Menlo Park, CA – Amy Shin, Chief Mission Officer, WelbeHealth issued the following statement in response to the California Legislature passing a 2023-2024 state budget:
“WelbeHealth appreciates the commitment the California Legislature made to support vulnerable seniors by passing a budget that includes additional resources for Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Increasing the capacity of the Department of Health Care Services to administer PACE will help ensure that more eligible frail seniors have access to PACE and can more quickly benefit from comprehensive care.
“Securing additional resources for DHCS was a priority for WelbeHealth and CalPACE, and WelbeHealth worked in close collaboration with a coalition that included Leading Age California, California League of United Latin American Citizens, and American Nurses Association\California to ensure this important budget item passed.
“WelbeHealth is grateful to the Governor and the California Legislature for their support of PACE, and we look forward to further collaboration so we can continue to grow this critical program and improve the quality of life for aging seniors.”
ABOUT PACE
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a comprehensive, whole-person health care program for frail seniors living with chronic health conditions and other complex needs that enables them to continue to live in the communities they know and love. PACE is a high-quality cost-effective alternative to nursing home care, costing on average 15% less than the cost of caring for a comparable population through other Medi-Cal services.
PACE organizations have a proven track record of seamlessly planning and managing all aspects of care for seniors – medical, social, and supportive services. PACE participants are over the age of 55, live in a PACE service area, and have been deemed eligible by the state for a nursing home level of care. More than 70% of PACE participants are dually eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal.
ABOUT WELBEHEALTH
WelbeHealth is a physician-led, mission-driven organization founded to serve the most vulnerable seniors with compassionate and quality care, in a pure value-based model. WelbeHealth manages the entire care portfolio for participants including their primary, specialty, and behavioral health care, ensuring they get to and from appointments, helping them navigate any necessary paperwork, providing assistance with activities of daily living, and ensuring they have enriched lives through social and emotional care.
Through the Medicare and Medi-Cal funded Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), WelbeHealth delivers fully integrated care that allows seniors to age in place
Both new locations are poised to meet the needs of an aging population across greater metro LA; thousands of residents local to the new centers are over 55 and eligible for PACE
Today the physician-led senior health services provider WelbeHealth announced the opening of its Rosemead and North Hollywood locations. The new locations will increase access to care in underserved communities where thousands of lower-income older adults qualify for health care through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a national Medicare and Medicaid program that offers seniors access to comprehensive at-home and community-based services.
The expansion marks a greater Los Angeles metro area presence for WelbeHealth, which also operates centers in Long Beach and Pasadena. Both WelbeHealth Rosemead and WelbeHealth North Hollywood will offer spaces for medical and dental care, social recreation, physical and occupational therapy, personal care, meals and nutritional counseling. Transportation and in-home care are also delivered as part of WelbeHealth’s integrated services.
Aligned with WelbeHealth’s commitment to holistic health, the new locations are thoughtfully designed contemporary spaces, inspiring an environment where participants can feel mentally rejuvenated while receiving high-quality medical care. Features like outdoor social spaces, hair salons and laundry rooms offer a respite from loneliness and limited access to personal care that many lower-income older adults experience.
“Welbe’s purpose is to unlock the full potential of the most frail and vulnerable seniors through a model of clinical excellence, comprehensive social services and our courage to love culture, that values every one of our team members, our participants and their families. We see a huge need for services like this in the Rosemead and North Hollywood communities,” said Si France, MD, Founder and CEO at WelbeHealth. “We know that caring for this population has ripple effects throughout their families and their communities, and we’re honored to serve them.”
Both centers are currently enrolling new participants, with services set to begin on July 1.
Over 9,000 seniors are eligible for PACE within a 20-minute drive of the two centers. The surrounding populations are highly diverse, with over half of local seniors primarily speaking a non-English language including Spanish and Chinese. To meet the needs of its participants, WelbeHealth has employed multilingual staff members across many positions. Culturally appropriate meal menus, activities, and other services have been made available to best serve the needs of the local communities.
“California’s population is aging rapidly. We are expanding our presence in Southern California to meet the growing need for specially designed services that allow seniors to thrive in their communities while lowering costs compared to institutional care. Our mission to serve the most vulnerable seniors with better quality and compassion will lift the burden off family members and improve the lives of older adults,” said Vaneesh Soni, MD, Chief Growth Officer at WelbeHealth.
In addition to the new North Hollywood and Rosemead centers, WelbeHealth operates programs across California, including in the cities of Modesto, Stockton, Pasadena, Long Beach and Fresno.
About WelbeHealth
WelbeHealth is a physician-led public benefit company founded in 2015 that provides comprehensive healthcare services for seniors through a fully integrated program that includes all medical and dental care, physical and occupational therapy, transportation to medical appointments, meals and personal care services. WelbeHealth addresses social determinants of health to keep the most vulnerable seniors living safely in their own homes. Services are delivered through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a national Medicare and Medicaid program.
https://welbehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ROSEMEAD-3.jpg400495Cristal Gonzalezhttps://welbehealthweb.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/WelbeHealth_Logo.pngCristal Gonzalez2023-06-08 11:09:182023-07-12 08:40:18WelbeHealth Continues Los Angeles Expansion With Opening of New PACE Centers in Rosemead and North Hollywood
Physician-led organization WelbeHealth, the California-based Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), announced two industry veterans as its newest executives: Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michael Le, and Chief Information Officer, Bindu Purushothaman. Both will play a pivotal role as WelbeHealth expands its mission to serve the most vulnerable seniors with better quality and compassion.
“It is a momentous occasion to welcome a Chief Medical Officer and Chief Information Officer with such extensive experience who are also aligned with our mission and values,” said Matt Patterson, MD, President of WelbeHealth. “Dr. Le’s proven track record of improving the lives of complex seniors and Ms. Purushothaman’s significant experience transforming technology for healthcare organizations will have a lasting impact as WelbeHealth delivers excellent PACE services at scale.”
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Le will oversee WelbeHealth’s team of doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals, ensuring they are providing the highest standard of care, experience and quality. Dr. Le has over 20 years of experience in the medical profession, most recently as Chief Medical Officer of Optum Home and Community Care. Previously, Dr. Le co-founded and served as Chief Medical Officer of Landmark Health, where he pioneered a new care model that provided 24/7 physician-led, multidisciplinary house calls to frail seniors. Dr. Le also led value-based care at CareMore Health Plan and HealthCare Partners.
“Revolutionizing how we care for the most vulnerable in our diverse communities is what inspires and motivates me,” said Dr. Michael Le. “I’m excited to bring better options and a new level of care to seniors as WelbeHealth’s clinical leader.”
