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 |
| Neil Cohen | Genentech |
| Glenn Graham | San Ramon Regional Medical Center |
| Heather Hamilton | Fiduciary Accounting Services |
| Name | Organization |
| Pamela Hammer | Intero Real Estate Services |
| James Hanna | Bank of the West |
| Loella Haskew | Buckley, Patchen, Riemann & Hall |
| Diane Lautz | Kaiser Permanente |
| Isabel Moore | Lone Tree Partners |
| Frank Starn | McKesson Corporation |
| Randy Walden | Sereno Group |
| Bonnie Waters | Changes Salon and Day Spa |
| Michael White | Young & Rubicam |
| Susan Wichmann, President | Merrill Lynch |
President, Board of Directors, Susan Wichmann
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 |
| Jim Keene | President Emeritus, The Wellness Community |
| Name | Organization |
| 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 |
| Robert Sexton | Tyris Corporation |
| 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
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 |
