Program Overview
The Western Clinicians Network is offering dedicated coaching services to support developing FQHC 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 – CHCs present unique operating environments and have specific regulatory requirements. Our coaching services are designed to support both current and emerging clinicians 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 FQHC Clinicians offers a team of diverse, 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 FQHC 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 – CHCs present unique operating environments and have specific regulatory requirements. Our coaching services are designed to support both current and emerging clinicians 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 FQHC Clinicians offers a team of diverse, 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
“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
Winters, CA
“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
Watsonville, CA
“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
“I feel like my coaching from WCN was personalized and focused on issues that I was dealing with. My coach was easy to talk with and able to help me work through some issues that I had been struggling with. I definitely would recommend this coaching program to any provider in a clinical leadership role, regardless of their years of experience.”
Janeen Bjork, MD, FAAFP
Chief Medical Officer
Canyonlands Healthcare
Arizona
Chris Kelsch
Executive Director
Winters Healthcare Foundation
Winters, CA
“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
Watsonville, CA
“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
“I feel like my coaching from WCN was personalized and focused on issues that I was dealing with. My coach was easy to talk with and able to help me work through some issues that I had been struggling with. I definitely would recommend this coaching program to any provider in a clinical leadership role, regardless of their years of experience.”
Janeen Bjork, MD, FAAFP
Chief Medical Officer
Canyonlands Healthcare
Arizona
MEET OUR COACHES
Suganya Karuppana, MD, MSHD, CPE, CHC, CPHQ
Dr. Suganya Karuppana is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician since 2008. She focused her early career on urban underserved academic medicine as Associate Clinical Professor Core Faculta at Harbor UCLA Family Medicine Residency Program, which is a county funded multispecialty academic center serving primarily uninsured and undocumented residents of Los Angeles. After seve years, Dr. Karuppana moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she continued to provide whole-person care to vulnerable populations through her clinical leadership work at three different Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). SHe held various leadership positions over the years including Department Chair, Associate Medical Director, Quality Medical Director, and Chief Medical Officer. She is currently the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Adelante Healthcare which is an FQHC serving approximately 90,000 unique patients per year across the valley. Additionally, Dr. Karuppana has collaborated with several academic partners to publish health equity related research studies, and she participates in several public health and public policy related advisory boards. In addition to her medical degree, she has a Masters in the Science of Healthcare Delivery from Arizona State University, she is a Certified Physician Executive, Certified in Healthcare Compliance, and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. She joined the Western Clinicians Network in 2022. She lives in Gilbert, Arizona with her husband and two daughters. She and her family love track and field, national parks, and road trips.
Dr. Suganya Karuppana is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician since 2008. She focused her early career on urban underserved academic medicine as Associate Clinical Professor Core Faculta at Harbor UCLA Family Medicine Residency Program, which is a county funded multispecialty academic center serving primarily uninsured and undocumented residents of Los Angeles. After seve years, Dr. Karuppana moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she continued to provide whole-person care to vulnerable populations through her clinical leadership work at three different Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). SHe held various leadership positions over the years including Department Chair, Associate Medical Director, Quality Medical Director, and Chief Medical Officer. She is currently the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Adelante Healthcare which is an FQHC serving approximately 90,000 unique patients per year across the valley. Additionally, Dr. Karuppana has collaborated with several academic partners to publish health equity related research studies, and she participates in several public health and public policy related advisory boards. In addition to her medical degree, she has a Masters in the Science of Healthcare Delivery from Arizona State University, she is a Certified Physician Executive, Certified in Healthcare Compliance, and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. She joined the Western Clinicians Network in 2022. She lives in Gilbert, Arizona with her husband and two daughters. She and her family love track and field, national parks, and road trips.
Huong Le, DDS, MA
Dr. Huong Le is the Chief Dental Officer of Asian Health Services in Oakland, California. Dr. Le has served on many different boards including the Alameda County Dental Society, Western Clinicans Network and Center for Oral Health. She is currently a member of the ADA Council on Access, Advocacy and Prevention and, starting in 2025, she will join the California Dental Association's Board of Directors as a director. Dr. Le is a former board member and Past President of the National Network for Oral Health Access.