As Chief Information Officer, Purushothaman will lead WelbeHealth’s technology development efforts, creating seamless tools that allow our team members to focus on caring for participants. Ms. Purushothaman’s most recent role was Chief Information Officer at Satellite Health following an impressive career as a technology leader in value-based care organizations including HealthCare Partners, Davita Medical Group and Optum.
“I am inspired by, and excited for, the journey ahead with WelbeHealth, an organization known for its dedication to providing compassionate all-inclusive care for seniors who need it most,” said Purushothaman. “The opportunity to work with an organization so deeply rooted in the community offers me the chance to not only do meaningful work but also better the lives of those around me.”
About WelbeHealth WelbeHealth is a physician-led public benefit company founded in 2015 that provides comprehensive health care services for seniors through a fully integrated program that includes all medical and dental care, physical and occupational therapy, transportation to medical appointments, meals and personal care services. WelbeHealth addresses social determinants of health to keep the most vulnerable seniors living safely in their own homes. Services are delivered through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a national Medicare and Medicaid program. WelbeHealth operates programs across California, including the cities of Stockton, Modesto, Pasadena, Long Beach and Fresno.
For more information, please visit welbehealth.com.
https://welbehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/press-release.jpg400495Cristal Gonzalezhttps://welbehealthweb.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/WelbeHealth_Logo.pngCristal Gonzalez2023-05-18 17:30:002023-07-12 08:40:13WelbeHealth Announces New Chief Medical Officer and Chief Information Officer
MENLO PARK, CALIF. – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom released his state budget proposal for fiscal year 2023-2024. The budget included several proposals in line with WelbeHealth’s policy priorities, including an increase in resources for Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) administration within the Department of Health Care Services and the maintenance of funding for key health and human services programs including CalAIM, behavioral health and housing programs, and ensuring access to health care for all Californians regardless of documentation or ability to pay.
PACE enables frail seniors to remain in their homes while receiving coordinated, whole-person care and is a high-quality cost-effective alternative to nursing home care. In recent years, the number of PACE participants has increased significantly.
“WelbeHealth applauds the governor’s support of Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and other proven care models for frail and vulnerable seniors. For every participant that enrolls in PACE, it saves taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars while increasing their length and quality of life, allowing them to live at home. Whether from an economic, health care or social standpoint, this may be one of the best investments the administration could make,” said Si France, M.D., chief executive officer of WelbeHealth, in response to the proposed budget.
About Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE)
Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) is a comprehensive whole-person health care program for frail seniors living with chronic health conditions and other complex needs. As both insurers and providers, PACE organizations are able to seamlessly plan and manage all aspects of care for seniors – medical, social and supportive services. PACE participants are over the age of 55, live in a PACE service area and have been deemed eligible by the state for a nursing home level of care. 90% of PACE participants are dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
About WelbeHeatlh
WelbeHealth is a physician led, mission-driven organization founded to serve the most vulnerable seniors with compassionate and quality care, in a pure value-based model. WelbeHealth manages the entire care portfolio for participants including their primary and specialty care, ensuring they get to and from appointments, helping them navigate any necessary paperwork, providing assistance with activities of daily living, and ensuring they have enriched lives through social and emotional care.
MENLO PARK, CALIF. – Physician-led healthcare organization WelbeHealth has added two seasoned executives to its leadership team: Chief Mission Officer Amy Shin and Chief People Officer Cathy Fraser. The leaders will play a pivotal role as WelbeHealth continues to deliver on its mission to serve the most vulnerable seniors in its communities.
As chief mission officer, Shin ensures that WelbeHealth’s mission is front and center in the community and among policy makers and our regulatory partners. She works closely with the operations teams to ensure that WelbeHealth is continually delivering on the highest standards of clinical quality and compliance. Shin has more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, most recently as chief executive officer of the Health Plan of San Joaquin, where she oversaw health care delivery for 350,000 MediCal lives in underserved areas of California. Shin was the chief administrative officer at On Lok, the first PACE organization, and the Alameda Alliance for Health. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Southern California.
“Amy is a tremendously well respected and connected leader in California’s healthcare landscape, and she’s spent her career doing mission-driven work for vulnerable populations,” said Si France, MD, chief executive officer of WelbeHealth. “It is an honor that she would choose to support and advance WelbeHealth’s mission.”
As chief people officer, Fraser is responsible for the people strategies and services that enable team members to effectively fulfill and expand the WelbeHealth mission. Her focus is on maintaining WelbeHealth’s commitment to values and culture, developing career pathways, elevating team member experience, and investing in diversity, equity and inclusion. She most recently led human resources at Mayo Clinic, US News and World Report’s #1 Hospital, and Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC), a large national healthcare services company. Earlier in her career, she served as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and worked in various finance leadership roles at American Airlines, Sabre, and General Motors. Fraser earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
“When we started Welbe, we started with the belief that we have to care for each other before we can care for our participants, so our team has always been the center of our culture and focus,” said Si France. “With Cathy, who led dynamic people functions at Mayo and Tenet, we’re making a significant commitment to putting our people first.”
About WelbeHealth
WelbeHealth is a physician-led organization founded in 2015 that coordinates senior care, including all medical and dental care, physical and occupational therapy, transportation to medical appointments, meals and personal care services, in a fully coordinated program. WelbeHealth teams close the loop on comprehensive care to keep the most vulnerable seniors living safely in their own homes. WelbeHealth delivers these services through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a Medicare and Medicaid program. WelbeHealth operates four programs across California, including the cities of Stockton, Modesto, Pasadena, Long Beach and Fresno. WelbeHealth served more than 1,000 seniors in 2021. For more information, please visit welbehealth.com.
Mindy Wilds, executive director of WelbeHealth’s Fresno Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), was recently honored by the National PACE Association (NPA) with the prestigious Marie-Louise Ansak Award.
The Marie-Louise Ansak Award, named after the founder of PACE, recognizes the ingenuity, hard work and sacrifice of an individual PACE program employee who has worked to improve the quality of life for one or more frail older persons during the past year.
“We are proud to recognize Mindy with the Marie-Louise Ansak Award,” said Shawn Bloom, president and CEO of the NPA. “Mindy earned this high honor through epitomizing the innovative team player that is core to delivering PACE.”
“I love this model of care because we can think outside the box and provide common sense solutions for our participants and their families,” said Wilds.
Mindy Wilds with the Marie-Louise Ansak Award
Wilds joined WelbeHealth in February 2021 as the executive director of WelbeHealth’s Fresno Center, which provides medical care, physical therapy, social and recreational activities, meals and nutritional counseling, transportation and other support services to PACE-eligible medically frail seniors age 55 and over.
