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.

Executive Vice President, External Affairs

Amy Shin is a seasoned healthcare executive and staunch advocate for equitable healthcare, especially for the vulnerable populations. Amy has deep understanding of managed Medicare, Medicaid, dual-eligible, long-term care, and commercial health care. She really enjoys strategic planning, improving operational efficiencies, transforming data to information, and innovation to advance comprehensive quality care. She was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Health Plan of San Joaquin, where she oversaw health care delivery for underserved areas of California, insuring 350,000 residents.

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.

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.

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EVP Operations

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.

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Regional VP

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.

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CFO

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.

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PACE Board Member

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.

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Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer

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.

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Medical Director

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.

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President

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.

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SVP, Operations

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.

Chief Medical Officer

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.

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.

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.

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CEO

Si France is a mission driven physician entrepreneur. Most recently, he was founder and CEO of GoHealth, which operates over 80 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.

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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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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: 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!

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

Role: Primary Care Provider
Location: Fresno
Education: Fresno Pacific University
Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Languages Spoken: English, Punjabi, Hindi

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.

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.

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

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).

Role: Primary Care Provider
Location: Pasadena
Education: University of California, Los Angeles
Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

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.

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.

Role: Primary Care Provider
Location: Stockton
Education: Maharshi Dayanand University
Board Certification: Baylor College of Medicine
Languages Spoken: English, Hindi, Spanish