Main content

    SHSSR Board of Directors

    Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region
    Board of Directors
    2012

    James Conforti | back to top

    James Conforti serves as President of Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region, comprised of hospitals and physician care centers located throughout nine Northern California counties. The Sacramento Sierra Region is one of five regions making up the Sutter Health system, Northern California's largest community-based, not-for-profit system of hospitals, physician organizations and home health and occupational providers.

    Mr. Conforti is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction of Sutter Health in the Sacramento Sierra Region. He works closely with aligned physicians to grow Sutter's health care delivery system. These Sutter Health affiliates offer a complete network of health services, including health education and disease prevention, primary and specialty care physicians, acute care, outpatient, occupational health, and mental health services.

    Under Mr. Conforti's leadership, the Sutter Health affiliates that he oversees encompass seven acute care hospitals and two mental health facilities with 1,416 beds, more than 11,500 employees, and 535 medical group physicians. He also works closely with aligned physicians in the region to grow Sutter's integrated health care delivery system.

    Mr. Conforti has over 25 years of health care management experience and has been with Sutter Health for the last 15 years. He also served as a Medical Service Corps Officer in the United States Army. He holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of Washington and a master's of health science in health finance and management from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He and his wife have two daughters.

    Ann Cousineau | back to top
    Ms. Cousineau is retired director of Solano County Library, a role she served from 1994 until her recent retirement. She began her career as a reference librarian for the Sacramento Public Library in 1973.

    As library director, Ms. Cousineau oversaw the 1998 passage of a local one-eighth cent sales tax dedicated to public library operations in Solano County. Passage of that measure allowed the development and implementation of the Library's 20-year Facilities Master Plan. Ms. Cousineau served on the California Library Association's Legislative Committee from 1996-2000 and as chair during the last two years of her term. During that time, she also served as statewide co-chair of the Proposition 14 library construction bond act campaign, which was approved by the voters in March 2000. Ms. Cousineau was a member of the national Public Library Association board from 2006-2008.

    She earned her bachelor's in political science at University of California, Davis and her master's degree in library and information science at the University of Michigan.

    Ms. Cousineau is current chair of Solano County's Public Art Committee, a position she has held since 2001. In April 2010, Ms. Cousineau was appointed Chair of the Development Committee for the Solano Napa Habitat for Humanity affiliate. She served on the Sutter Solano Medical Center Board of Trustees from 2003–2009.

    She is a member of the Board of Directors of Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region, and serves as Chair of the Medical Policy/Quality Committees and Credentialing Committees. Ms. Cousineau is a member of the Executive Committee and the Governance, Nominating & Compliance Committee. She also serves as Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region board representative on the Sutter Solano Medical Center’s Medical Executive Committee.

    John A. DiMichele | back to top
    Mr. DiMichele is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Business Bank. He has 31 years of banking experience, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Yolo Community Bank in Woodland from 1998-2005, as President and CEO for Surety Bank in Vallejo from 1994-1997, and as President and CEO of Suisun Valley Bank in Fairfield from 1983-1994.

    Mr. DiMichele is an active community member. He served as the Director of California Statewide Certified Development for 20 years, Director of Vacaville Community Foundation for five years, Sutter Solano Medical Center Trustee for six years, and Sutter Solano Medical Foundation for four years. Additionally, he has been on the California State University, Chico School of Business Advisory Committee for three years.

    Mr. DiMichele holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from California State University, Chico, and a master's in Business Administration from Golden Gate University, San Francisco. He also completed the Pacific School of Banking in Seattle and the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School Community.

    Mr. DiMichele previously served on the boards of Sutter Solano Medical Foundation Board, Sutter Solano Medical Center, California Statewide Centers for Disease Control and Vacaville Community Foundation. He has been a member on the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board since 2009 and currently serves on the board's Finance and Planning Committee and also as the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region board representative on the Sutter Health Finance and Planning Committee.

    Mike Dourgarian | back to top
    Mr. Dourgarian is a workforce development consultant. He helps create solutions to match the talents of individuals to the needs of organizations. He formerly served as Franchise President for Manpower of Sacramento. As a second generation staffing veteran, he held management positions with Manpower for more than 30 years. He is also co-founder and co-owner of MDDV, Inc., d/b/a TechSkills, a vocational training school with campus locations in Sacramento and San Jose.

