Program Overview
The Western Clinicians Network is offering dedicated coaching services to support developing clinical leaders in our four-state service area. Community health centers (CHCs) require clinical leaders to develop specific skills and operate in a distinct environment – in addition to requiring unique care models, CHCs present constrained resources, recruiting and retention challenges, and specific regulatory requirements. Our coaching services are designed to support both current and developing clinical leaders to build leadership and management skills, troubleshoot professional challenges, and establish self-care and professional boundaries so they can serve the safety net over the long-term. WCN’s Leadership Coaching for Clinicians offers a team of multi-disciplinary provider leaders with experience in a variety of states and professional settings.
Interested in coaching services for you or your team? Complete our brief interest form to get started!
The Western Clinicians Network is offering dedicated coaching services to support developing clinical leaders in our four-state service area. Community health centers (CHCs) require clinical leaders to develop specific skills and operate in a distinct environment – in addition to requiring unique care models, CHCs present constrained resources, recruiting and retention challenges, and specific regulatory requirements. Our coaching services are designed to support both current and developing clinical leaders to build leadership and management skills, troubleshoot professional challenges, and establish self-care and professional boundaries so they can serve the safety net over the long-term. WCN’s Leadership Coaching for Clinicians offers a team of multi-disciplinary provider leaders with experience in a variety of states and professional settings.
Interested in coaching services for you or your team? Complete our brief interest form to get started!
What to Expect
Executive coaching is the process of guiding a peer through self-discovery in order to accelerate the client’s development as a change leader. Coaching is
Our program is a ten (10) session initial engagement at the pace of the client and coach with the following phases:
Executive coaching is the process of guiding a peer through self-discovery in order to accelerate the client’s development as a change leader. Coaching is
- Performed one-on-one.
- Designed to quickly assess leadership challenges and effectively reach solutions.
- Results-oriented, and thus often begins with an evaluation of goals.
- Low touch / high impact.
Our program is a ten (10) session initial engagement at the pace of the client and coach with the following phases:
- Baseline Assessment: Use of a leadership assessment tool to gain performance and leadership input about the client.
- Initial Coaching Session: approximately 2 hours. Time will be used for assessments and to establish intentions and goals for the coaching engagement.
- Continued Support: Following the initial session, 9 coaching sessions approximately 1-hour in length scheduled by the client and coach. Flexibility in length and frequency based on client need.
- Growth & Development Plan: At the conclusion of the coaching engagement, the coach and client will jointly develop a personalized growth and development plan that includes professional growth, continued education, and self-care goals.
Program Cost
$3,500 for an initial ten session engagement, with flexible pricing models for continued engagement at varying levels of on-going support after that point.
$3,500 for an initial ten session engagement, with flexible pricing models for continued engagement at varying levels of on-going support after that point.
Client Testimonials
“Many of us clinical leaders were only trained to diagnose and treat patients and the vast majority of this training was done outside the FQHC environment. Learning about FTCA, HRSA, OSV’s, SFDP, vulnerable or target populations, and board governance are just the beginning of what new clinical leaders must master. This is in addition to mentoring and supervising other clinicians! So why do clinicians sign up for this incredibly demanding role? The truth is that many clinicians do not. Clinical leaders are not easy to find and even more difficult to mentor given all the demands already placed on the existing health center leaders.
As a new CMO, it was vital for me to have a mentor outside of our organization who understands how health centers operate AND who has been a part of a high functioning health center. Dr. Henley has been an incredible mentor over the past year and I continue to seek his advice and perspective when I encounter situations that I have questions about. He is a good listener, gives very practical suggestions and also has connected our team to other professionals from his community health center in CA who are working on similar programs. Just knowing that I can reach out to him for advice has given me confidence and peace as a new leader.
I believe that this model of mentorship is far more valuable than attending a weekend conference. The mentor process is the key for new leaders who are seeking ways to improve upon our clinical work and patient outcomes. I will be eternally grateful to Dr. Henley for all the time and energy he has invested in working with me and assisting me through my first year as CMO.”
