Meet Our Board
Georgia Worsham
Director of Center Operations
Georgia is no stranger to the fast and furious pace of growing organizations, which is why her taking the position of Director of Center Operations in early 2006 made sense. Joining Sequoia in early 2005, Georgia was hired as the Director of the Call Center where she quickly provided focus and organizational structure. Georgia’s ability to motivate her team and providing much-needed mentoring is why Georgia’s promotion to Director of Center Operations was no surprise to her peers.
“Being able to provide quality affordable healthcare to low income patients brings a sense of pride to me,” she says. “I am proud to be a part of a team that works so diligently to make healthcare accessible to all.”
In Georgia’s spare time she enjoys the outdoors and remodeling her cabin in the mountains. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
Jewell Williams
Jewell Williams has been involved with Sequoia’s practically since its beginning. Because of encouragement from two of Sequoia’s employees and one of the director’s, Jewell became a board member.
When asked what she felt were particular challenges the Board and Sequoia would be facing in the next year, she said, “There will always be challenges in Finances. Making sure proper directors and managers fulfill their duties and making proper reports to the Board.” She says, “Whatever happens, pro or con, the board needs to be properly advised with complete and accurate reports and to be present at board and committee meetings and to be involved.”
Being visible in the community and being able to make viable suggestions that concerns the health and well-being of the community we serve is what Jewell believes will enhance the productivity and further the growth of Sequoia Community Health Centers.
Sybille Waiyaki
Chief Financial Officer
With a head for numbers and a heart for people, Sybille Waiyaki can truly say she loves her work as Chief Financial Officer of Sequoia Health Centers. Sybille joined Sequoia in February of 2001 as Senior Accountant/Accounting Manager. She was promoted to Director of Finance in 2004 and Chief Financial Officer in 2007. She is responsible for Sequoia’s financial statements, treasury management, taxes and government clinic reports.
But her job is not just about the reports and the numbers; it’s also about the people behind them. “I love my work at Sequoia and what our mission stands for,” she says.
Though her work week usually exceeds forty hours and her spare time may be infrequent, Sybille enjoys reading, swimming, and hiking.
Leoncio Vasquez
Leoncio Vasquez’s first experience with Sequoia Community Health Centers came when he needed health care for his children. “When I came to Sequoia to receive health services for my children, our doctor, Dr. Moreno, was wonderful,” he said. Based on that experience, he decided to become a board member and take an active part in Sequoia’s plan for growth.
However, he says, it is a challenging job to be on the board. “Handling the vast information we receive prior to every meeting, understanding clearly the content of such materials and making decisions based on such documents,” are all part of how he sees his role on the board.
Challenging though it may be, it is a job to which he is committed. He says being a Sequoia patient family is a bonus to the experience he brings to his position on the board. This experience, he says, makes it easier for him to “contact people in the community to give them information about the wonderful work and services that Sequoia provides.”
Chris Torres
Board Chairperson
Chris Torres brings a wealth of experience to her position as a Sequoia board member. As Program Manager for Fresno’s Comprehensive Youth Services, she has been involved with parents and children in child abuse prevention. She is also a chaplain at the Fresno County Jail and has experience in the administration of federal, state and county grants. Plus, she is a patient at Sequoia Community Health Center.
“I am very interested in community issues as they affect children and families. Health is an integral part of what happens in a community. Whether it is intervention, treatment or prevention, the condition of health is critical to the well being of the community,” she said.
Of course, community health cannot be a topic of discussion without also considering its financial ramifications. This is a challenge that Chris believes Sequoia will face on an ongoing basis. “Rising costs and cuts make for a tenuous balancing act for the board and administration. Although there are many challenges facing Sequoia in the future, there will also be many opportunities to provide quality services to the people who choose us as their health care provider,” Chris says.
Charito Sico, MD
Melissa Rhoads
Director of Quality
Melissa joined Sequoia as the Quality Improvement Coordinator in January 2006. Through mentorship and training, Melissa was promoted to Director of Quality in April 2007. Melissa's leadership responsibilities include Quality Improvement, Corporate Compliance, Risk Management, and Chronic Disease Management. Melissa brings to this role over 10 years of healthcare and public health experience with a Masters Degree in Public Health. Her experience includes acute healthcare support services and public health education and policy advocacy. After nearly five years in public health, Melissa came to Sequoia in pursuit of a career path where she could advocate for more involvement in preventive medicine beyond the public health sector. What she found at Sequoia was an organization committed to excellence in patient care through Quality Improvement. Beyond the commitment to provide health care services to our patients, Melissa also found a strong commitment to the community to help people stay healthy.