    He is a Board Member for Sacramento Works, Inc., and served four years as board chair. Sacramento Works is the Workforce Investment Board for Sacramento County. Mr. Dourgarian is a frequent commentator on employment issues to the media and in speaking venues.

    Mr. Dourgarian graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a bachelor's in business administration. In 2002, he was named by the School of Business as the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, an award presented annually to alumni in recognition of achievement and community involvement.

    Mr. Dourgarian is an active volunteer in community service. He serves on the Salvation Army Advisory Board for Sacramento. He also is an active member of the Rotary Club of Sacramento and is a past active member of the Active 20-30 #1 Club of Sacramento. In 2003, he joined the Board of Directors of the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region. He previously served as Chair of the Finance and Planning Committee and Board Chair, and currently serves as Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region board representative on the Sutter Roseville Medical Center’s Medical Executive Committee.

    Patricia Fong Kushida | back to top
    Ms. Fong Kushida is the President/CEO of the Sacramento Asian-Pacific Chamber of Commerce. Her vision for SACC is for the organization to be Sacramento's link to Asian businesses, partnering with community groups, other non-profit organizations and local government to promote economic growth for Asian Businesses throughout the greater Sacramento region. Ms. Fong Kushida has the support and confidence of a 20-member board of directors.

    Ms. Fong Kushida made her transition to the non-profit community after 13 years in merchandise management, translating her business acumen to the non-profit sector. She became Executive Director of the SACC in 1998, then President/CEO in 2002. She received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with a Minor in Communications from California State University, Sacramento.

    Ms. Fong Kushida firmly believes in giving back to her community. She has served as a member for the Sacramento Children and Families Commission, on the board of United Way, California Capital Region, Hemispheres Art Academy, and served as board member for the Broadway Downtown Partnership. She most recently served as Chair of Community Benefits for Sutter Health, and serves on the Wells Fargo Community Advisory Board. In addition, she joined the boards of Linking Education and Economic Development (LEED) and Valley Vision, a regional action partnership fostering regional cooperation in the six-county region.

    Ms. Fong Kushida has served on the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors since 2007. She served on the Finance and Planning Committee in 2007-08, and currently serves on the Medical Policy and Credentialing committee. She is past chair of the SMCS Community Benefit Committee.

    Ms. Fong Kushida has received various awards, among them the Outstanding Women Leaders, National Association of Women Business Owners, Sacramento Valley Chapter. She and her husband, Victor, own Kushida Audio and Video Services, a family-run business serving the Sacramento community since 1954. They have one daughter.

    Patrick Fry | back to top
    Mr. Fry joined the Sutter organization in 1982 as an administrative resident at Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento. Over the ensuing years he held increasingly responsible administrative positions both at the local affiliate level and region level, with responsibilities covering the breadth of Sutter Health's services.

    After serving as regional president for Sutter Health's affiliates in the greater Sacramento region, Mr. Fry became president of the organization's eastern operations. He later assumed leadership of Sutter Health's Western Division and in 2000 became Sutter Health's second-in-command, serving as chief operating officer and executive vice president. In 2005 Mr. Fry became President and CEO.

    Mr. Fry earned a bachelor's degree in public health administration from the University of California, Davis in 1979 and earned a master's degree in health services administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

    Mr. Fry serves on numerous boards throughout Northern California. He currently serves on the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors and as Chairman of the California Hospitals Association Board of Trustees. He has chaired both the Health Community Forum and Managed Care Systems; he has served on the boards of Northern California Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Center and the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. He has also served on the boards of Make-A-Wish Foundation and People Reaching Out. Mr. Fry's professional affiliations include membership in the American College of Healthcare Executives and Medical Group Management Association.

    A native of South Lake Tahoe, California, Mr. Fry and his wife, Renate, have four sons. The family enjoys a variety of outdoor sports, including snow skiing, golf, and hiking in the Sierra Nevada.

    Sean P. Hennessey, M.D. | back to top
    Family medicine physician Sean P. Hennessey, M.D., serves as voting Chief of Staff to the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region/Sutter Medical Foundation Board of Directors, and as Chief of Staff at Sutter Solano Medical Center.

    Dr. Hennessey arrived in Solano County in 1985 and has been an active member of the Sutter Solano medical staff since January 1986.  He practices with Associated Family Physicians of Vallejo/Benicia, Inc and is a member of Hills Physicians Group, serving on the Board of Directors for the past several years. He also served as President of the Solano County Medical Society and the from 1998-99 and as solo small group practice representative to the California Medical Association.

