SAINT AGNES MEDICAL CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director, Business Development & Strategy
Akkara joined Saint Agnes in August 2023. Prior to joining Saint Agnes, Akkara supported the medical group at Rush University System for Health in Chicago as both an Administrative Fellow and later as the Manager of Planning and Performance for the Office of Advanced Practice Providers. At her most recent appointment, she served as Senior Financial Analyst at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. Originally from Fresno, Akkara received her bachelor's in film studies from the University of California Santa Barbara and went on to complete an MFA in Film and Television Production from the University of Southern California before moving into the health care field. She received an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Temple University Fox School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
- Women 's Club President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Director, Marketing & Communications
Casey Fares has been committed to serving Saint Agnes for nearly 15 years. A Fresno native, Casey started her career at Saint Agnes as a Fresno State Intern. An accomplished marketing and communications leader in health care, Casey brings a wealth of experience encompassing digital media strategies, brand campaign management, website development and social marketing. As Director of Marketing & Communications, Casey oversees all marketing and communication strategies for the Medical Center and Saint Agnes Medical Foundation, working to strengthen brand, impact service line growth and support strategic organizational goals. Casey is a Fresno State graduate, receiving her bachelor's in Communications with a minor in Public Relations.
Job Titles:
- DNP, MBA, RN, Chief Nursing Officer
Cheryl joined Saint Agnes in March 2024. Cheryl is a highly motivated and enthusiastic health care executive with more than 19 years of leadership experience in clinical settings, including 11 years as a Chief Nursing Officer. As a health care executive, Cheryl has maintained a sharp focus on developing unparalleled patient experience and creating strong colleague engagement. Cheryl has a long history of service with Tenet Healthcare. She began her career as a clinical nurse at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto in the Intensive Care and Step-Down Units in 1997. She went on to be named Clinical Manager of the Progressive Cardiovascular Step-Down Unit and later Director of Patient Care Services. She joined Sutter Health in 2011 and served as Chief Nurse Executive for two hospitals before returning to Tenet Healthcare in 2016 where she served as a Chief Nursing Officer for eight years. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Pittsburg and her MBA from Texas A&M University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
- 1 St Vice Chair
Dr. Dalpinder Sandhu is a well-respected cardiologist and has been on the Saint Agnes Medical Staff for 16 years. He is Past-President of Medical Staff and an active member of the Board of Directors Medical Affairs Council, the Integrated Leadership Team and the Graduate Medical Education Committee. As a medical staff leader, Dr. Sandhu chartered several collaborative projects with the Medical Center, including a sepsis collaborative, a physician recognition program, and improvements in daily operations for the heart and vascular service through physician co-management.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Medical Foundation
- Vice President, Medical Foundation
Doug Penner joined Saint Agnes as Vice President of the Medical Foundation in September 2020. Doug is a seasoned executive with extensive leadership skills encompassing medical group operations, physician leadership development, implementation of strategic initiatives and business development. He recently served as the Chief Operating Officer at Mercy Clinic Northwest Arkansas, a non-profit Catholic integrated delivery organization. Doug's expertise is invaluable as we continue to expand our outpatient clinics and services through Saint Agnes Medical Providers. Doug received his BA from University of Mississippi, Oxford, MI, his MPH from University of California, Berkeley, CA, and his MBA from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
Dr. Allen M. Evans began his local practice as an Otolaryngologist in 1992. He is board certified in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and also specializes in disorders of the professional voice. During his past 20 years of practice in the Central Valley, Dr. Evans has served in leadership and faculty roles at UCSF, including Chief of Department of Otolaryngology, Chief of Otolaryngology Division and currently as Assistant Clinical Professor. Prior to joining the Saint Agnes Board of Directors in January 2015, Dr. Evans served on various Saint Agnes Medical Staff committees including the Medical Executive Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Central Valley Health Plan ( CVHP )
Eric McMurtrey, MBA, joined Saint Agnes in March 2021. Eric is a senior healthcare executive with more than 15 years of experience in acute and ambulatory care, along with recent experience in IPA, MSO and health plans. He most recently served as Vice President of Network and Practice Management for dignity Health in Bakersfield. Eric earned his bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and received his Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare Strategy from Idaho State University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Health Executives. Eric loves living in and serving those from the Central Valley.
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
Gail Breton has a long history with Saint Agnes, starting her career in Human Resources in 1998 and has diligently served our healing ministry ever since. Gail is an experienced and accomplished health care leader and provides strategic direction and vision in the integration of Human Resources strategies, while ensuring alignment of culture and talent to fulfill our mission and values. She is a Valley native, graduating from Fresno State with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, and holds an MBA from Columbia Southern University.