In coming from many large organizations, Melissa expressed a sentiment shared by many at Sequoia. “I felt like I was coming home and being welcomed by my family. I am so proud and honored to be a part of this family. We share so much joy in the work we do everyday, it’s hard not to be persuaded to find ways to do our work in the best way we can, so people in our community have access to the highest quality healthcare we can offer them.”
Quality Improvement work is for the adventurous and tenacious spirit. This adventure and tenacity flourish even when Melissa is away from Sequoia. "In the last few years, I have learned to ride Jet Skis – the real Jet Skis that you have to stand up on to ride. I have to have balance and quick feet, but that didn’t get me too far without the spirit underneath it all. I have to keep getting back on the Jet Ski no matter how hard or how often I get thrown off into the water. This spirit is what makes things happen and I aim to give that spirit to our patients and my Sequoia family every day.”
Mary Renner
Chief of Human Resources
Mary Renner has been in the human resources field for 24 years. She started working with Sequoia as a human resources consultant before becoming part of the Sequoia executive team, a transition she says was a good one.
“Working in HR at Sequoia provides an ideal environment to significantly contribute to the organization’s culture through both traditional HR roles and the integration of our mission into the work we do,” she says.
“Sequoia was my first client as an HR consultant and I am glad to now be an employee!”
Esther Padilla, MSW
Esther Padilla, MSW, brings a long list of talents to her position as a nine-year Sequoia board member, including working for Sequoia. “Health care to the underserved has always been an interest. Additionally, I worked at Sequoia from 1981 to 1982,” she said.
As a social worker for a health care organization, she sees how finding reliable, low-cost, expert health care impacts the lives of people. However, funding such care is an ongoing challenge for health care organizations such as Sequoia. The board is charged, she said, with finding a “balanced revenue stream and keeping our cost encounters within budget.”
Esther believes that her other talents will enhance the Board’s efforts in meeting that fiscal challenge as well. “I have experience in policy development as well as a political background as a former Fresno City Council member. I also have skills in media relations, media buying and community outreach.” she said.
Sr. Beverly A. Nelson, CCS
Board Treasurer
Sister Beverly Ann Nelson, CSC, joined Sequoia’s Board of Trustees after being asked several times to become a board member because of her Finance background. She was also drawn to the board because of her deep concern for those less fortunate than herself.
Sister Beverly believes that Sequoia will continue to face challenges of adequate funding because the number of uninsured, underinsured and homeless continues to increase. She says it will continue to be important to build relationships and collaborate with other agencies and health care systems/providers in responding to the needs that our patients/clients present – Sequoia or any other healthcare system cannot do it alone. She says that the needs of the community must be addressed as a community. Mental Health and housing are two of the many needs that are not being fulfilled. Sister Beverly realizes that there is funding to address these; however, being able to sustain whatever is accomplished now will be a challenge.
Sister Beverly has a strong personal passion for addressing the needs of the poor, which motivates her to whatever action and/or participation I can offer. She also has the professional experience of being a hospital CEO for 10 years, a hospital Chief Operating Officer for 6 years, and a Chief Financial Officer for 7 years. Her overall responsibility now is the Holy Cross Center for Women, which is a day shelter for the poor and homeless. She is also responsible for the Holy Cross Clinic, a FREE health clinic for the poor, homeless and uninsured.
Edward R. Mosley, MD
A common philosophy of committed service brought Dr. Edward Mosley to Sequoia’s Board of Directors; he liked it so well, he decided to stay.
As a physician, Dr. Mosley became aware of Sequoia’s services while working for the Fresno County Health Department. “Later, I had the good fortune to be on a committee with Laurie Primavera, who was the Sequoia CEO at the time. I came to the conclusion that the philosophy of the institution was in concert with mine.”
“I’ve been pleased with my association (with Sequoia) over these past five years and look forward to a continuing one,” he said. As chairman of the board, Dr. Mosley will have an opportunity not only to continue on but to guide Sequoia through the next year of growth and challenges.
“Challenges to our institution occur daily. I think our major challenge is to find ways to improve our service to patients while maintaining a high level of efficiency, by both the staff and the providers. And we must do this in a fiscally sound manner,” he said.
Anthony J. Molina, MD
As a family practice physician, Board of Directors’ chairman and medical director for Sequoia Community Health Centers, Dr. Anthony Molina thinks he may have seen it all. Dr. Molina joined Sequoia in 1982 as a federally appointed family practice physician; now nearly 25 years later, board member Dr. Molina looks back with pride at what has been accomplished.
“As the first medical director of Sequoia, I felt I had a stake in insuring the highest quality as far as its medical staff. My philosophy has always been that if you have good physicians that the patients will come and keep coming back,” he said.
