Healthforce Center in collaboration with Partnership HealthPlan of California has selected 35 participants for the inaugural cohort of the Partnership Clinic Leadership Academy. This academy helps transform today’s rural health professionals into tomorrow’s leaders, equipping both administrative and clinical staff, including, physicians, behavioral health providers, nurses, and other healthcare providers, with the skills, confidence, and resilience required to effectively lead teams and enhance care delivery across Northern California.
With the guidance of experts from the health care and public policy sectors, participants broaden their management skills and sharpen their leadership capacity while gaining insights into the trends and challenges facing health care in Northern California. Throughout the program, participants will continue working at their home organizations within Partnership’s provider network, continuing to serve members while advancing their leadership practice.
“Strong leadership is essential to delivering high-quality care in our communities,” said Sonja Bjork, chief executive officer of Partnership. “Through the Partnership Clinic Leadership Academy, we are investing in the people who care for our members every day and helping build the next generation of healthcare leaders across Northern California.”
The academy was designed and developed in collaboration with Partnership HealthPlan of California, which is a community-based, safety-net health care organization that contracts with the state to administer Medi-Cal benefits.
The inaugural cohort launched in June 2026 and will run through March 2027. Participants represent a broad range of backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, geography, and professional disciplines across Partnership’s provider network.
The Incoming Participants of the Inaugural Cohort (with their organizational affiliations - in alphabetical order):
Megan Mikkelson, Clinical Operations Manager, Alexander Valley Healthcare
Kameren Owens, Medical Director, Alliance Medical Center
Himrat Singh, Quality Nursing Manager, Ampla Health
Wendy Pierce, Medical Call Center Supervisor, Chapa De Indian Health Clinic
Betzabel Kunkel, Medical Director, Communicare+OLE
Shanek Fenton, Associate Director of Operations, Community Medical Centers
Amber Gilmore, Medical Director, Consolidated Tribal Health Project
Tracy Waid, QIP Manager & Compliance Officer, Fortuna Family Medicine
Crystal Benton, Director of Operations, Hill Country Community Clinic
Vanessa Stallworth, Area Manager of Operations, La Clinica De La Raza
Zoë Cappe, Physician, La Clinica De La Raza
Christian Kenshi Job, Director of Nursing, Lake County Tribal Health Consortium
Tyler Kimball, Clinical Manager, Mad River Community Hospital
Hang Phung, Chief Operating Officer, Marin City Health and Wellness Center
Michael Feiertag, Manager of Information Systems, Mendocino Community Health Clinic
Teri Schmitt, Director of Health Informatics, Mountain Valleys Health Centers
Kaitlin Watkins, Director of Nursing, Northeastern Rural Health Clinics
Sunny McLaughlin, Registration Manager, Northeastern Rural Health Clinics
Esperanza Wainscoat, Supervising Clinician, Northern Valley Indian Health
Stacy Berrong, Family Physician / Lead Medical Provider, Northern Valley Indian Health
Ashley Chiu, Administrative Director, Open Door Community Health Centers
Bisrat Woldemichael, Physician, Peach Tree Health
Arka Bhattacharya, Physician, Peach Tree Health
Maryann Watts, Director of Quality and Population Health, Redwood Coast Medical Services
Aleksandra Jaksic, Quality Improvement Manager, Redwoods Rural Health Center
Araceli Cisneros Juarez, Director of Operations, Santa Rosa Community Health
Rachael Lamb, Chief Compliance Officer, Shasta Cascade Health Centers
Warren Houchin, RN Coordinator, Shasta Community Health Center
Snehal Raisoni, Clinical Medical Director / Chief of Staff, SoHum Health
Rebecca Cronk, Health Services Clinical Manager, Solano County Family Health Services
Ricardo Fragoso, Manager, Tahoe Forest Health System
Heather Aultman, Chief Operating Officer, The WeCare Group
Cara Figas, Clinic Manager – Humboldt, United Indian Health Services, Inc.
Rob England, Tribal Public Health Director, United Indian Health Services, Inc.
Polly Conley, Chief Medical Officer, Western Sierra Medical Clinic