“Mindy is a model for all of us. Her tireless commitment and dedication to seniors in our communities enables them to thrive and live longer with greater connection, vitality and meaning,” said WelbeHealth CEO Si France, M.D.
About WelbeHealth
Founded in 2015, WelbeHealth provides comprehensive home-based medical and social services to more than 1,500 vulnerable seniors across California, including the cities of Stockton, Modesto, Pasadena, Long Beach and Fresno. The company recently became the first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provider to convert to a public benefit company, meaning it is obligated to take into consideration the concerns of all stakeholders while prioritizing corporate responsibility and sustainability.
An alternative to nursing homes, PACE is a Medicare and Medicaid program that helps keep people in their homes and communities. PACE programs are proven to reduce depression, lower hospitalizations, decrease rehospitalizations, reduce nursing home admissions and improve preventive care, according to recent data from the National PACE Association.
https://welbehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/MicrosoftTeams-image-57.jpg6301023Cristal Gonzalezhttps://welbehealthweb.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/WelbeHealth_Logo.pngCristal Gonzalez2022-12-05 14:29:482023-07-12 08:39:57WelbeHealth Executive Director Mindy Wilds Honored with Prestigious PACE Award
Physician-led healthcare organization WelbeHealth and Northern California-based healthcare network Sutter Health have opened a new center in Modesto that serves medically frail seniors.
Located at 1224 Scenic Drive, the center is designated a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) alternative care setting. Integrated with WelbeHealth and Sutter’s PACE center in Stockton, the new Modesto location provides day services to PACE-eligible medically frail seniors age 55 and over. The center, which will employ more than 100 full- and part-time employees when at capacity, features:
Physical and occupational therapy
Personal care and supportive services
Meals and nutritional counseling
Recreational therapy
Access to in-home care and mobile clinic
The new Modesto center addresses a community need, since only a fraction of the over 3,000 PACE-eligible seniors in Stanislaus county are receiving PACE services, according to a WelbeHealth analysis of U.S. Census data and the Medi-Cal Managed Care Enrollment Report.
“WelbeHealth was built on the mission of serving our most vulnerable seniors with greater quality and compassion in underserved communities,” said WelbeHealth CEO Si France, M.D. “As the first provider of PACE services in Modesto since 2019, we are proud to complement our care with a beautiful facility.”
PACE is a national Medicare and Medicaid program that helps keep seniors living in their own homes instead of nursing homes. PACE programs are proven to reduce depression, lower hospitalizations, decrease rehospitalizations, reduce nursing home admissions and improve preventive care, according to recent data from the National PACE Association.
“We are proud to partner with WelbeHealth to enrich the lives of seniors, their caregivers and the broader community,” said Christopher Stanley, M.D., Sutter Health’s chief population health officer. “WelbeHealth shares our commitment to high-quality, community-based healthcare services that help frail older adults anticipate problems and prevent hospitalization or early entry into a nursing home.”
Todd Smith, M.D., foundation area CEO for Sutter Health in the South Valley, said that the importance of good health for aging seniors can’t be underestimated.
“Creating greater access to comprehensive home and community-based healthcare services helps seniors achieve their best health and maintain their independence,” Dr. Smith said.
In addition to the new Modesto center, WelbeHealth has locations in Stockton, Pasadena, Long Beach and Fresno. More than 1,500 seniors were served in 2021. Sutter Health is a not-for-profit integrated health network that serves more than 3 million people in 22 California counties.
MENLO PARK, CALIF.—Physician-led healthcare organization WelbeHealth today announced that veteran healthcare law attorney Blaire Bernard has joined its leadership team as general counsel.
Bernard has focused her 20-year legal career on supporting providers whose mission is to expand access to value-based care. Most recently she was general counsel at Iora Health and after Iora Health was acquired by One Medical, she served as senior counsel and compliance officer. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a law degree from Boston University.
“We’re thrilled to have Blaire join our executive team,” said WelbeHealth CEO Si France, M.D. “She is a seasoned value-based care executive and a collaborative mission-driven team player. This is even more important as we continue our focus on clinical and care excellence as a public benefit company.”
Bernard will lead WelbeHealth’s legal and compliance functions, partnering with executive and operational leaders to execute the company’s mission of bringing PACE to communities in need.
WelbeHealth recently became the first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provider to convert to a public benefit company, meaning it is obligated to take into consideration the concerns of all stakeholders while prioritizing corporate responsibility and sustainability. An alternative to nursing homes, PACE is a Medicare and Medicaid program that helps keep people in their communities.
Founded in 2015, WelbeHealth provides comprehensive home-based medical and social services to vulnerable seniors across California, including the cities of Stockton, Modesto, Pasadena, Burbank, Long Beach and Fresno. For more information, please visit welbehealth.com.
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WelbeHealth Becomes First Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Provider to Convert to Public Benefit Company Status
MENLO PARK, CALIF.— Physician-led healthcare organization WelbeHealth recently became the first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provider to convert to a public benefit company (PBC).
Founded in 2015, WelbeHealth is a leading California PACE provider. An alternative to nursing homes, PACE is a Medicare and Medicaid program that helps keep people in their communities. WelbeHealth provides comprehensive home-based medical and social services to vulnerable seniors across California, including the cities of Stockton, Modesto, Pasadena, Burbank, Long Beach and Fresno.
In joining other companies that have become public benefit companies, including Patagonia, Seventh Generation and Vital Farms, WelbeHealth is exemplifying its commitment to helping seniors thrive and live longer, said WelbeHealth co-founder and CEO Si France, M.D.
“The seniors we serve are the elders of their communities and families,” Dr. France said. “By helping them thrive, they can live longer lives with greater connection, vitality and meaning. We’re converting to a public benefit company to ensure that our mission and purpose are protected for generations to come.”
Public benefit companies are obligated to take into consideration the concerns of all stakeholders, not just shareholders, prioritizing corporate responsibility and sustainability. For WelbeHealth, this means participants, their families and caregivers, employees, and the broader community.
“Both our independent board and management team wanted to formalize WelbeHealth’s commitment to its mission, clinical quality and positive community impact,” said WelbeHealth Board of Directors member Robert Margolis, M.D., founder of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. “By converting to a public benefit company, WelbeHealth is demonstrating its commitment to operating responsibly, sustainably and in the interest of all stakeholders, both now and in the future.”
This commitment to the greater good is not new. In fact, WelbeHealth was lauded for its elder care during the pandemic. A case study conducted by UC Berkeley found that WelbeHealth had a death rate more than 1.5 times lower than other PACE organizations and almost five times lower than nursing homes while, despite serving patients in some of California’s most impacted counties.
“As the pandemic came in waves, WelbeHealth mobilized not only to vaccinate its own participants but to also vaccinate thousands in the greater community, which had an exponential impact on saving lives,” Dr. France said. “We want to take full responsibility for our part in making the world a more compassionate, loving place.”