Darlene, Chief Medical Officer
“As the Executive Director, I often ask Javier to help me discern the most effective approach to coaching other Leadership Team members in our organization as well as to coach me when I need it. As a clinical leader himself, he understands how to best coach other clinical leaders to encourage their growth as leaders and as people."
Chris Kelsch
Executive Director
Winters Healthcare Foundation
“I initially contacted Melissa during a time of significant frustration with my career. My frustration was robbing me of the satisfaction and joy that I had once derived from my job as a family nurse practitioner and director of advance practice clinicians. I couldn’t figure out how to bring inspiration back into my professional life.
Melissa was an incredible career coach. She helped me prioritize my career life and align it with my personal life and values. She helped me see that I could use my skills in new ways.
Two years later, I am enrolled in school to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
I know that I will continue to use Melissa as my sounding board and coach as I continue to make life and career transitions and set new goals and aspirations for myself.
Thank you, Melissa, for encouraging me to forge ahead on my new path.”
Cayley Lanctot FNP-BC, MSN
Director of Advanced Practice Clinicians
Salud Para La Gente
“I feel so fortunate to have experienced 6 physician coaching sessions with a seasoned CMO/CEO of a large FQHC.
Dr Melissa Marshall’s fellowship and information sharing during the most critical months of covid were critical to my ability to navigate as CMO on a complex leadership team.
The benefits of sharing policies and procedures in complex organizations is clear. Having an ethical and trusted physician coach outside of your direct environment can help you emerge whole amidst an often chaotic work environment.”
Joann Buonomano, MD, FAAFP, CPE
CMO, Goodwin Community Health
Somersworth, New Hampshire
As a new CMO, it was vital for me to have a mentor outside of our organization who understands how health centers operate AND who has been a part of a high functioning health center. Dr. Henley has been an incredible mentor over the past year and I continue to seek his advice and perspective when I encounter situations that I have questions about. He is a good listener, gives very practical suggestions and also has connected our team to other professionals from his community health center in CA who are working on similar programs. Just knowing that I can reach out to him for advice has given me confidence and peace as a new leader.
I believe that this model of mentorship is far more valuable than attending a weekend conference. The mentor process is the key for new leaders who are seeking ways to improve upon our clinical work and patient outcomes. I will be eternally grateful to Dr. Henley for all the time and energy he has invested in working with me and assisting me through my first year as CMO.”
Darlene, Chief Medical Officer
“As the Executive Director, I often ask Javier to help me discern the most effective approach to coaching other Leadership Team members in our organization as well as to coach me when I need it. As a clinical leader himself, he understands how to best coach other clinical leaders to encourage their growth as leaders and as people."
Chris Kelsch
Executive Director
Winters Healthcare Foundation
“I initially contacted Melissa during a time of significant frustration with my career. My frustration was robbing me of the satisfaction and joy that I had once derived from my job as a family nurse practitioner and director of advance practice clinicians. I couldn’t figure out how to bring inspiration back into my professional life.
Melissa was an incredible career coach. She helped me prioritize my career life and align it with my personal life and values. She helped me see that I could use my skills in new ways.
Two years later, I am enrolled in school to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
I know that I will continue to use Melissa as my sounding board and coach as I continue to make life and career transitions and set new goals and aspirations for myself.
Thank you, Melissa, for encouraging me to forge ahead on my new path.”
Cayley Lanctot FNP-BC, MSN
Director of Advanced Practice Clinicians
Salud Para La Gente
“I feel so fortunate to have experienced 6 physician coaching sessions with a seasoned CMO/CEO of a large FQHC.
Dr Melissa Marshall’s fellowship and information sharing during the most critical months of covid were critical to my ability to navigate as CMO on a complex leadership team.