    He has served as a volunteer team physician for Vallejo High School from 1997-2011 as was voted “Best Physician” in Solano County in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

    Dr. Hennessey attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., for his undergraduate studies and the University of Iowa College of Medicine for his medical degree. He completed his family practice residency at University of Iowa’s Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines.

    As a member of the SHSSR/SMF Board, Dr. Hennessey serves on the Credentialing, Executive, Medical Policy/Quality, and Finance & Planning committees.

    Dr. Hennessey is a passionate San Francisco Giants fan, an avid gardener and a compulsive exerciser. He lives with his wife, Concepcion, in Vallejo, and the couple has two daughters aged 29 and 24.

    Dennis R. Hinz, CPA, CVA | back to top
    Mr. Hinz is president of the Yuba City firm of Ten Haken, Hinz & Co. Accountancy Corporation, where he has worked since 1986.

    Previously, Mr. Hinz served as an accountant with Marta, Matli and Thomas CPAs in Yuba City, and as an accountant at Matthews, Crippen and Tenney CPAs in Paradise. He earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from California State University, Chico. He earned his Certified Public Accountant license in 1981, and in 2000 earned his license as a Certified Valuation Analyst by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

    Mr. Hinz is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

    Mr. Hinz is very active in the Yuba/Sutter communities. He is a past chairman and treasurer of the Yuba Sutter Chamber of Commerce. He served on the board of Sutter North Medical Foundation from 2003-2009, with the last two years as board secretary. Currently, he is chairman of the Philanthropy Committee for Sutter Medical Foundation serving Yuba and Sutter counties. He serves as chair of the audit committee for Yuba City's Prime Companies, Inc. and for Peach Tree Clinic. He also serves as treasurer for the Yuba City Kiwanis Club, and is a board member for Bank of Feather River.

    Mr. Hinz has served on the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors and the Board's Finance and Planning Committee since 2009. His hobbies include golf, skiing, sailing and basketball.

    Gary Hooper | back to top
    Mr. Hooper is an experienced biotechnology executive with a combination of large company and startup experience. He has been involved in the biotechnology industry since its inception, having joined Genentech -- considered the founder of the biotechnology industry -- in early 1980. Today, he is Managing Director of Elliptical Ventures, a new venture capital company focused on early and mid-stage healthcare companies.

    Mr. Hooper is Chairman of Millennium Group Holdings, and a board member of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Networks, where he developed the Next Silicon Valley Initiative: Convergence of Biotech, Nanotech and Information Technology, and served as Chairman of the Technology Convergence Consortium. Mr. Hooper is a member of the Licensing Executive Society's executive Healthcare Committee and past member of the Board of Trustees. He also is a member of the Board of Directors of Accera, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in Alzheimer's disease; a member of the Board of Councilors of the College of Letters and Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California; and is on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Technology Commercialization Project Program at the University of Utah. Mr. Hooper also is a Commercial Reviewer for the National Science Foundation and is a venture partner in Velocity Venture Capital.

    He received a bachelor's in marketing from San Jose State University, and a master's in business administration from the University of Southern California. Mr. Hooper has served on the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors since 2009 and currently serves as the Board's Finance and Planning Committee Vice Chair.

    Scott Howell | back to top
    Mr. Howell has been employed by IBM for more than 30 years and currently serves as Policy Director in IBM's Public Sector, managing the company's lobbyists in state and local governments across the United States. Scott's previous assignment was Client Director, California Public Sector for IBM.

    Mr. Howell served in the Utah State Senate from 1990-2000, serving eight of those years as Senate Democratic Leader. During this time, he championed the cause of educators and students by passing legislation to bring millions of dollars of technological equipment to the classroom, reduce class size, and include kindergarten as an integral part of the public school curriculum. His unique combination of legislative and professional skills was utilized on other critical issues such as fighting crime and streamlining government through the use of technology.

    Internationally, Mr. Howell is a “Smart Communities” advocate, working to shape the future of the world's community governments in today's technology revolution, having consulted with governments of Australia, Japan, Italy, Latvia and China. Nationally, he serves on the boards of the United States Internet Council and the Democratic Leadership Council. He also served as board member of the Harvard Policy Group at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

    Mr. Howell began his service on the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors in 2007. He currently serves on the Medical Policy and Credentialing Committee. He and his wife, Linda, are the parents of four sons.