About WelbeHealth
Founded in 2015, WelbeHealth is a physician-led organization that coordinates senior care, including all medical and dental care, physical and occupational therapy, transportation to medical appointments, meals and personal care services. WelbeHealth teams close the loop on comprehensive care to keep the most vulnerable seniors living safely in their own homes. WelbeHealth delivers these services through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a Medicare and Medicaid program. WelbeHealth operates four programs in California: Stockton/Modesto, Pasadena/Burbank, Long Beach and Fresno. For more information, please visit welbehealth.com.
https://welbehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MicrosoftTeams-image-3-scaled.jpg17092560Cristal Gonzalezhttps://welbehealthweb.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/WelbeHealth_Logo.pngCristal Gonzalez2022-06-29 08:33:122023-07-12 08:39:37WelbeHealth Becomes First Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Provider to Convert to Public Benefit Company Status
– When Si France, M.D. (SVO 08-12), Vaneesh Soni, M.D. (DET, DBI, SCA 99-15), and Matt Patterson, M.D. (SVO 09-12) first met, they were streamlining hospitals. “At McKinsey, we were these three doctors who wanted to do good value-based care,” says Si.
They reunited to do just that by founding WelbeHealth, which enables frail and elderly senior citizens to continue living in their homes and communities through participation in a U.S. government program known as PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly).
Matt, who grew up in a Navy family and became a doctor for the Navy SEALs, is Welbe’s President and clinical operations leader. Vaneesh is the team’s resident strategist and Chief Growth Officer, driving Welbe’s mission-driven expansion. Si is the out-of-the-box entrepreneur who has co-founded two health care startups and is leading Welbe as the CEO. Armed with complementary leadership profiles, an interdisciplinary team, and a shared values system, Welbe aspires to realize a future where seniors can receive dynamic care without the need for nursing homes.
We sat down with the trio to discuss Welbe’s care services, purpose-driven culture, and their response to the COVID pandemic, which saw them at the center of one of the hottest infection zones in the world.
Tell us about Welbe’s culture.
Vaneesh: We invest as much energy into organizational health and culture as our strategy and business model. We don’t want to be a company with the best strategy but have poor performance overall because we have a toxic culture. Service to seniors is our common intent, and clinical quality is our North Star. Our growth rate is tied to the pace at which we can ensure consistent, high-quality care.
Si: We started the company to create a culture based on a mission and values system different from what is more traditional in Silicon Valley. We knew that it would take courage to build a values-based company and that we would need to view our patients through the eyes of their loved ones. We called this our “courage to love” culture, and it permeates everything we do, whether we’re interacting with our team or interacting with our patients.
Matt: Our core values of courage to love, pioneering spirit, and shared intention are the unquestioned foundation for ensuring that we have healthy teams, our people feel uniquely cared for, and we serve vulnerable seniors with a commitment to clinical excellence. What excites me is that we’re bringing consciousness and love as a priority within our business model. We want to normalize individuals being able to show up as their authentic selves and engage at that level with each other and those that they serve.
Tell us about Welbe’s care model. What distinguishes it from other services?
Si: Our care model is called “PACE,” Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. We provide 24/7 medical and social services to frail seniors to stay healthy, live at home, and stay out of a nursing home. When people enroll in PACE, their life expectancy goes up by one-third, clinical scores improve, and it even saves taxpayers $10,000 per patient annually.
Vaneesh: PACE has an 80% reduction on depression scores nationally. As both the health plan and the provider of services, we emphasize the social and the human components of care. We can greenlight things that are truly in the best interest of each participant, medically, socially, as well as things that bring joy in life.
Matt: PACE has been around for decades, but we’re changing the landscape by bringing these services and outcomes to those who would otherwise not have them, in areas of the country that are in significant need, and at a speed and scale that previously has never been done before.
How did Welbe respond during the pandemic?
Si: We’re the first organization to do bubble-style testing, where our nurses would take a COVID test before entering anyone’s home. We were the first non-hospital owned program of our kind to vaccinate all of our team and patients. We also partnered with counties across California and vaccinated 2,000 frail seniors and front-line health care workers in the community who had nothing to do with Welbe.
Vaneesh: We closed our centers two weeks before the state of California announced the lockdown. Within four days of the lockdown, we had deployed a tablet-based, home-and-remote care model. I think the proudest moment was helping rescue seniors out of nursing homes. Many seniors in nursing homes don’t require 24/7 care; they are in a nursing home because they don’t have access to stable housing. We partnered with housing institutions to find them stable and safe housing, and provided care for them in those environments.
Matt: In the first year of the pandemic, COVID-19 mortality rates for nursing home individuals were upwards of 14%. The U.S. national average of PACE programs was about a third less, and Welbe was about a 10th. Our outcomes were 10x better than nursing home environments, and we were in two of the hottest areas for COVID infection in the entire world at various points. It’s a testament to the fact that we were very bold and decisive in deploying technology enablement, best-in-class rapid testing, early adoption of vaccination, and mass administration of vaccinations.
What impact did McKinsey have on you?
Matt: It was a profound tipping point in my journey, not the least for which I met two of my greatest friends in Si and Vaneesh. McKinsey also introduced me to the effectiveness of the remote working model by showing that I can have a laptop and work from anywhere in the world. Welbe’s technology footprint was built around a similar remote model that allowed us to be well-positioned and decisive during the pandemic.
Vaneesh: We rely on our McKinsey experiences or problem-solving daily. McKinsey showed me that it’s possible to deliver amazing impact and still do well financially and grow. Through different engagements and geographies, I gained exposure to different health systems and clinical models.
Si: It’s impossible to underestimate McKinsey’s impact on my career, from relationships, to learning how to build a principles-driven organization and how to think and communicate effectively. McKinsey gave me the tools to serve on a macro level. It was the best career decision I could have made to launch my career.
What does Welbe’s mission mean to you?
Si: What it means for me is a force for good in the world. Through the work we do and through our culture, we are caring for people beyond ourselves. To give an example, we had a patient who lived at home alone with her dog. She fell, broke her pelvis, was in the hospital, and as she recovered, she got a call from the local shelter saying, “Your neighbors reported an abandoned dog. We’re going to need to put it down.” She called our licensed vocational nurse at the center, and our LVN went down and rescued the dog and found a place for it while she recovered. Our patient said that the minute she learned of the rescue, she started going to physical therapy to get better as quickly as possible and get home to her dog.
