Ventura Global Health Project (VGHP), Inaugural Board of Directors. The Board consists of:
Directors
Dr. John Fankhauser, Medical Director at Ventura County Medical Center
Dr. Chris Landon, Head of Pediatrics at Ventura County Medical Center
Dr. Bryant Lum, Ophthalmologist, Ventura Vision
Mr. James Neitz, President, Hayden Products
Advisors
Mr. Dan Palay, JD (General Counsel)
Mr. Dennis Jacobs, CPA (Chief Financial Officer)
Mr. Michael Newhouse (Public Relations)
Bio’s
Dr. John Fankhauser has been the Hospital Medical Director at Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital for the past 6 years. He graduated with honors from University of Washington School of Medicine then completed his post-graduate training at the Ventura Family Medicine Residency. His interests included safety net care, health care disparities, and international health. During his tenure as Medical Director, VCMC has experienced a chapter of remarkable growth, including verification as a Level 2 Trauma Center, the establishment of a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the development of an Interventional Radiology program. Dr. Fankhauser continues to be involved in the community through serving as a commissioner for Ventura Countys managed Medi-Cal program, Gold Coast Health Plan and serving as the president of the Ventura Family Medicine Education Fund, a non-profit organization which provides support for training physicians in international health care.
Dr. Chris Landon is Director of the Pediatric Diagnostic Centerand Director of Pediatrics at Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura, a UCLAAffiliated Family Medicine Residency. Landon is actively involved in the field of Telemedicine as the initiating consultation service for the Telemedicine hub of Blue Cross of California, Telemedicine Outreach Clinic in Honduras, and comprehensive CTN Telemedicine Hub and Spoke within Ventura County. He is the CEO of Landon Pediatric Foundation , a nonprofit corporation benefiting the health of underserved children. Board certified in pediatrics and pediatric pulmonology, Landon received his medical degree from the University of Southern California, internship and residency in pediatrics at Stanford University Hospital and fellowship in allergy , immunology and respiratory diseases at the Children’s Hospital at Stanford.
Dr. Lum is an ophthalmologist in private practice for 20 years in Ventura, CA. He was the first fellowship trained glaucoma surgeon in Ventura, CA. He currently maintains offices in Santa Barbara and Ventura, CA. He has taught surgery in Vietnam and participated in missionary eye surgery trips to Mexico. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCLA School of Medicine, and has taught hundreds of eye surgeons the nuances of delicate microsurgery. A native Californian, he completed his undergraduate degree at Stanford University, and his medical school training at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. He was the Resident of the Year at New Orleans’s, Ochsner Clinic, and finished his glaucoma surgical training at the prestigious Washington University, St. Louis, MO.
Jim Neitz is an entrepreneur and 20-year Ventura resident. He currently serves as managing member of Hayden Industrial Products, a manufacturer of air cooled heat exchangers, and Hydraulics Technology Inc., a manufacturer of hydraulic tensioning systems. He is a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Las Virgenes chapter. Jim is an avid ocean swimmer who has completed solo crossings of the English Channel and Catalina, and is a member of the world-record holding Ventura Deep Six ocean relay team.
Dan Palay has been practicing law in Ventura County for more than twenty (20) years. Responsible for some of the largest awards in Ventura County litigation, Dan has a history of successfully representing clients. Currently, he oversees the employment litigation department of the Palay law firm, a local litigation boutique firm. Dan is an avid tennis player and enjoys spending time with wife and two lovely children. He devotes much of time to charities such as VGHP.
Dennis Jacobs is a CPA with extensive private industry experience ranging from whole, manufacturing to aerospace. Over his thirty years of increasing levels of responsibility he has held financial management positions up to and including CFO. With this experience he is able to offer his clients the perspective of business manager as well as advisor. He is a native of Southern California and is active in the Valley Professionals Network that has raised over $100,000 for Cancer research.
Michael C. Newhouse is a marketing, branding and digital media executive with over 20 years experience creating marketing campaigns for non profits, start-ups, small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Michael’s experience spans a wide variety of industries and clients including Mattel Hot Wheels, Sony, Motorola, VW, Macadamia Natural Oil, Icon Hair, Roberts Surfboards and Ventura Deep 6 World Record Swim Team. Michael received his BA from Cal State Long Beach, MBA from Antioch University and Post-MBA from Cal Lutheran University. When not engulfed in business, Michael enjoys time with his three children, surfing, hiking and mountain biking.