And come back they have. As the word has spread of Sequoia’s dedication to providing health care for patients with few or no resources, Sequoia has experienced vigorous growth. So much so that Dr. Molina says that the biggest challenges will now be managing that growth and trying to match the resources with the demand, especially in the face of national reform to such issues as the federal budget and immigration.
“I would have to say I think I’ve seen it all at community clinics over the years—expansion and contraction, the good times and the bad—but Sequoia has survived due to its commitment to the needs of the patients it serves and I hope that never changes,” he said.
Dr. John Maffeo
Chief Executive Officer
As Sequoia’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. John Maffeo is quick to share the successes he has seen. “My self view is, ‘Here toils a man who attracts into service people better than himself,’ ” he says. “Only then can we achieve Sequoia’s goals of striving to be the best, by recruiting the best and retaining the best, at every position.”
Sequoia’s mission of serving an underserved population is both personally and professionally fulfilling to Dr. Maffeo. “As a practicing physician, I thoroughly enjoy my patient time and at all times strive to do what’s best for the patient,” he says. “Similarly, in my administrative role, I remain patient-focused and dedicated to bringing the best possible care to the most vulnerable populations of the greater Fresno area. As CEO, I take equal pride in the Executive Leadership Team that provides and implements Sequoia’s strategic direction.”
Dr. Maffeo’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. In 1993, Dr Maffeo received the Ciba-Geigy Award for Excellence in Medicine. In 1999, he was recognized by the American College of Physician Executives for his “Selfless Dedication to Medicine and Management.” And, as recently as 2004, Dr. Maffeo received a Blue Cross of California Community Service Award. But it was placing fourth in the 1979 Pepsi-Cola/NBA Hotshot Competition in his hometown of Oakland that is still a standout memory in his personal list of accomplishments!
Chia Lee
Suzanne Kotkin-Jaszi, Dr. P.H.
Dr. Suzanne Kotkin-Jaszi is not new to serving as a board member for a health center. Serving on the board for First Choice, Inc., a FQHC in New Mexico piqued her interest in providing ways to bring healthcare to the underserved and uninsured population. Not only does Dr. Kotkin-Jaszi have experience with serving on a board, but has also been a CEO and manager. This experience brings with her the understanding of the issues at Sequoia.
Dr. Kotkin-Jaszi is glad to be a part of an organization whose mission is to provide affordable healthcare to the underserved and uninsured population of the Central Valley.
Dr. Kotkin-Jaszi is currently a faculty member California State University – Fresno.
Susan Hernandez
Director of Clinical Services
Susan’s history with Sequoia is a history filled with success. Susan started at Sequoia as a staff nurse in 1993 and from there moved up to nurse manager, site manager and finally Center Director. Recognizing her abilities in both operational and clinical functions, Dr. Maffeo, Sequoia’s CEO, promoted Susan to Director of Clinical Services.
“Coming from a migrant farm worker family, I know first hand the needs of the population we serve,” she says. With Susan’s family history and her compassion and dedication, Sequoia’s patients and peers are well served.
Susan enjoys baking and according to her family her cinnamon rolls are “second to none”. Susan also enjoys long motorcycle rides, gardening and home improvement projects.
William R. Ham
William Ham wanted to be a part of Sequoia’s Board of Director’s because Sequoia is an organization that “literally helped thousands of my neighbors here in the Fresno area with affordable, comprehensive, quality health care services” and “to ensure that Sequoia’s patients have an equal voice on the Board.
Mr. Ham believes the short and long term challenges for Sequoia need to be “considered as one in the same”. These challenges include:
• Fund development to ensure Sequoia’s growth and stability in providing excellent health care services to the underprivileged and underserved in the area
• Maintaining current outreach programs, as well as implementing new programs that prove to be successful in helping the people who are most in need of Sequoia’s health care services
• Maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction with the use of proper training of staff and employees at all levels to encourage an efficient and productive work ethic within each department
Mr. Ham spent 14 years as a Production Supervisor for a large industrial metal recycling company in which he streamlined operations, reduced wasteful spending, increased productivity, and kept the customer happy. Along with this experience, Mr. Ham is a current Sequoia patient. Because of these two qualities, Mr. Ham can lend insight to the Board from the consumer’s point of view.
Michael Gaskin
Director of Information Technology
Michael Gaskin’s office is at the hub of the tech wheel at Sequoia, a location that suits him just fine. Michael brought his 20 years of information technology experience to Sequoia, allowing him to do what he loves for a cause he is proud of.
“I love the fact that I can contribute to making Fresno a healthier community with the help of technology,” he says. “I also love working with my peers and staff. We’re a great team.” Michael also plays a big part in Sequoia’s operational issues as well as helping to sculpt and define Sequoia’s public image.