Dr. Le has faculty appointments at several dental universities. She currently serves as a dental board examiner. She finished her 11-year tenure as the first Vietnamese dentists serving as a member of the Dental Board of California from 2009-2020. While on the dental board, Dr. Le served as President and chair of several committees.
Dr. Le completed her leadership fellowship program at Northwestern University in 2022 as an inaugural scholarship recipient of the American College of Dentists (ACD) Foundation. Dr. Le is a fellow of the American Colelge of Dentists, Piere Fauchard Academy and International College of Dentists. For her work, she has recceived multiple awards and recognitions including the 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. She was recognized for her work by the Association of Vietnamese American Dentists in October 2022 at the ADA Convention in Houston. In April 2023, Dr. Le was recognized for her work by the American Association of Public Health Dentists with the RIchard Ferraro Service Award.
Dr. Huong Le is the Chief Dental Officer of Asian Health Services in Oakland, California. Dr. Le has served on many different boards including the Alameda County Dental Society, Western Clinicans Network and Center for Oral Health. She is currently a member of the ADA Council on Access, Advocacy and Prevention and, starting in 2025, she will join the California Dental Association's Board of Directors as a director. Dr. Le is a former board member and Past President of the National Network for Oral Health Access.
Dr. Le has faculty appointments at several dental universities. She currently serves as a dental board examiner. She finished her 11-year tenure as the first Vietnamese dentists serving as a member of the Dental Board of California from 2009-2020. While on the dental board, Dr. Le served as President and chair of several committees.
Dr. Le completed her leadership fellowship program at Northwestern University in 2022 as an inaugural scholarship recipient of the American College of Dentists (ACD) Foundation. Dr. Le is a fellow of the American Colelge of Dentists, Piere Fauchard Academy and International College of Dentists. For her work, she has recceived multiple awards and recognitions including the 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. She was recognized for her work by the Association of Vietnamese American Dentists in October 2022 at the ADA Convention in Houston. In April 2023, Dr. Le was recognized for her work by the American Association of Public Health Dentists with the RIchard Ferraro Service Award.
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). For more than a decade, he has been instrumental in building, sustaining, and advancing an integrated behavioral helath program while also shaping the organization's trajectory, including the development and cultivation of a thriving relationship-based organizational culture. Since 2016, Dr. Luna has actively coached clinical leaders, spearheading the creation and implementation of a coaches' training program at Winters Healthcare to empower leadership development and professional growth. His expertise extends beyond his organization, as he has served on the Board of Directors for the Western Clinicans Network since 2018, contributing to advancing clinical leadership and integrated care across the region. Dr. Luna earned his PhD from Seattle Pacific University in 2010 and has pursued advanced professional training at the Gestalt International Study Center. He resides in Sacramento, California with his wife of 23 years, Molly. They have four 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). For more than a decade, he has been instrumental in building, sustaining, and advancing an integrated behavioral helath program while also shaping the organization's trajectory, including the development and cultivation of a thriving relationship-based organizational culture. Since 2016, Dr. Luna has actively coached clinical leaders, spearheading the creation and implementation of a coaches' training program at Winters Healthcare to empower leadership development and professional growth. His expertise extends beyond his organization, as he has served on the Board of Directors for the Western Clinicans Network since 2018, contributing to advancing clinical leadership and integrated care across the region. Dr. Luna earned his PhD from Seattle Pacific University in 2010 and has pursued advanced professional training at the Gestalt International Study Center. He resides in Sacramento, California with his wife of 23 years, Molly. They have four children.
Paige Thiermann, MD
Dr. Paige Thiermann is a family medicine physician and County Medical Director at Neighborhood Healthcare - a Federally Qualified Health Center in San Diego, California. She is passionate about community medicine, preventative care, refugee health and clinican wellness. She works tirelessly to improve the health of patients and community and develop the next generation of healthcare leaders. Additional leadership trainings include completing a Healthcare Leadership Fellowship with the California Healthcare Foundation, and Leading Physician Well-being program with the American Academy of Family Physicians. She joined Western Clinicans Network in 2023 and is the incoming President. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband and son where they enjoy hiking, running and international travel.
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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 three-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 three 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.