Job Titles:
- President and Market Leader
Dr. Kaur comes to Saint Agnes from Adventist Health, Central Valley Network, where she served as Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Central Valley Network for three years. Dr. Kaur also previously served as the Senior Regional Director of Vituity, where she oversaw hospitalists, post-acute care practices and Emergency Department practices, creating financial stability and overseeing quality improvement efforts. She also served on Vituity's Board of Directors.
At Adventist, Dr. Kaur played a key role in revitalizing and expanding patient services - including DaVinci robotics, palliative care, surgical services, lung nodule program, outpatient cardiology diagnostics and cardiac cath lab, following the pandemic. Through her experience as a physician health care executive, Dr. Kaur has a deep understanding of health care operations and physician practice dynamics, as well as strong grasp of strategic knowledge surrounding the emerging trends in our field.
Originally from India, Dr. Kaur moved to Los Angeles in 2004 to continue her medical studies at the University of Southern California (USC). She went on to complete her internal medicine residency at Los Angeles General Medical Center (formerly LAC+USC Medical Center). Dr. Kaur also holds a master's in Health Administration from USC.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Community Health & Well - Being
Ivonne Der Torosian joined Saint Agnes in 2017. Ivonne is an experienced community benefit advocate and is passionate about giving back to her community. In her role, Ivonne is responsible for developing strategies to reduce health disparities, prevent disease and improve the overall health of our community by addressing social, behavioral, environmental, economic and medical barriers. She helps to nurture effective hospital-community partnerships that promote a culture of health in the Central Valley. Ivonne holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a master's in Public Administration from the University of Phoenix. She is also the Board President for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Fresno and Madera Counties and a board member for United Way of Fresno and Madera Counties.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Dr. Janet Young served as Superintendent of Clovis Unified School District (CUSD) from 2011-2017. She served CUSD in a variety of capacities throughout her career, starting as a teacher before moving into school site and later district administration. She brings nearly 40 years of experience in instruction and business administration. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions to education. She joined our Board of Directors in January 2022.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
- Men 's Club President
Job Titles:
- Financial Officer
- Vice President of Business Development
Jenny Hernandez joined Saint Agnes as Vice President of Business Development in February 2022 and was recently promoted to Vice President of Finance in June 2023. Jenny is an experienced healthcare leader in finance and strategy, serving at Valley Children's Health and as the CFO of Fresno Surgical Hospital. She is a proud graduate of Fresno State, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Business, and she holds an MBA from Western Governors University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Jim Smith joined Saint Agnes as Mission Leader in June 2023. Jim has been immersed in mission-grounded, not-for-profit organizational work for over 30 years. He has served as leader of faith communities, as executive director of an organization providing home and shelter to families experiencing homelessness, as an educator and advocate. Most recently, he was system-wide mission integration director for a senior health care and housing organization serving over 30 senior communities in a 5-state region. He received his graduate degrees in Pastoral Theology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota and in Applied Spirituality from the University of San Francisco.
Job Titles:
- Chief Medical Officer
- Physician
John Evanko, MD, MBA, FACOG, joined Saint Agnes in September 2023. Dr. Evanko is an accomplished physician executive with extensive leadership experience in both academic and community health care settings. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at The Medical Centre Insurance Company Vermont. In this role, he developed strategies and programs to improve patient safety and satisfaction by working directly with physicians to mitigate risks and provide more patient-centered care. He is passionate about developing systems and protocols that ensure every patient is treated with the safest, highest quality of care, while also receiving an exceptional experience. A New York native, Dr. Evanko earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University, his Medical Degree from New York Medical College and, later in his career, an MBA from Columbia Business School. Formally trained in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dr. Evanko is a Board Certified Fellow of the American College of OB-GYNs.
The Honorable Judge Robert Oliver first served on the Saint Agnes Board more than 25 years ago. He remained connected at Saint Agnes through his support of the Saint Agnes Foundation, rejoined the Board in 2018 and was appointed as President in 2020. Judge Oliver is a graduate of California State University, Fresno and Golden Gate University School of Law and has long-term ties to the local community. Judge Oliver retired from the bench in 2015 following 20 years of service. He is an accomplished local attorney with a prestigious firm in Fresno, specializing in business law and estate planning. Judge Oliver was the Vice-President of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California and named Chair Emeritus of California State University, Fresno Foundation after 16 years of service. He continues teaching at local law colleges and holds numerous leadership roles in the community. Judge Oliver served in the Air National Guard for 22 years, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing at Baker Peterson Franklin
Julie is Director of Marketing at Baker Peterson Franklin. Julie is a graduate of California State University, San Diego and Fresno. Her extensive marketing and communications experience are an asset to the Board of Directors. Julie joined the Board of Directors in January, 2015.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair
- Executive Director for the Reading
Luis Santana is the Executive Director for the Reading and Beyond program in Fresno. The program provides education to address literacy, after school programs, networks with government and community agencies and schools. Luis was born and raised in Brazil and was also a missionary in Colombia, South America. Luis has served on the Mission and Community Benefit sub-committee of the Board and became a member of the Board of Directors in 2017.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Immediately prior to this role, from August 2018 - May 2023, she served as President & CEO of Saint Alphonsus Health System for Idaho and Oregon, and from December 2015 - 2018, she served as President of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.