Matt: My mom is a vulnerable senior with chronic mental illness. I have seen the failures of traditional health care models in senior care. What WelbeHealth’s mission means for me is that we advocate for those in our culture who are at the wrong intersection of not being valued and most at risk. It’s individuals who have very little social capital who are being left behind. Through our service, they can experience and share the love and wisdom that they have within them and have gained over their lifetime.
Vaneesh: What it means for me is service. In the Indian culture, we have different phases of our life: a phase for education, a phase for building a family, a phase for working, so on. There’s also a phase for service to others – called Seva.
Welbe is our service to our seniors. Our seniors, especially in the Indian culture, have the most wisdom and should be the most revered. When Matt, Si, and I reunited after McKinsey, we determined that Welbe would be governed by a profound sense of purpose to serve the most frail and vulnerable seniors and ensure they are embraced and cared for with dignity and respect so that they can age gracefully in the community or their own homes.
(This article is published in the McKinsey Alumni Center here.)
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Bindu Purushothaman leads our technology development efforts, creating seamless tools that allow our team members to focus on caring for participants. Ms. Purushothaman transforms technology for healthcare organizations, most recently as Chief Information Officer at Satellite Health, following technology leadership roles in several value-based care organizations.
Amy Shin
Chief Mission Officer
Amy Shin is an advocate for equitable healthcare, with expertise in Medicare, Medicaid, dual-eligible, long-term care, and commercial health care. She brings strength in strategic planning, improving operational efficiencies, and innovating to advance healthcare. Most recently, Ms. Shin served as CEO of Health Plan of San Joaquin, where she oversaw healthcare delivery to underserved areas of California.
Michael Le, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Michael Le, MD, oversees our healthcare teams to ensure we provide the highest standards of care. Dr. Le most recently served as Chief Medical Officer of Optum Home and Community Care. Previously, Dr. Le co-founded and served as Chief Medical Officer of Landmark Health, where he pioneered a new care model that provided physician-led, multidisciplinary house calls to frail seniors.
Cathy Fraser (she/her/hers)
Chief People Officer
Cathy Fraser leads the people strategies and services that fuel the fulfilment and expansion of WelbeHealth’s mission. Previously, she led human resources at Mayo Clinic and Tenet Healthcare. Cathy’s passion is addressing difficult challenges using data-driven analysis, innovative thinking and an employee-centric approach.
Sabrina Katigbak, NP
Role: Nurse Practitioner Location: Long Beach Education: California State University Long Beach Board Certification: Adult Gerontology Languages Spoken: English, Tagalog
“I love working with seniors because they remind me of my parents! Working with this vulnerable population reminds me of how crucial our role is as primary care providers and our ability to grow their health literacy which in turn, hopefully, allows them to live healthier longer.”
When she isn’t at WelbeHealth, Sabrina enjoys going to the gym, trying new food, and working on crafts with her Cricut.
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Long Beach Education: Brandman University, Doctor of Nursing Practice Board Certification: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACACNP-BC) from American Nurses Credentialing Center Languages Spoken: English, Thai & Spanish
“Seniors have a lifetime of wisdom and experience to share. I value taking the time to get to know and understand each of my patients and work with them to make sure they’re happy and healthy, physically and mentally.”
When she’s not working, Jacqueline enjoys being with her loved ones, fur-babies, and friends. She loves going on food adventures, enjoying the sunshine, arts & crafts, home renovation and design.
Role: Medical Director Location: Long Beach Medical Degree: The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Residency: Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Department of Family Medicine Board Certification: Family Medicine Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
“I treat the entire person. I see how everything works together to make someone feel better and healthy. Part of my philosophy is to address the spiritual and emotional, as well as physical.”
With 15 years of experience as a family medicine specialist, Dr. Villalba listens to her patients and provides compassionate, personalized care. The fulfillment she gets from talking to her patients reinforces her belief that she chose the right career. Dr. Villalba regularly volunteers at the Huntington Beach Senior Center, where she enjoys gaining wisdom from the elderly and serving her community.
When she isn’t seeing participants at WelbeHealth, Dr. Villalba loves surfing and practicing mixed martial arts.
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Long Beach Education: Kennesaw State University Board Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center Languages Spoken: English
“My philosophy is to grow with my patients through whatever they’re going through and be there to help a person live their best life.”
Kathy has been caring for patients for 25 years. She also brings her experience to the classroom, having been a nursing instructor for several colleges. Kathy is enthusiastic about providing comprehensive care to the elderly, especially those with chronic and complex conditions. Her priority is to ensure that her patients and their families get the care and support they need.
When she isn’t at WelbeHealth, you can probably find her walking along the beach or trying out some really good food with her husband.
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Long Beach Education: California State University Bakersfield, California State University Long Beach, UC Irvine Board Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center Languages Spoken: English
“I have a passion for seniors. I feel like I can make a difference by spending a little more time with them and seeing them from a whole person perspective.”
Megan has provided care in various settings over the last 15 years, working in clinics, telehealth, home health and skilled nursing facilities. Her experience and dedication shine at WelbeHealth. She is compassionate about patients of all ages, but seniors hold a special place in her heart. She provides the education, resources and support that her patients need to stay active and healthy.
Megan loves being in nature and sharing a meal with her family and friends.
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Long Beach Education: Laurea University of Applied Sciences, California State University, Long Beach Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Russian
“I respect all my patients and make sure they’re part of the decision-making process. It’s one way to encourage them to participate in their own care.”
Chioma is a passionate and dedicated Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with five years of nursing experience in critical and transitional care. She is known for taking new hires and students under her wing, teaching them what she’s learned.
Chioma treasures time with her two daughters and is a bookworm, enjoying literature, history books and biographies.
Role: Physician Location: Pasadena Medical Degree: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Residency: UCSF-Family and Community Medicine Board Certification: Family Medicine Languages Spoken: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin
“ I love working with seniors because they are so vibrant and full of unique life experiences.”
Dr. Tam strives to understand the world his participants come from because it is only by doing so, that he can then provide the holistic care they deserve.
When Dr. Tam is not working, he enjoys spending time with my family, swimming, and the occasional round of golf.
Si France, MD
CEO
Si France is a mission driven physician entrepreneur. Most recently, he was founder and CEO of GoHealth, which operates over 200 urgent care centers in collaboration with leading non-profit health systems across the country, delivering award winning quality and patient experience. He is also a Health Commissioner for San Mateo County’s 145,000 member Medicaid plan.
Dr. Sepideh Chegini is a physician leader, with vast experience in value-based care delivery and passionate about serving seniors with complex needs through integrated, high-quality, and innovative care. Previously, she was the Senior Medical Officer at CareMore Health leading the institutional Special Needs Plans nationally, driving ongoing improvements in care delivery, clinical outcomes, and growth of the program. Dr. Chegini obtained her Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude from the University of Washington and went on to study medicine at the University of Rochester, where she developed her passion for the bio-psycho-social medicine model and palliative care. She trained in internal medicine at the George Washington University, where she came to recognize her life’s mission of caring for individuals with medical and psychosocial complexities.