The benefits of sharing policies and procedures in complex organizations is clear. Having an ethical and trusted physician coach outside of your direct environment can help you emerge whole amidst an often chaotic work environment.”
Joann Buonomano, MD, FAAFP, CPE
CMO, Goodwin Community Health
Somersworth, New Hampshire
MEET OUR COACHES
Eric Henley, MD, MPH
Dr. Henley is a family and public health physician whose long medical career includes 9+ years as a commissioned officer in the Indian Health Service on the Hopi/Navajo Reservations and in Albuquerque, New Mexico several years as a rural locums physician, 12 years as an academic physician and Chair of Family Medicine at University of Illinois-Rockford, and 5 years as Chief Medical Officer of North Country HealthCare, a large rural network FQHC with sites across northern Arizona, and 5+ years as CMO of Life Long Medical Care, a large urban FQHC in the East Bay of California.
He retired in July 2019 after starting a new Family Medicine Teaching Health Center Residency at Life Long Medical Care and continues part-time as the Residency’s Institutional Official. He has been a Board member for 9+ years, past President of the Western Clinicians Network, and has led Peer Learning programs for clinical leaders at Region8, 9 and 10 annual conferences for the past 7 years.
Dr. Henley has a special interest in clinical leadership development and coaching clinical and non-clinical staff. He was one of 12 coaches in a NACHC national pilot coaching project in 2020 for clinical leaders, and coached multiple participants in a recent health management program organized by the Tennessee Primary Care Association and led by Laree Kiely, a leadership expert. He combines years of direct leadership experience within health centers and extensive coaching experience of clinical and non-clinical staff in his own health center and within community healthcenters in other states.
Rakesh Patel, MD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer and practicing family physician, Rakesh Patel, M.D., has been with Neighborhood Healthcare for over 19 years. He has ensured the non-profit community health organization possesses the resources and culture it needs to provide quality, compassionate, whole-person care to families, regardless of their situation or circumstances. Dr. Patel is the Chair of the Board of Managers for Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, San Diego’s leading clinically integrated network representing 270,000 lives.
A board-certified family physician and Certified Physician Executive, Dr. Patel received his M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his residency at Scripps Family Practice Residency in Chula Vista. He received his MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. He is a CPCA board member and CMA delegate and serves as the East County Region Director on the San Diego County Medical Society Board. He also is a member of San Diego Organization of Healthcare Leaders which is the local chapter of ACHE, where he serves as a mentor each year to early careerists.
Chief Executive Officer and practicing family physician, Rakesh Patel, M.D., has been with Neighborhood Healthcare for over 19 years. He has ensured the non-profit community health organization possesses the resources and culture it needs to provide quality, compassionate, whole-person care to families, regardless of their situation or circumstances. Dr. Patel is the Chair of the Board of Managers for Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, San Diego’s leading clinically integrated network representing 270,000 lives.
A board-certified family physician and Certified Physician Executive, Dr. Patel received his M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his residency at Scripps Family Practice Residency in Chula Vista. He received his MBA from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. He is a CPCA board member and CMA delegate and serves as the East County Region Director on the San Diego County Medical Society Board. He also is a member of San Diego Organization of Healthcare Leaders which is the local chapter of ACHE, where he serves as a mentor each year to early careerists.
Huong Le, DDS, MA
Dr. Huong Le is the Chief Dental Officer of Asian Health Services in Oakland, California. Asian Health Services has a very robust integrated care model, including depression screening, diabetes screening, HbA1C testing, and COVID testing. During the COVID-19 pandemic she implemented very successful telehealth and drive-thru fluoride varnish programs at her health center.
Dr. Le is a member of the Board of Directors of the Western Clinicians Network(WCN), Alameda County Dental Society, and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Clinical Practice Committee and Health Policy Committee.
Dr. Le has faculty appointments at several dental universities and is the dental examiner for a couple of regional testing agencies. She finished her 11-year tenure as board member of the Dental Board of California in January 2020,where she served in various capacities as President, Vice-President, and chairs of various committees.
