Volunteer Leaders

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors includes a variety of community leaders who govern The Wellness Community and cultivate support for its life-affirming mission. Members publicly represent the organization, develop community relationships, and raise funds.

Name Organization
Joellen Ademski Union Bank of California
Bill Berkowitz Community Volunteer
Ron Boyer, Treasurer Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Company, LLP
Brenda Carlson, Secretary John Muir Health
Kevin Baldwin PricewaterhouseCoopers
Tim Canning McKesson Corporation
Diane Lautz Kaiser Permanente
Neil Cohen Genentech
Robert Sexton Tyris Corporation
Name Organization
Glenn Graham San Ramon Regional Medical Center
Heather Hamilton Fiduciary Accounting Services
Isabel Vizanko Moore Lone Tree Partners
Frank Starn McKesson Corporation
Susan Wichmann, President Merrill Lynch
Loella Haskew Buckley, Patchen, Riemann & Hall
Bonnie Waters Changes Salon and Day Spa
Michael White Young & Rubicam
Pamela Hammer Intero Real Estate Services

President, Board of Directors, Susan Wichmann

Board of Director

Susan has served on the Board of Directors since 2003, and was elected President in 2006.

Susan is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Global Private Client in the Walnut Creek office. She has over 29 years of experience in the Securities Industry. Her background includes nine years spent as a trader and NASDAQ market maker for several firms, including Charles Schwab, Montgomery Securities and EF Hutton. Prior to that, she was involved in the cellular telephone industry, focusing on mergers and acquisitions.

Susan has also served on the Board of Directors for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce and was Chair of the 680 Business Symposium for several years. In 2001, she co-founded Diablo Valley Women in Business.

Susan is a fourth generation San Franciscan, but has resided in the East Bay for many years with her husband, Cliff. Together they have three children.

Leadership Council

The Leadership Council includes business and community leaders who have pledged their commitment to The Wellness Community by raising funds, providing services, and cultivating relationships.

Name Organization
Joellen Ademski Union Bank of California
Phillip Arndt Comcast Cable
Jodi Avina CFOs2GO
John Barnard Law Offices of John Barnard
James Brandt UBS Financial Services
Laura Brown Shell
Tim Carter Bell-Carter Foods
Pam Clingerman Performance Connections
Mary Beth Davis Beaux Cheveux
Jack Fragie McKesson Corporation
Laurel Gaumer Vocal Awareness Institute
Garrett Girvan Community Volunteer
Tracy Gleason Sutter Solano Medical Center
Terry Healey Ridgeview Consulting
Jason Hofmann LPL Financial Services
Nete Hsieh Cornucopia
Mark Hughes ConocoPhillips
Cherié Huillade Grubb & Ellis
Mark Jones iMotorMart
Name Organization
Jim Keene President Emeritus, The Wellness Community
Janet Kenny Alta Alliance Bank
Toni Lane Blackhawk Real Estate Company
Tom McCracken Community Volunteer
Rod Mickels InVision Communications
Marsha Weintraub Molling Community Volunteer
Catherine Olivier Macy's
Scott Poland Wells Fargo Bank
Michelle Pollak Weber Shandwick
Sue Rainey Walnut Creek City Council
Carolyn Rhyne The Travelers
Enrique Ruiz Re/Max Reality
Marylynne Saccaro CCG Healthcare Solution
John Schinnerer Infinet Assessment
Michael Stead Stead Motors
Ed Stroebel Union Bank of California
Mitch Tarkoff, MD Community Volunteer
Pat Vitucci AIG Advisor Group
Lori Wilcoxson Community Volunteer
Rick Wise Scott Valley Bank

Leadership Council Chair, Joellen Ademski

Council Chair

Joellen became involved with The Wellness Community several years ago, initially as a participant in a support group, then as a member of the Leadership Council.

A native of Long Island, New York, Joellen came to California in 1974. She began working in banking shortly thereafter. She is Vice President in the Middle Market Banking Group, with Union Bank of California in Walnut Creek. Joellen has lived in Lafayette for the last 17 years with her husband, Gary Lambert, and daughter Allie.