Danielle Basurco, MD
Role: Associate Medical Director Location: Pasadena Education: Ross University School of Medicine Residency: UCSF Fresno – Family & Community Medicine Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine Languages Spoken: : English, Spanish
“My love for seniors started with loving and caring for my grandmother and trying to find ways for her to live her best life. Our seniors are living books full of experiences from which we can all benefit. They need love and support to thrive. Each senior has a unique set of vulnerabilities and goals that need to be identified and supported. It is a privilege now to help form part of that loving support team.”
When not working I enjoy… working on my chili pepper and tomato garden with my family and creating delicious meals with them and for them. I enjoy family time, hiking and collecting gnomes.
Maily Vang
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Fresno Education: Samuel Merritt University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Hmong
“I love working with seniors because there’s nothing more rewarding than walking into a room full of elderly people smiling and knowing you’re the part of the reason why.”
Maily values taking the time to connect with her patients. She works to meaningfully impact the lives of her patients and bring joy to their days.
When she’s not working, Maily enjoys spending time with her loved ones. “The most important thing in the world is family and love.” -John Wooden
Sukhvinder Kaur
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Stockton Education: United States University, San Diego Board Certification: Family Nurse Practitioner, FNP-BC Languages Spoken: English, Hindi, Punjabi
“I love working with the elderly to see them become independent in their own homes.” Sukhvinder enjoys supporting her patients and creating a personal connection. She finds working with the elderly to be rewarding, and especially appreciates hearing about her patients’ lives.
When she’s not working, Sukhvinder enjoys spending time with family, traveling, camping, and cooking.
Blaire Bernard, JD
General Counsel
Blaire Bernard, JD, is an experienced healthcare lawyer who has focused her career on supporting providers whose mission is to expand access to value-based care. Prior to joining WelbeHealth, Blaire served as General Counsel and Compliance Officer of Iora Health, where she built the legal operations and partnered with business leaders in scaling the compliance program.
Vaneesh Soni, MD
Chief Development Officer
Dr. Vaneesh Soni focuses on expanding the reach and impact of innovative care models to benefit large patient populations at scale. Most recently, he was the Chief Strategy Officer for Imaging Advantage, prior to which he was at McKinsey and Company.
Jillian Simon, LCSW
Executive Director
Jillian Simon has spent over 15 years focused on improving geriatric services with an emphasis on patient centered care. As veteran PACE and adult day health care executive, Jillian is passionate about promoting health, independence, and an overall increased quality of life for seniors and their families.
Richard Gurley’s professional passion is improving quality of service and reducing costs in the US healthcare system. That passion has taken him through leadership roles in Tennessee government, McKinsey consulting, and most recently Evolent Health.
Sophia is a passionate health care leader with an expertise in senior care operations. She was at the helm of AltaMed’s ADHC and PACE growth and expansion for over 18 years. She believes in loving PACE participants and developing future leaders.
Ethan Epstein is passionate about delivering higher value healthcare in the US. To him, that means better clinical outcomes at a lower cost for patients. Most recently he was at Evolent Health, where he teamed with providers to enable their transition in value-based care.
Robert is an experienced managed care leader and was most recently the CEO of On Lok, the originator of the PACE model of care. He also founded CalPACE, the first state association for PACE organizations. He actively pursues better solutions in senior housing and health care.
Elizabeth Carty is an expert in the highly successful PACE model of care. As a former Director of On Lok PACEpartners Consulting and former COO of the Center for Elders’ Independence, Elizabeth has spent 20 years launching new centers and leading and improving existing PACE organizations. Ensuring dignity for seniors is a core value for Elizabeth.
Kendell has served as both a Teaching Attending and a Hospice Medical Director. She recently completed a prestigious fellowship at Stanford University with a focus on “Redesigning Care for People in Late Life.” She believes in focusing on her patient’s life goals to maximize their health and well-being.
Dr. Matt Patterson is dedicated to improving the value, accessibility, and experience of healthcare for all people and their caregivers. He’s led market changing innovation across clinical, operational, and technology domains with AirStrip, McKinsey & Company, and the United States Navy.
A dynamic and team-oriented senior-level professional with 23 years of experience leading and developing healthcare programs in a non-profit health care/social service setting. Recognized for goal-oriented organizational leadership and successful track record of delivering high quality services and positive customer satisfaction.
Amy Shin
Senior Advisor
Amy Shin is a passionate advocate for equitable healthcare, especially for vulnerable populations. Amy has deep Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care, and commercial health care and managed care experiences. Amy was previously a CEO of Health Plan of San Joaquin, the CAO of On Lok Senior Health Services (the founding PACE organization), and a principal with a nationwide consulting firm, Health Management Associates.
Sam Wald
Chief Operating Officer
Sam Wald is an experienced healthcare operations leader, specializing in value-based care for seniors. He has led teams and networks that deliver highly coordinate care to some of our most vulnerable community members. He is passionate about building systems and partnerships that improve outcomes and reduce the cost of care for patients.
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Stockton Education: Ryerson University, Canada; National University, San Diego Board Certification: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner Languages Spoken: English
“I love working with seniors because they always teach me something new. They have a lifetime of wisdom that helps me grow as a clinician.”
When not working I enjoy… spending time with my family and my miniature schnauzer, going to church
Cheryl Phillips, MD
Senior Clinical Advisor
Dr. Cheryl Phillips is CEO of the Special Needs Plan Alliance, a national association for Medicare-Medicaid plans serving vulnerable adults. She was previously Chief Medical Officer of On Lok, the original PACE, and Founding Medical Director for Sutter Senior Care PACE, one of the earliest PACE replication sites. She is former president of the American Geriatrics Society and a fellowship-trained geriatrician.
Magda Lenartowicz, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Magda Lenartowicz is a passionate physician specializing in the care of older adults. She is a trained internist with a fellowship in geriatric medicine and social scientist with a specialization in gerontology. Prior to joining WelbeHealth, she founded a home health company and taught gerontology at McMaster University in Canada. Most recently, she served as medical director at a comprehensive geriatric inpatient service in Southern California and continues her clinical work as a hospice and palliative care physician with Rozeroom Hospice. Dr. Lenartowicz received her geriatric fellowship training from University of California Los Angeles and completed her undergraduate medical training and residency at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. She completed her undergraduate training in gerontology at McMaster University.
Susan Waschevski
AVP, Operations
Susan is a deeply experienced PACE and senior care leader, having previously served as Director of PACE at Franciscan Alliance and Deputy Director at Indiana Division of Aging. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Monmouth College.