Dr. Le attended Baylor University, University of Texas Dental Branch, Houston, and completed her post-graduate Hospital Dentistry residency training at Jerry L. Pettis Veterans Administration in Loma Linda, California. She received her MA in Dental Education from the University of Pacific. Dr. Le began her three-year leadership fellowship program at Northwestern University in December 2019 sponsored by American College of Dentists (ACD) Foundation. She is a fellow of the American College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy and International College of Dentists. For her work, Dr. Le has received multiple awards and recognitions including ADA Presidential Citation and ACD Meritorious Award from Northern California Section. In May 2020, she received the Myron Allukian Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Association of Community Dental Programs (AACDP).
Dr. Huong Le is the Chief Dental Officer of Asian Health Services in Oakland, California. Asian Health Services has a very robust integrated care model, including depression screening, diabetes screening, HbA1C testing, and COVID testing. During the COVID-19 pandemic she implemented very successful telehealth and drive-thru fluoride varnish programs at her health center.
Dr. Le is a member of the Board of Directors of the Western Clinicians Network(WCN), Alameda County Dental Society, and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Clinical Practice Committee and Health Policy Committee.
Dr. Le has faculty appointments at several dental universities and is the dental examiner for a couple of regional testing agencies. She finished her 11-year tenure as board member of the Dental Board of California in January 2020,where she served in various capacities as President, Vice-President, and chairs of various committees.
Dr. Le attended Baylor University, University of Texas Dental Branch, Houston, and completed her post-graduate Hospital Dentistry residency training at Jerry L. Pettis Veterans Administration in Loma Linda, California. She received her MA in Dental Education from the University of Pacific. Dr. Le began her three-year leadership fellowship program at Northwestern University in December 2019 sponsored by American College of Dentists (ACD) Foundation. She is a fellow of the American College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy and International College of Dentists. For her work, Dr. Le has received multiple awards and recognitions including ADA Presidential Citation and ACD Meritorious Award from Northern California Section. In May 2020, she received the Myron Allukian Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Association of Community Dental Programs (AACDP).
Javier Luna, PhD
Dr. Javier Luna is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Director of Integrated Health Services at Winters Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).Over the last decade, he has been involved in key organizational activities at Winters Healthcare, including the creation and fostering of a successful relationship-based culture. Dr. Luna has been an active coach to his fellow clinical leaders since2016, including creating and supporting a coaches’ training program at Winters Healthcare.
Dr. Luna has served on the Western Clinicians Network (WCN) Board of Directors since 2018. He received his Ph.D., from Seattle Pacific University in 2010 and has received advanced professional training from the Gestalt International Study Center (GISC) in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He currently lives in Sacramento with his wife Molly of 19 years and their 4 children.
Dr. Javier Luna is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Director of Integrated Health Services at Winters Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).Over the last decade, he has been involved in key organizational activities at Winters Healthcare, including the creation and fostering of a successful relationship-based culture. Dr. Luna has been an active coach to his fellow clinical leaders since2016, including creating and supporting a coaches’ training program at Winters Healthcare.
Dr. Luna has served on the Western Clinicians Network (WCN) Board of Directors since 2018. He received his Ph.D., from Seattle Pacific University in 2010 and has received advanced professional training from the Gestalt International Study Center (GISC) in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He currently lives in Sacramento with his wife Molly of 19 years and their 4 children.
Melissa Marshall, MD
Dr. Melissa Marshall serves as the Chief Executive Officer for CommuniCare Health Centers in Davis, California, a federally-qualified health center organization which serves one in nine Yolo County residents. Prior to being named CEO, Dr. Marshall was the Chief Medical Officer for three years. Dr. Marshall came to CommuniCare Health Centers from her role as the Chief Medical Officer of Community Health Center Network (CHCN). CHCN serves as the network and management services organization for Alameda County’s eight federally-qualified health centers. Dr. Marshall previously served as the Associate Medical Director for Family Care Health Centers, in St. Louis, Missouri, where she provided full-spectrum medical care with an emphasis on maternal and child health.
