Adventist Health Mendocino Coast welcomes new community board

October 12, 2020 (FORT BRAGG, CA) -- Adventist health Mendocino Coast (AHMC) is excited to introduce 13 exceptional leaders in the community as part of its newly established community board. The board will oversee hospital and clinic operations to support the commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care and ensure that the hospital’s programs and innovations address the community’s health and wellness needs.

“We are fortunate to have such a talented group of board members coming from diverse backgrounds. Their connection, experience and knowledge of our community will be invaluable in our path toward improving care and creating a sustainable future for this hospital,” shares Judy Leach, administrator for AHMC.

Under this new structure, the Adventist Health Mendocino Coast community board will be tasked with making strategic decisions that align with the mission and values of the hospital. The newly appointed hospital board will also establish policy, promote performance improvement and provide for organizational management and planning, ensuring the hospital’s financial health and efficient use of resources to serve the community. Meanwhile the Mendocino Coast Health Care District Board which previously managed the operations of the hospital, will now serve as a facilities landlord, managing lease payments from Adventist Health.

“We are blessed to have such high caliber of leaders in our community as part of our board,” says Jason Wells, chairman of the board for the three Adventist Health hospitals in Mendocino County. “It’s so essential that we have great healthcare on the Coast and we have exciting work ahead to make sure this hospital thrives for future generations. The board’s leadership and their extensive knowledge in their fields as well as this community will be vital in this work. I look forward to years of collaboration.

Members of the new hospital governing board include:

Zoe Berna, MD – A family medicine physician, Dr. Berna was born and raised on the Coast. After completing her residency, she worked for Sutter for 12 years. She returned to the North Coast in 2016 and has been caring for our community ever since at our Adventist Health Medical Office (formerly North Coast Family Health Center).

Nancy Bennett – is a long-term resident and small business owner on the Coast. She is the co-owner and operator of Cowlick’s Ice Cream and Subway Sandwiches in Fort Bragg and Willits. Bennett has been a small business owner for over 20 years.

Benjamin “Buzz” Graham, MD – is a retired internist who cared for our community for 35 years. Graham established the hospitalist program at MCDH and was also the hospital’s medical director for many years.

Jessica Grinberg – is a long-term resident and business owner on the Coast. She owns Align Orthotics and Prosthetics which provides services throughout the county and beyond. She is also on the Mendocino Unified School District Board and the Mendocino Coast District Hospital Board, where she is the president.

Suzanne Hewitt, FNP – a current faculty member at the Mendocino College Nursing program, she brings over 39 years of nursing experience to the board. She also cared for patients as a nurse practitioner, including at the North Coast Family Health Center.

Jim Hurst – served as the Director of Research for the California State Assembly from 1974 to 1978. He was also the co-founder for the Coast Youth Soccer League, Botanical Gardens Preservation Corporation, and the Hospital Foundation. He served on the Mendocino Coast Recreation District Board for three years and the Fort Bragg School District Board for 18.

Steve Lund – His professional career has ranged from teacher to principal and superintendent with service in five different school districts over a 37-year period. Although he officially retired in 2008, he has remained active in the community to secure funding for two school bonds, our recreation center and the hospital.

Mary Kate Mckenna – is the executive director for the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation. She has over 20 years of experience in non-profit administration, finance and operations within private, public and non-profit organizations.

Tabatha Miller – is the City Manager for City of Fort Bragg since 2018. Prior to moving to Fort Bragg, Miller worked as the Administrative Services Director for Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

William Miller, MD – serves as the Medical Director for the hospital as well as the Chief of Medical Staff.

He was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) in honor of his contributions to developing hospitalist medicine in California where he started six hospitalist programs. He has been working as a hospitalist at the hospital and played a significant role in achieving community support for our affiliation with Adventist Health.

Robin Serrahn, MD - is the Medical Director for the hospital’s Emergency Department for five years. He worked at Saint Anthony Free Medical Clinic in San Francisco for 12 years serving as medical director for more than a decade.

Thomas Wajnert - is a financial services pioneer, having launched his career with US Leasing. He founded AT&T Capital Corporation where he served for many years as CEO and Chairman. He was also a founding trustee of the Naples Winter Wine Festival (the nation’s largest charity wine auction) and served for several years as a trustee of the Adventist Health St Helena Foundation.

Rebecca Walker – currently serves as the superintendent for the Fort Bragg Unified School Diistrict. She has been an educator since 1994 and has taught at College of the Redwoods, Fort Bragg Middle School and Fort Bragg High School (FBHS). She began her administrative career in 2008 as the FBHS assistant principal and became the principal in 2011.