Heather Wasielewski
Vice President, People
Heather is passionate about creating a purposeful and impactful team member experience and believes that engaged and happy team members directly and positively impact the participants that we serve. She has MBAs from UC Berkeley and Columbia University and a BA in International Business and Spanish from Dominican University in River Forest, IL.
Marsha Alexander, MD
Role: Associate Medical Director Location: Stockton Medical Degree: East Tennessee State University Residency: Florida Hospital, Family Practice Languages Spoken: English
Dr. Alexander knows that medical conditions can be difficult for seniors and their loved ones to manage. She has been caring for seniors through PACE for five years. With nearly four decades of experience in family medicine, she partners with seniors to meet their health needs and goals. Dr. Alexander doesn’t shy away from tough conversations and her patients know she will help keep them on track. Her mission is to enable older adults to enjoy more independence and a better quality of life for as long as possible.
Outside of work, Dr. Alexander loves to quilt.
Nesren Anton, NP
Role: Nurse Practitioner Location: Stockton Education: Samuel Merritt University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Arabic
“I hope that everyone is able to achieve their health wish. I love helping seniors try to achieve that.”
Nesren is passionate about educating patients and the community about health issues and preventive care. Having spent several years working at Children’s Cancer Hospital, she took a position with Hospice and Palliative Care, managing Medicare patients and conducting in-home health assessments. Her compassion for seniors and her focus on providing quality care are very appreciated among the participants at WelbeHealth.
When Nesren is not seeing participants, she is busy being a supermom to five beautiful children.
Sepideh Chegini, MD
Role: Chief Medical Officer Medical Degree: University of Rochester School of Medicine Residency: George Washington University Internal Medicine Residency Board Certification: Internal Medicine Languages Spoken: English, German, Persian
“You treat your participants as if they’re your favorite family members. And you become their advocate. You give them a voice when they don’t have one.”
While in medical school, Sepideh Chegini recognized that her life’s mission is to care for both the body and mind, delivering patient-centered, holistic care. Dr. Chegini is dedicated, compassionate and determined to improve her patients’ quality of life.
Originally from Iran, Dr. Chegini has a husband, two kids and two big dogs. She also has a deep love for yoga, which is probably why she’s so cool under pressure.
Tam Dinh, NP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Pasadena Education: University of California, Los Angeles, California State University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Vietnamese
“Treat people how you would want them to treat you. It comes down to respecting human values—just giving or getting that respect from each other.”
With 15 years of experience, Tam has a wealth of knowledge and skills. She has served as a nurse in a variety of clinical settings, including hospitals and clinics. Prior to joining WelbeHealth, she served as a Nurse Practitioner in psychiatry. She is passionate about helping participants and their families within the community. She delivers high-quality, patient-centered care that makes a difference in her patients’ lives.
When she isn’t seeing participants at WelbeHealth, she enjoys spending time with her family.
Julio Garibay, FNP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Fresno Education: California State University, Fresno, Fresno Pacific University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
“I enjoy hearing about my participants’ backgrounds and their experiences. It helps me understand their perspectives and develop lasting patient-provider relationships.”
Julio served as a Medic in the United States Airforce before transitioning to registered nursing and now serves as a Family Nurse Practitioner. With nearly 20 years of clinical experience, he has provided care to patients of all ages with acute and chronic health conditions. He understands the complexity of disease and creates customized treatment plans for each participant.
Julio enjoys spending time with his family and taking his children to karate. He may be able to show you a few self-defense moves!
Otashe Golden, MD
Role: Regional Medical Director Location: Stockton Medical Degree: Albany Medical College Residency: University of California, Davis Sutter Health Family Medicine Board Certification: Family Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Care, Wound Care Languages Spoken: English
“I motivate you to live your best life and give you tools to empower yourself and your health.”
With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Golden helps people lead a healthy life well into their golden years. She seeks to improve quality of care, collaborate with other providers and make sure participants receive the care they deserve. A published author, Dr. Golden is popularly known as the “Medical Life Coach.” She gives participants and their families resources that empower them to make better-informed health decisions.
If you’re looking for a lecture, you won’t get one! Dr. Golden tells her WelbeHealth participants, “I never lecture on the first date.”
Laura Gonzalez, MSN, FNP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Fresno Education: Grand Canyon University, United States University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
“I try to incorporate my patients’ values and goals. It’s not just all about Western medicine. I also want to incorporate what they do in their own cultures and just set limits to what we can and cannot do with their thoughts in mind.”
Laura has been serving seniors since 2015. She began her nursing career as a Registered Nurse at a California nursing home. Continuing her education, she became a Licensed Nurse Practitioner in 2019 and proudly stepped into her new role at WelbeHealth. Her experience in the PACE model has reassured Laura of how coordinated, quality care can make a huge difference in the lives of the elderly. She is honored to serve a diverse population of participants.
Laura loves bringing her children to her parent’s farm to see the chickens and goats, “teach them to care for creatures other than themselves.”
Oscar Hernandez, MD
Role: Medical Director Location: Fresno Medical Degree: Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Mexico, International Medical Graduate Program: The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Residency: University of California San Francisco, Fresno Board Certification: Family Medicine Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
“I have a lot of patience. I listen to our participants, respond to their concerns, and care for their needs.”
Dr. Hernandez has been caring for seniors through the PACE model for four years. He has seen the positive impact coordinated care can have on the elderly and is proud to deliver it as a part of the WelbeHealth team.
Dr. Hernandez values quality time with his family and friends and considers himself to be quite the handyman, regularly working on projects around his home.
Lauren Kennerly, NP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Pasadena Education: Kent State University, Rush University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English
“I am grateful when I take stress off the family and the patient. It makes everyone’s life easier and healthier, because we take care of them.”
As a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Lauren brings dynamic skills and experience that help her care for a diverse population of seniors. She’s also an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, which means she treats people from adolescents through adulthood and into advanced age. Lauren has worked in many clinical settings including the cardiovascular ICU, cardiac transplant ICU, PACU, orthopedics and internal medicine. She is excited to provide compassionate, personalized care to WelbeHealth participants with a goal to “do what makes you happy.”
In her free time, Lauren loves taking her dog to farmer’s markets because he has a “smiling” face that helps her make friends.
Becky Kuhn, RN, FNP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Pasadena Education: California State University, Long Beach Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
“It’s important for patients to understand their health conditions and the reasons for particular treatments. When patients know the ‘why,’ they’re more motivated to stick to their plan.”
Becky Kuhn has been working with seniors since 2011 and is dedicated to providing quality medical care and improving the health of her patients. She takes a collaborative approach ensuring they have the best quality of life. WelbeHealth participants appreciate her attention to detail, focus on educating and encouraging words.