    Peter V. Hull, M.D. | back to top
    Emergency medicine physician Peter V. Hull, M.D., served as voting Chief of Staff to the SHSSR/SMF Boards from 2010-2011 and as Chief of Staff at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

    Dr. Hull has been an active member of the Sutter Roseville medical staff since arriving in Placer County in 1996. He has served as assistant medical director of the Emergency Department and chairman of several departments, including Emergency Department, Department of Medicine and Quality Management Department. He also chaired the Sutter Health Emergency Leadership Committee from 2006-2009. He was the SRMC Vice Chief of Staff from 2008-2010, and as the Chief of Staff and medical director of their Emergency Department from 2010-2011.  He is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, American Board of Emergency Medicine and Advanced Trauma Life Support.

    Dr. Hull attended Washington University in St. Louis for his undergraduate studies and University of Illinois College of Medicine for his medical degree. He completed his emergency medicine residency at University of Illinois.

    As a member of the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors, Dr. Hull serves on the Credentialing, Executive, Medical Policy and Planning & Finance committees.

    On his free time, Dr. Hull enjoys mountain biking and snowboarding. He and his wife April live in Roseville with their three daughters.

    Dick Kramer | back to top
    Mr. Kramer is President of R.J. Kramer Associates, serving as an executive consultant and business strategy advisor to healthcare companies who provide products and services to hospital systems and medical groups. He is Past President and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Healthcare West, a healthcare system comprised of 48 acute care hospitals and affiliated medical groups in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Under Mr. Kramer's leadership, CHW grew from 12 loosely affiliated hospitals into the largest provider of health care services in California.. Before joining CHW, he was Executive Vice President of the Allina Health System, Minneapolis, an integrated delivery system of 29 hospitals and medical groups, which he helped create.

    Mr. Kramer has been a member of the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors since 2006. He currently serves as Board Chair and is Executive Committee Chair. He also serves on the Governance, Nominating & Compliance Committee, the Credentialing Finance & Planning Committee, and Medical Policy Committees. He chaired the Finance and Planning Committee from 2008-2011. Mr. Kramer has served on the American Hospital Association Board of Directors, and on the boards of the California Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Olympic Committee for Northern California. He currently is a member on the board of directors of Intuitive Surgical Inc. and the Boys and Girls Club of Auburn.

    Mr. Kramer is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, earned a master's degree in counseling from Syracuse University and a master's degree in health care management from the University of Minnesota. He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. He and his wife, Sue, reside in Meadow Vista, California.

    Sarah Krevans | back to top

    Sarah Krevans serves as Chief Operating Officer of Sutter Health, one of the nation's leading not-for-profit networks of community-based health care providers, delivering high-quality patient care in more than 100 Northern California communities.

    Ms. Krevans is responsible for the operations of Sutter Health's five regions, encompassing 24 acute care hospitals and physician organizations with approximately 5,000 doctors, as well as medical research facilities, home health, hospice and occupational health networks, and long-term care centers. She oversees the network's ongoing, multi-billion-dollar capital investments to enhance patient access to health care services.

    Previously, Ms. Krevans served as President of Sacramento Sierra Region, the largest of Sutter Health's five regions, from 2000-2011. During this time, she created a track record of achievement, excellence and integrity, developing and overseeing a provider network that rivals the size of many health care systems. Under her leadership, patient care and service delivery became highly integrated and clinical quality was enhanced. New points of patient access opened and facilities were improved and replaced.

    Ms. Krevans was named 2011 Woman of the Year by Northern California's Women Healthcare Executives. Each year, WHCE honors a woman whose leadership and contributions to the health care field are exceptional and deserving of recognition. Ms. Krevans also was named 2011 Humanitarian of the Year by the United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Sacramento for her many leadership efforts over the years to enhance the community by improving access to health care.

    Ms. Krevans is active on many community boards. She serves as a board member for Make-A-Wish, Sierra Forever Families and Voluntary Hospitals of America West Coast.

    Ms. Krevans earned master's degrees in Public Health and Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley. She is married with three children and lives in Sacramento.

    Marion Leff, M.D. | back to top
    Marion Leff, M.D., is a board certified family physician who has practiced in Sacramento for the past 30 years. She is also the Director of the Sutter Health Family Medicine Residency Program and Director of Graduate Medical Education at Sutter Medical Center.

    Dr. Leff attended University of Wisconsin, Madison for her bachelor's degree. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in 1976, and completed her residency training in Family Medicine at U.C. Davis Medical Center in 1979.

