Executive Team

• B.S. in Business Administration, California State University, Fresno
• M.B.A., California State University, Fresno

Certificates

• ACA (now World at Work) Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
• Institute for Applied Management and Law (IAML) Certificate in Employee Relations Law

Community Affiliations

• Tulare County Workforce Investment Board Healthcare Division Committee

Contact

559-624-2362, dcox@kaweahhealth.org

• B.A. Degree, Business Administration - Accounting, Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, CA
• MBA, in Health Care Management, Colorado Technical University, Colorado Springs, CO

• Healthcare Compliance (CHC)
• Health Privacy Compliance (CHPC)

• Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA), Member

• Kaweah Health Foundation Board, Board Member

559-624-5006, bcripps@kaweahhealth.org

• Doctor of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
• Post-Graduate Residency - Primary Care, Veterans Affairs Hospital, San Diego, CA
• B.S. Degree, Environmental Biology & Botany Minor, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
• Teaching Credential, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA

Certifications/Fellowships/Trainings

• Diabetes - Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), American Association of Diabetes Educators
• Diabetes - Patient Care Traineeship - USC/ASHP Edward R. Roybal Comprehensive Health Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Geriatrics - Reynolds Mini-Fellowship, UCLA/California Center for Geriatric Education, Los Angeles, CA
• Geriatrics - Leadership and Management, UCLA/California Center for Geriatric Education, Los Angeles, CA

Professional Associations

• American College of Healthcare Executives
• California Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• California Pharmacists Association

Contact

559-624-5647, rgates@kaweahhealth.org

Education

• BS, Computer Science, Washington Adventist University,
  Takoma Park, MD
• MBA, Healthcare Administration, Loma Linda University
  School of Public Health, Loma Linda, CA

Certifications

• College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME)
• Certified Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CHCIO)

Professional Affiliations

• College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), Member
• Association for Executives in Healthcare Information Security (AEHIS), Member
• American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Member

Contact

559-624-2254, dleeper@kaweahhealth.org

Education

• BS, Health Services Administration, James Madison University
• MHA (Master of Health Administration), University of Southern California

Certifications

• American College of Medical Practice Executives, Fellow

Professional Associations

• Medical Group Management Association
• American College of Healthcare Executives

Community Affiliations

• Rotary Club of Visalia, Board Member
• Visalia Chamber of Commerce, Board Member
• Mineral King Preservation Society, Board Member

Contact

559-624-2511, mmertz@kaweahhealth.org

Education

• Grand Canyon University, Doctorate of Nursing Practice
• University of Phoenix, Masters of Science Nursing, Masters of Health Administration
• Kellogg Community College, Battle Creek, MI, Associate in Applied Science/ Nursing, Registered Nurse
• Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI, Lee Honors College, Bachelors of Social Work, Rural Interdisciplinary Health Certificate

Certifications

• American Nurse Association, Nurse Executive – Board Certified
• American College of Healthcare Executives: Fellow

Professional Affiliations

• California Hospital Association - Case Management Committee
• Association of California Nurse Leaders
• Nurse Leadership Coalition of San Joaquin Valley
• American Case Management Association

Contact

559-624-5916, knoeske@kaweahhealth.org

Education

• The George Washington University School of Business - Master of Business Administration
• New Jersey Medical School – Doctor of Medicine
• Boston College - Bachelor of Arts

Clinical Training

• Northwestern University – Cardiac Surgery Fellow
• Loyola University, Chicago – Thoracic Surgery Resident
• University of California, San Diego - General Surgery Resident

Certifications

• Medical Board of California
• The American Board of Surgery: Diplomat 1999
• The American Board of Thoracic Surgery: Diplomat 2002

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Surgeons: Fellow
• American College of Chest Physicians: Fellow
• The Society of Thoracic Surgeons: Member

Contact

559-624-5412, paul.stefanacci@KaweahHealth.org

• BA - Accounting, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
• BA - Finance, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Certifications

• Certified Public Accountant – 1991 to Present
• Licensed Real Estate Agent – 1986-1987

Professional Affiliations

• Healthcare Financial Management Association
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Texas Society of Public Accountants

Contact

559-624-4065, mtupper@kaweahhealth.org

• Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine
• University of Michigan, Bachelor of Science, Cellular & Molecular Biology
• Central York High School, York, PA

Certifications

• ABEM Board Certification #36622 – re-certified in 2016
• Medical Board of California (2011-Present)
• NIHSS Certified
• CITI Training

Professional Affiliations

• Association for Hospital Medical Education (2011-Present)
• Council of Residency Directors – EM (2007 – Present)
• Council for Transitional Year Program Directors (2011-2014)
• American College of Emergency Physicians (2002-Present)
• California Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians (CalACEP) (2012 - Present) Current President, Executive Committee
• Member Tulare & Kings County Medical Society (2011 – Present)
• Illinois College of Emergency Physicians (ICEP) (2002-2011)

Contact

559-624-5215, lwinston@kaweahhealth.org