Becky loves nature and would camp out in the woods for months if she could.
Yordanos Mehanzel, FNP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Stockton Education: Nevada State College, Touro University Nevada Board Certification: California Board of Registered Nursing Languages Spoken: English
“I take care of each patient the best that I can and consider how they want to be cared for.”
Yordanos is a real go-getter! She began working as a Registered Nurse in Pre-Op and PACU with an Associates Degree in Nursing. In 2017, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and in 2020, she received her Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner. She brings enthusiasm and strives to provide optimal, patient-centered care with compassion.
Outside of work, you can find her serving up tennis balls or relaxing with yoga!
Adetoun Obadofin, FNP, CCM
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Stockton Education: University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, University of Texas at Austin, West Coast University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Commission for Case Manager Certification Languages Spoken: English
“I take care of seniors the way I would like to be taken care of. I want to take that journey with them and help them enjoy what they have.”
Adetoun provides care to patients with the most complex and advanced medical needs. She is experienced in adult-gerontology, caring for patients from adolescence through adulthood and into advanced age. She brings her experience to our participants and puts smiles on their faces.
A busy mom of 3 kids all under 13, Adetoun still finds time to do what she enjoys, which is giving back to the community.
Colin Robinson, MD, MPH
Role: Medical Director Location: Pasadena Medical Degree: Tufts University School of Medicine Residency: UCLA Combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Board Certification: Internal Medicine, Pediatrics Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
“I pride myself on carefully listening to my patients. It’s important to understand their medical history, as well as their social, family and cultural lives.”
Dr. Robinson is passionate about providing personalized care to patients of all ages, including seniors. He practices patient-centered care to help WelbeHealth participants live their healthiest lives. In addition to his Doctor of Medicine (MD), Dr. Robinson holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) and previously served as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Program Director at UCLA.
When not working at WelbeHealth, Dr Robinson enjoys time with his family and hitting the occasional ace on the tennis court.
Raman Talwar, MD
Role: PACE Physician Location: Stockton Medical Degree: Government Medical College and Hospital Residency: Baylor College of Medicine Languages Spoken: English, Hindi, Punjabi
“If you can help somebody in need, they will often come back to thank you. That really means something to me.”
Dr. Raman’s four decades spent caring for patients of all ages shines through in his work at WelbeHealth. Participants and families know they can trust him as an experienced, knowledgeable provider. In addition to primary care, his medical specialties include general and vascular surgery. This hands-on vascular expertise helps him assist seniors in managing conditions that affect arteries and veins.
When not caring for participants, Dr. Talwar loves to travel and read as much as he can.
Dixie Tucker, A-GNP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Stockton Education: University of Alabama at Birmingham Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English
“I care for all my patients as if they’re my family. I want them to have the best, highest-quality care.”
Dixie has provided care to seniors in many settings, including homes, hospitals, trauma units, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. No matter where she cares for patients, she makes sure their unique needs are met. She brings that dedication to WelbeHealth as she cares for a diverse population of seniors. Some of her specialties include acute care, transitional care and chronic disease management.
When not working, Dixie loves couponing and tending to her garden.
Ted Vuong, FNP
Role: Nurse Practitioner Location: Pasadena Education: Western University of Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Chinese (Chiu-Chow)
“It’s a gift to love the elderly. It’s a gift to admire them and have so much compassion for them that I felt like I needed to do this.”
Before joining WelbeHealth, Ted worked in an urgent care and emergency room setting. This experience has given him skills in caring for people of all ages. He enjoys working with the elderly, counseling them on care, treatment options and preventive medicine. In addition to English, Ted is fluent in five languages. You can test him out if you speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Chiu-Chow or Spanish!
Ted enjoys serving his community and volunteering at his local food bank.
Linda Yang, MBA, BSN, MSN, FNP-C
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Fresno Education: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Hmong
“Giving time back to seniors who have shaped the community is a privilege. I learn so much from them.”
Linda has years of invaluable experience as a volunteer and as a nurse. She has put her skills to use in a variety of healthcare settings. She is enthusiastic about providing compassionate education, safety and healthcare. She creates lasting relationships with participants, while delivering healthcare that empowers them and increases their quality of life.
Family-oriented and passionate about caring for people as if they were her own family, Linda is the proud mom of 6 grown children (all boys!) and grandma to 2 boys.
Jagdish Nijjar, FNP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Fresno Education: Fresno Pacific University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Punjabi, Hindi
Dennis Louis Yam, NP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Fresno Education: Walden University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Tagalog, Chinese
“Welbe Health is the ideal setting to practice medicine. Here, we get rewarded for the quality of care we give and the outcome of the care.”
Danny takes seriously the saying “do no harm” and works with each patient to deliver care suited to their unique circumstances.
When not working, I enjoy…traveling and road trips, spending time with family, watching movies.
Germin Soliman, DO
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Pasadena Education: Western University of Health Sciences Residency:College Medical Center Pacific Hospital of Long Beach Board Certification: American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine Languages Spoken: English, Spanish, Arabic
Danny Lam, NP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Pasadena Education: Azusa Pacific University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Cantonese, Mandarin
“I love working with seniors because they deserve the best quality of life they can get. In a way, while caring for them we can see our future.”
When not working, I enjoy… wanderlusting, skiing (not very good at it though).
Haide Landeros, NP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Pasadena Education: University of California, Los Angeles Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Nesren Anton, NP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Stockton Education: Samuel Merritt University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English, Arabic
“I hope that everyone is able to achieve their health wish. I love helping seniors try to achieve that.”
Nesren is passionate about educating patients and the community about health issues and preventive care. Having spent several years working at Children’s Cancer Hospital, she took a position with Hospice and Palliative Care, managing Medicare patients and conducting in-home health assessments. Her compassion for seniors and her focus on providing quality care are very appreciated among the participants at WelbeHealth.
When Nesren is not seeing participants, she is busy being a supermom to five beautiful children.
Marshe Ivy, FNP
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Stockton Education: Samuel Merritt University Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Languages Spoken: English
“I am a nurse first and my goal is to treat my patients in a nurturing way, and give them the love and attention they deserve. I hope every one of my patients trust me to partner in their treatment and healing.”
Marshe prides herself on listening to and understanding where her patients are now, and helping them overcome any barriers to their care goals.
When not working, Marshe enjoys rest and relaxation such as shopping, crafting, or going to the spa, and spending time with family.
Raman Talwar, MD
Role: Primary Care Provider Location: Stockton Education: Maharshi Dayanand University Board Certification: Baylor College of Medicine Languages Spoken: English, Hindi, Spanish