Odette has been in senior leadership healthcare positions in for-profit, non-profit, and fully integrated health systems. Prior to joining Saint Alphonsus, Odette served as Senior Vice President of Kaiser Permanente, East Bay in Oakland, California. Prior to Kaiser, Odette served in a number of senior executive positions with Ascension Health, and HCA.
She has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the nation's most influential 50 Clinical Executives in Healthcare in 2020 and twice as Top 25 Women Healthcare Executives in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, Odette was recognized as one of the Top 100 most Influential People in Healthcare and in 2022.
Terrence O'Rourke, MD, is a retired Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for Trinity Health. Dr. O'Rourke worked with Trinity Health's clinical leaders to improve care coordination and incorporate evidence-based practices into the care delivery system. Prior to working in healthcare administration, Dr. O'Rourke was a practicing general surgeon. He has served on numerous boards and was recognized as one of the "Best Doctors in America" in 2000. Dr. O'Rourke was appointed to the Board of Directors in November 2013.
Job Titles:
- President & CEO of the Fresno Center
Pao Yang currently serves as the President & CEO of The Fresno Center providing access to mental health resources, immigration assistance and support for underserved communities. In his role, Pao provides internal leadership, professional development for staff, operation oversight, grant writing and administration, and fund raising. He serves on a number of community boards and organizations including Mayor Jerry Dyer's Advisory Committee and the Saint Agnes Community Benefit Committee. He joined our Board of Directors in January 2022.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Rick Wolf - Chief Legal Officer
Rick joined Saint Agnes in 2015 and serves as legal counsel for the Medical Center and Saint Agnes Medical Foundation. He has over 20 years of health care legal experience with Central Valley hospitals. Prior to joining Saint Agnes, Rick served as Vice President and General Counsel at Valley Children's Hospital where he provided legal counsel and directed the corporate restructure of Valley Children's and Valley Children's Medical Group. He received his bachelor's degree in Business Legal Environment from Fresno State and his Juris Doctor from San Joaquin College of Law. He is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and previously served on the Health Law Committee of the State Bar of California.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
- President and CEO of Quad Knopf
Ronald Wathen currently serves as the President and CEO of Quad Knopf - a 125-person multi-disciplined professional engineering and consulting firm located in Visalia, California. He has over 30 years of civil engineering and leadership experience. He also is an active member of several professional and community boards and organizations. He is actively involved with the Saint Agnes Foundation and has served as President of the Men's Club. He joined our Board of Directors in January 2022.
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
Sara K. Frauenheim joined Saint Agnes in 2017, serving as Manager of Events and Corporate Sponsorships and was promoted to Director of Major Gifts in September 2020. Sara took on the role of Chief Development Officer in October 2023. Sara is seasoned in fundraising strategies and donor relations. As a Valley native, she has worked closely with agriculture, higher education, travel, tourism and health care organizations to further mission growth initiatives. Sara also serves as the primary contact for the Foundation Board, working with community members to strengthen relationships and increase philanthropic support for Saint Agnes. Sara has a Mass Communications and Journalism Bachelor's degree from Fresno State.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of the Holy Cross Sisters' Nonviolent Communication
Sister Mary Alice Bowler is currently the Coordinator of the Holy Cross Sisters' Nonviolent Communication project located in South Central Los Angeles, CA. Joining the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1957, her early years in ministry were primarily in institutional health care in the US. From the early 1980's to 2010, Sister Bowler lived and ministered in Uganda (East Africa) where she was involved in a variety of ministries in health care, religious formation of young sisters, and congregational area leadership for the Area of Africa. She returned to ministry in the US in 2010. Sister Bowler joined the Board of Directors in January 2019.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
- 2 Nd Vice Chair
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Susan Kuszmar is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and former Saint Agnes colleague. While at Saint Agnes, she served in a number of roles, including Vice President of Mission Integration, Director of the Center for Spiritual Care, Expressive Arts Therapy Coordinator and Bereavement Coordinator. Throughout her career, she has provided counseling and support for patients and community members. She played an integral part in developing Saint Agnes' FOOTSTEPS program - an expressive arts program for children/caregivers affected by significant loss. She joined our Board of Directors in January 2022.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Foundation Board
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Operations
- Health Care Executive
William is a seasoned health care executive and multidisciplinary leader with an array of health care experience. Prior to joining Saint Agnes in November 2023, William served as Chief Healthcare Facilities Officer for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Before this appointment, he worked at Trinity Health in Livonia for seven years in a variety of director roles. William received his Juris Doctor in Healthcare Law from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and his bachelor's degree in business administration and pre-law from Michigan State University.