Outside of Sequoia’s tech wheel, Michael enjoys reading comic books, playing video games and spending time with his growing family.
Bernard Franco
As a businessman, farmer and drug prevention specialist, Bernard Franco sees his experience as a unique blend that allows him to understand both Sequoia’s mission and its target population. “I have been in contact with these communities’ needs as well as with the providers for these needs,” he said.
“I owned and operated my grocery business and 20-acre farm for over 30 years before I retired,” he said. “I have also spent 10 years as a drug prevention specialist for the West Fresno School District.”
As a Sequoia board member, Bernard sees his goal as “being able to help provide and maintain medical service to all, especially the underserved in our community,” he said.
Lupe Franco
“I chose to be a Sequoia Board member because I live in this wonderful community that I love; therefore, I would like to see Sequoia grow even more than it already has”, says Lupe Franco.
Lupe was a school secretary for Union High School for 18 years and says that she sees a lot of her ex-students who are now parents themselves. She says “I can certainly recommend Sequoia Community Health Centers to them.”
Over the next year and beyond, Lupe sees “Sequoia facing the expansions of their facilities and acquiring the funding to e able to provide the medical facilities and doctors needed to serve the people adequately” and is very excited to be a part of this process.
Clara Escamilla
Board Vice-Chairperson
Clara Escamilla wanted to be a part of Sequoia’s board “because of the great changes being done in healthcare for those in the valley that are underserved and/or uninsured”. “I believe that together we can all make a difference in the community” she says.
Growing up a migrant child, Clara has first hand experience what it is like to be on public funded health insurance. She is now a bilingual professional with a passion for helping those who cannot afford services wanting to live a life in good health.
Being a board member requires listening skills, compassion, honesty, inquisitiveness, and hard work. Clara has all these qualities and is glad to be a part of Sequoia’s board working to make a difference in the community.
Victor M. Chavez
Victor Chavez wanted to be a part of the solution to a big problem. So he joined Sequoia’s Board of Directors.
“I was impressed with the work Sequoia was doing in providing healthcare to so many who otherwise would not be served,” he said. “This is a major issue in our community and I wanted to do something, even a small thing, to participate in being a solution to the problem.”
The key to the solution, he says, is planning strategies. “As other healthcare providers seek to find ways not to serve the poor because it may prove hazardous to their bottom line, Sequoia will need strategies to survive financially at a time when need is increasing but compensation for services is decreasing,” he said.
Xi Chang
Board Secretary
Xi Chang was first introduced to Sequoia through a friend who is also one of the health educators at Sequoia. His friend provided him with the information to serve on the board and now has the opportunity to do so. “Being a Sequoia Board member gives me the opportunity to reach out to the underserved population of Fresno about healthcare and make the necessary changes that will improve the quality of healthcare in Fresno.” says Xi.
From a non-profit perspective, Xi believes providing services to healthcare are even more rewarding because of its commitment to the community. “Non-profit organizations tend to have a personal commitment and dedication to the community that differs from profit-oriented organizations and that is the great thing about being a part of Sequoia.” says Xi.
“I bring a different set of personal experience to the board because of my current study at Fresno State University in the Master of Public Health program…..Having been part of the underserved population (Southeast Asian to be exact) ever since I was born, I completely understand how our community needs to be reached and taught about healthcare and health coverage.” says Xi. He brings his current studies in Public Health and the culture and traditions of the Southeast Asian to Sequoia so that the range of patient diversity has a better understanding of Sequoia’s service to the community.
“My continuous education in public health gives me room to grow as a health professional so that I can better educate the underserved community about healthcare as primary care is essential.” says Xi.
Rebecca Carabez, RN, Ph. D.
As a public health nurse, Rebecca Carabez, knows first-hand how important it is for all families to have access to reliable, compassionate health care. She is particularly interested in the programs that address the health of pregnant and parenting women as well as child health issues.
“Currently, as director for Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health for Fresno County, I am involved in planning, implementing and evaluating programs that affect all residents but particularly families with few resources,” she said. “Sequoia Health Centers are uniquely situated in Fresno County to deliver important and needed health services to uninsured, undocumented and migrant workers.”
Sequoia’s unique situation also comes into play when Rebecca talks of the challenges that Sequoia faces, which include: changes in immigration laws and services delivered to undocumented workers; changes in the Medi-Cal program; healthcare workforce shortages; a need for more mental health services; continued reductions in public health funding; and, a need for appropriate substance abuse services.
As a board member, Rebecca sees herself in a strong position to assist Sequoia in meeting these challenges. “My educational background enables me to provide a strong approach to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness and productivity of services delivered at Sequoia Community Health Centers,” she said.