    Dr. Leff has served in numerous administrative positions, including her recent roles as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Sutter Medical Group. She also has served as chairperson of the Sutter Medical Group Clinician Growth and Development Committee, and continues to serve on multiple hospital committees.

    Past community activities have included board director for the Albert Einstein Center, a HUD-sponsored senior housing establishment, board director for the Jewish Federation of Sacramento and member of the Physician Registry Review Board for Shots for Tots Regional Coalition. She continues to volunteer at the Shifa Clinic, a free clinic operated by University of California, Davis Medical School.

    Dr. Leff has been a member of the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors since 2009, and is a member of the Board's Medical Quality, Medical Policy and Credentialing committees.

    Jerry R. May, Ph.D. | back to top
    Jerry R. May, Ph.D., is a retired clinical psychologist and former Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno (1974-2005). He was also a faculty member of the National Judicial College (1981-2009).

    Dr. May attended the Sorbonne-Paris, France; received his undergraduate degree from Western Washington University and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Bowling Green State University. He completed his internship at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center-Palo Alto and the University of California San Francisco Medical Center.  He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

    Dr. May has provided consultation, workshops and seminars to business, health care, judiciary and sport audiences on  behavioral medicine, high level achievement, executive coaching, leadership, communication, decision making, employee selection, interviewing, strategic planning, program development, fun in the workplace, team building, stress and coping, sport psychology and the psychology of heart disease and orthopedic injuries . He had a part-time psychotherapy practice (1976-2008).

    Dr. May was a consultant to sports psychology, sports science and sports medicine programs at the U.S. Olympic Training Centers in Squaw Valley and Colorado Springs (1978-2010). He chaired the U.S.O.C. Sports Psychology Committee (1980-1992) and served as a member of the U.S.O.C. Sports Medicine Council (1982-1992).

    He served as team sport psychologist for the U.S. Ski Team ( 1978-1992), the U.S. Olympic Teams during the 1992 XXV Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, the U.S Sailing Team (1991-2010), and the U.S. National Soccer Team (1997-98), including the 1998 World Cup in France.

    In addition, Dr. May served as a member of several academic committees including the Executive Committee at the University of Nevada School of Medicine (1976-2003). He was a member and chair of the Board of West Hills Hospital, Reno (1991-2005).

    As a member of the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors, Dr. May serves on the Medical Policy and Quality committees, and lives in Meadow Vista.

    As a member of the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors, Dr. May serves on the Credentialing as well as Medical Policy and Quality committees as Vice Chair, and lives in Meadow Vista with his wife Carolyn.

    Joseph R. Mendez | back to top
    Joseph R. Mendez is President and Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley & Northern Nevada, Inc. Since accepting the position with the Sacramento-based Goodwill in 2000, he has overseen organizational development in both service delivery to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment and in economic growth through market positioning.

    Mr. Mendez is passionate about building human dignity through the power of work and non-profit service. He recently completed a second term as Chair of the Sacramento County Disability Advisory Commission, championing several advances in community support for people with disabilities, including Metro closed-captioning for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, a comprehensive review of CalWORKS and the Airport Terminal A disabled accessibility plan. He previously served locally on the United Way Self Sufficiency Impact Council. He currently serves as a board member of the River City Food Bank.

    Mr. Mendez earned his law degree at Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College, and holds bachelor's degrees from Columbia College in the disciplines of Business Administration and Administration of Justice.

    Mr. Mendez served our country as a member of the Armed Forces; Army, Military Police Corp. He and his wife, Renee, live in Sacramento, and have two teen-age children.

    As a member of the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors, Mr. Mendez serves on the Medical Policy/Quality and Credentialing committees.

    Michael J. Newell | back to top
    A long time resident of the Sacramento area, Mr. Newell is Director of Business Development for HP Hood LLC, one of the leading companies in the United States dairy industry. He is active in the California dairy industry and sits on the boards of the Dairy Council of California (Past Chairman), the California Milk Processor Board, and the California Creamery Operators Association. Mr. Newell also is President of CC&B Holdings (formerly Crystal Cream & Butter Co.), Inc, a family-owned investment company.

    Mr. Newell has served on the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board since 2004, and served as chair of the Medical Policy Committee and Credentialing Committee from 2008-2011. He currently serves as Board Vice Chair and is Chair of the Finance & Planning Committee.  In addition to being a member of the SHSSR Board of Directors, Mr. Newell on the Board of Directors of River City Bank and is the chair of their Audit Committee.