Dr. Marshall received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University, her medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and completed her Family Medicine residency at University of California at Davis Medical Center. Dr. Marshall has served on numerous boards and committees to improve the quality of healthcare in the safety net. Outside of the office, Dr. Marshall enjoys spending time with her husband and five adult children, traveling, writing, and enjoying the outdoors. She has participated in coaching pilots through the National Association of Community Health Centers and the Western Clinician’s Network and has a passion for supporting women in their clinical leadership journeys.
Anitha Mullangi, MD, MHCM, CPE, FAAFP
Dr. Anitha Mullangi is the Chief Medical Officer of St. John's Well Child and Family Center, an organization comprising 20 Federally Qualified Health Center clinics with over 130 clinicians and dentists, serving more than 100,000 patients in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. She oversees clinical, dental, quality, compliance and nursing departments.
Dr. Mullangi has deep experience with serving patients with diverse socio-economic needs and eliminating health disparities and is being invited to be on the advisory board of Leadership Equity Program. Further, she is experienced in novel payment models, serving on the boards of several value based payment reform committees at the state level, facilitating quality guidelines for Alternative Payment Methods.
Dr. Mullangi serves on the Board of Directors of the California Primary Care Association, which represents 1200 not-for-profit community health centers and regional clinical organizations in California. She received a Master's degree in Health Care Management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and is inducted into Certified Physician Executives group in 2016.
Dr. Anitha Mullangi is the Chief Medical Officer of St. John's Well Child and Family Center, an organization comprising 20 Federally Qualified Health Center clinics with over 130 clinicians and dentists, serving more than 100,000 patients in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. She oversees clinical, dental, quality, compliance and nursing departments.
Dr. Mullangi has deep experience with serving patients with diverse socio-economic needs and eliminating health disparities and is being invited to be on the advisory board of Leadership Equity Program. Further, she is experienced in novel payment models, serving on the boards of several value based payment reform committees at the state level, facilitating quality guidelines for Alternative Payment Methods.
Dr. Mullangi serves on the Board of Directors of the California Primary Care Association, which represents 1200 not-for-profit community health centers and regional clinical organizations in California. She received a Master's degree in Health Care Management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and is inducted into Certified Physician Executives group in 2016.
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Mike Witte, MD
Dr. Mike Witte has a long history of providing services to health center patients, and he was an active CPCA board member for six years, from 1999 to 2015. As a Board-Certified Physician in both Family Practice and Pediatrics, he worked at the Coastal Health Alliance (CHA). CHA is a 3-site Federally Qualified Health Center in rural West Marin County that he founded with a group of community members, in 1981. He left to join the California Primary Care Association in 2015 as their Chief Medical Officer. He served in that leadership role until leaving at the end of 2022. Dr. Witte received his undergraduate degree in engineering at the University of Notre Dame, and then received his MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin, becoming fluent in Spanish with work in rural central Mexico during a 3 month elective. He then completed a three-year pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital in Oakland. He started the pediatric clinic at La Clinica de la Raza in Oakland during his residency. He continued working at La Clinica until moving to rural West Marin County in 1981. There, he established the Point Reyes Clinic, which became a certified Rural Health Clinic and then a licensed Federally Qualified Health Center in 1993. He practiced full scope family practice there until 2015. That rural practice included “conception to grave” activities, including attendance at deliveries, pediatric and adult medical care, hospital care, and end of life care. When he left the Coastal Health Alliance, Dr. Witte joined the CPCA staff as their Chief Medical Officer, a role he re-established after it had been vacant for several years. He left CPCA in 2022 to pursue work as an independent consultant. |
CONTACT US to learn more about our team and how we can support you or your clinical leaders.