“My first hand knowledge of the wonderful work done by The Wellness Community led me to join the Leadership Council. I continue to be impressed by the commitment and support members of the Leadership Council show in helping The Wellness Community fulfill its mission."

Professional Advisory Board

The Professional Advisory Board includes prominent healthcare professionals from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The Professional Advisory Board provides counsel in the development and delivery of services to complement medical care, and also promotes awareness and referral of people with cancer and family members to The Wellness Community.

Name Title Organization
Ravi K. Arora, MD Medical Oncologist Epic-Care
Frank Barham, MD Psychiatrist
Dan Ben-Zeev, MD Medical Oncologist Contra Costa Oncology
Rakesh Bhutani, MD Medical Oncologist Kaiser Permanente
Sarah Buenviaje, RN, MSN, NP Nurse Practitioner Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology
Marianne Bunce, BSN, MS, AOCN Clinical Nurse Specialist Contra Costa Regional Medical Center
Brenda Carlson, RN, MSN, OCN Executive Director of Oncology Programs John Muir Health
Esther Q. Catalya, MD Medical Oncologist Contra Costa Oncology
K. Kenneth Chao, MD Radiation Oncologist Epic-Care
Gigi Q. Chen, MD Medical Oncologist Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology
Tinrin Chew, RD Registered Dietitian Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center
Jeffrey Cronk, MD Medical Oncologist Epic-Care
Neil A. Fiore, PhD Psychologist
George H. Y. Fong, MD Adult Primary Care Kaiser Permanente
John T. Ganey, MD Medical Oncologist Epic-Care
Roseann F. Gorey, MD Surgeon
Sharon Hiner, MD Director Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Cancer Program
Janice Hoss, RN, BSN, OCN Director, Cancer Services Sutter Solano Medical Center
Jewel Johl, MD Medical Oncologist Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology
Sachin S. Kamath, MD Radiation Oncologist Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology
Tyler Y. Kang, MD Medical Oncologist Epic-Care
Shoba Kankipati, MD Medical Oncologist Epic-Care
Jelena Kao, MD Medical Oncologist Epic-Care
Debra L. Kerlin, MD Surgeon
T. R. Levin, MD, FACP Gastroenterologist Kaiser Permanente
Gabrielle Levine, MD Surgeon Kaiser Permanente
Diana Longacre, RN, OCN Oncology Nurse Kaiser Permanente
Vincent Massulo, MD Radiation Oncologist John Muir Health
Priscilla Minn, LCSW Social Worker Kaiser Permanente
Ostap Melnyk, MD Medical Oncologist Epic-Care
Priscilla Minn, LCSW Social Worker Kaiser Permanente
Marjaneh Moini, MD Radiation Oncologist John Muir Health
Deborah Moore, RN, MSN,
OCN, FNP
Nurse Practitioner Kaiser Permanente
Elizabeth Odumakinde, MD Medical Oncologist Mt. Diablo Solano Oncology Group
Bimal J. Patel, MD Medical Oncologist Epic-Care
Burton Presberg, MD Psychiatrist
Robert Robles, MD Medical Oncologist Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology
Michelle Rooney, MSN, FNP, OCN Nurse Practitioner Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology
Leonard Saputo, MD Director Health Medicine Forum
Donna F. Saba, AOCNP Nurse Practitioner Epic-Care
Michael Sherman, MD Medical Oncologist Contra Costa Oncology
John F. Simmons, MD Medical Oncologist Kaiser Permanente
Matthew N. Sirott, MD Medical Oncologist Diablo Valley Oncology & Hematology
Zan Sorooshian, Pharm.D Oncology Pharmacist Kaiser Permanente
Sherryl Stientjes, RN, MSN, OCN Director of Medical Surgical Services John Muir Health
Tiffany H. Svahn, MD Medical Oncologist Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology
Patrick S. Swift, MD Radiation Oncologist Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center
MayLin Tao, MD, MS Radiation Oncologist Epic-Care
Stacey L. Teicher, AOCNP Nurse Practitioner Epic-Care
Valery Uhl, MD Radiation Oncologist Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Donate Now Forward This Page to a Friend program calendar