include modules on finance management, strategy development and leadership skills. The knowledge gained in the intensive learning seminars will be reinforced through special project work designed to support each participant’s own clinic. 

“California’s community clinics provide comprehensive, quality healthcare services to millions of Californians who might otherwise not have access to care,” Hayling said. “BSCF is proud to offer emerging clinic leaders tools to help them be more effective, as well as the opportunity to build networks that will amplify their individual impacts.” 

Since 2003, BSCF has given more than $30 million to fund the work of community clinics across the state. BSCF launched CLI in 2007 with a commitment to invest in five years of the executive learning program, designed and administered by the nationally-recognized Center for the Health Professions at the University of California, San Francisco. 

Those selected to participate in CLI’s 2009–2010 class include:

Central Coast
Salvador Chavarin, Salud Para La Gente, Salinas
Yolanda Robles, Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties, Inc., Santa Barbara
Lupe Terrones, Marian Community Clinics, Santa Maria

Central Valley
Kennoris Bates, Golden Valley Health Centers, Merced
Amisha Patel, Clinica Sierra Vista, Bakersfield
Petrus Tjandra, National Health Services, Inc., Shafter

Far North
Carolyn Hopkins, Shingletown Medical Center, Shingletown
Elizabeth Morris, Feather River Tribal Health, Inc., Oroville

Greater Sacramento Area
Karen Larsen, CommuniCare Health Centers, West Sacramento

Greater San Diego Area
Amie Brown, Council of Community Clinics, San Diego
Mark Connelly, San Ysidro Health Center, San Ysidro
Timothy Miotti, North County Health Services, Ramona

Los Angeles and Orange County Area
Robin Bradley, Camino Health Center, San Juan Capistrano
Mary Ann Hodges, Share Our Selves Free Medical and Dental Clinic, Costa Mesa
Rosa Ortiz, Venice Family Clinic, Venice
Grace Sison, T.H.E. Clinic, Inc., Los Angeles
Erika Sockaci, AltaMed Health Services Corp, Los Angeles 

North Coast
Jeanie Eldridge, Redwoods Rural Health Center, Inc., Redway
Carole Press, Mendocino Community Health Clinic, Inc., Ukiah
Sherri Provolt, United Indian Health Services, Arcata

Riverside
Pamela Love, Community Health Systems, Inc., Moreno Valley

San Francisco Bay Area
Lucinda Bazile, LifeLong Medical Care, Berkeley
Priscilla Contreras, Alliance Medical Center, Healdsburg
Ignacio Ferrey, La Clinica de La Raza, Oakland
Karen Hill, Glide Health Services, San Francisco
Felicia Jones, Planned Parenthood Golden Gate, Hayward
Therese de Leon, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Gilroy
Carlos Londono, Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc., Union City
Teri McGinnis, Lyon-Martin Health Services, San Francisco
Maritza Penagos, Mission Neighborhood Health Center, San Francisco
Amy Peterson, San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium, San Francisco
Sridevi Ponnala, Native American Health Center, San Francisco
Stacey Stirling, St. Joseph Health, Santa Rosa
Anita Zamora, The Women’s Community Clinic, San Francisco

A list of those participating in CLI’s inaugural (2008-2009) class, which will conclude in June, and links to all participant bios can be found here.