    Mr. Newell did his undergraduate studies in Economics at the University of California, Berkeley (Go Bears!) and holds a master's in business administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

    Mr. Newell resides in Davis with his wife and three daughters. In his free time he enjoys running, golfing, and spending time with his family.

    Narendra M. Pathipati | back to top
    Narendra M. Pathipati is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Teichert, Inc. He has more than 25 years of experience in finance, operations, strategy and information technology.

    Mr. Pathipati has worked as the Chief Financial Officer in manufacturing, services and technology companies ranging in size from Global 1000 to start up. He has conducted business on all the continents.

    He has a master’s in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He also holds a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, and a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering.

    Over the years Mr. Pathipati has served on the boards of several companies and non-profit organizations.  He currently serves as a director on the boards of the Sacramento Area Commerce & Trade Organization and Drexel University’s Center for Graduate Studies. He also serves on the Regional Community Board for Wells Fargo Bank. As a member of Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors, Mr. Pathipati joined the Finance & Planning Committee.

    Mr. Pathipati is passionate about his family, friends and community. He and his wife, Sridevi, have been married for 26 years. They have two college-age sons who attend The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and Harvard University in Massachusetts.

    Scott C. Syphax | back to top
    Mr. Syphax is the President and CEO of Nehemiah Corporation of America, a Sacramento based non-profit founded in 1997. NCA has leveraged $880 million in projects to spur development in low-income and underserved communities. NCA is the nation's oldest and largest provider of private down payment assistance. NCA has provided more than $1.5 billion in nonpayment assistance gift funds to help over 320,000 families achieve their dream of homeownership.

    Previously, Mr. Syphax was Manager of Public Affairs for Eli Lilly & Company.

    Mr. Syphax earned his bachelor's degree in business with an emphasis on Real Estate Development and Land Use Planning from the California State University, Sacramento. He was a National Fellow with the Coro National Board of Governors Association in Washington D.C., and an Executive Fellow of the Coro Foundation in San Francisco.

    Mr. Syphax currently serves on the Board of Directors for Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and is Chairman of Affordable Housing Committee. He has been the Chairman of the Financial Solvency Standards Board of California for the State Department of Managed Health Care and a Commissioner for the Sacramento County Civil Service Commission. He also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Corporate Fund Board for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

    He began his service to the Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region Board of Directors in 2002. He served as Physician Strategy Chair in 2005-06, and currently serves on the Board's Finance and Planning Committee.

    Helen M. Thomson | back to top
    Helen M. Thomson is an immediate past chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and a former Democratic Assemblywoman from California's 8th Assembly District. Ms. Thomson began her public service in 1974 when she was elected to the Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education, where she served three terms. She was elected to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors in 1986 and re-elected in 1990 and 1994. She won a seat in the California State Assembly in 1996, representing California's 8th Assembly District, and served three terms. In 2002, when her Assembly term ended, Ms. Thomson again won the District 2 seat on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. She was re-elected without opposition in June 2006. She retired in December 2010 when her term ended.

    As a state legislator, Ms. Thomson chaired the Assembly Health Committee and the Select Committee on Mental Health. She authored 81 bills signed into law, most notably AB 88, the mental health parity legislation ending discrimination in insurance benefits for adults and children who suffer from serious mental illness; and AB 1421, “Laura's Law,” establishing a court-ordered program of Assisted Outpatient Treatment for people who are severely mentally ill.

    Ms. Thomson is the recipient of more than 50 recognition and leadership awards over the course of her career. She was a member of the steering committee of the California Coalition for Compassionate Care and chaired the POLST Task Force. Thomson also served on the advisory committee of the California Health Care Forum. She served as Chair of the Sacramento Regional Council of Governments (SACOG), the Yolo Natural Heritage/JPA, Legislative Committee of the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, the Future of the Safety Net in Yolo County, the Yolo County Children's Alliance and the First 5 Yolo Children and Families Commission.

    Ms. Thomson currently serves on the Credentialing Committee and Medical Policy/Quality Committees and as the board representative to the Sutter Davis Medical Executive Committee. She is a member of the National Advisory Council for the Bette Irene Moore School of Nursing, UC Davis Health Systems.

    Ms. Thomson is a registered nurse and the mother of three grown children, as well as the proud grandmother of four grandchildren. She lives in Davis with her husband, Captane P. Thomson, M.D., a practicing psychiatrist.