Meet Our 2009 Board of Directors
The board members at SBNC are a truly dedicated group. They have come a long way together as an organization and a board and have built SBNC's reputation as a key player in providing access to health care for people in the Santa Barbara area. SBNC is truly grateful for the wonderful talent the board and our committee volunteers contribute to the organization. Thank you for your wonderful support and expertise.
Officers
Chair David Chernof, MD, FACP
David Chernof, MD, FACP, joined the Board of Directors of SBNC in February, 2002. From August 2007 until April 2008 Dr. Chernof volunteered to serve as SBNC’s Chief Operating Officer in the absence of an Executive Director. Due to his tireless efforts day in and day out, he not only improved every aspect of service, programs and care, he revitalized the entire organization. He also was the driving force behind the search for a new Executive Director and subsequently hired Dr. Cynder Sinclair on March 31, 2008. His heroic efforts on behalf of SBNC, countless volunteer hours spent and the largess of his monetary contributions cannot be overstated. Hence, Dr. Chernof is SBNC’s Health Care Hero of 2008 and forever more.
Dr. Chernof is a graduate of Harvard University, and received his MD degree from UCLA in 1961. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, Geriatrics and Medical Oncology. From 1968-1991, Dr. Chernof practiced medicine in Los Angeles. During these years, He served as President of the Los Angeles County Medical Association, as well as President of the Northridge Hospital Medical Staff. In 1987, Dr. Chernof became a member of the Board of Directors of Blue Cross of California. As a result of this association, he subsequently left practice and became Senior Vice President and Corporate Medical Director of Blue Cross, and help that position until he retired in 1995. During this period, Dr. Chernof became the founding Chairman of the Board of the California Kids. This organization has provided for health benefits for indigent children not eligible for state or federally sponsored health coverage. California Kids currently provides coverage for over 20,000 children. In 2001, Dr. Chernof stepped down as Board Chair. In 1995, Dr. Chernof became founding Chief Medical Officer for LA Care, a public entity which quickly became the largest Medicaid Managed Care Plan in the US. He retired from this position in 1998.
Currently, Dr. Chernof teaches in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development at the University of Southern California (Senior Fellow), and UCLA Medical School (Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine). He is also Board Chair of the Adventures in Caring Foundation of Santa Barbara.
Vice-Chair Keith Coffman-Grey
Keith Coffman-Grey Keith Coffman-Grey joined the Board of Directors of SBNC in 1999 and is still a member. He is a 5th generation Californian who was raised in Santa Barbara. He has been married for eleven wondrous years. Mr. Coffman-Grey is a graduate of The University of Idaho, B.S. Geology. Santa Barbara City College, A.A. Mr. Coffman-Grey has served on the following:
Past President, The University of Idaho Campus Democrats
Past Treasurer, Names Project Ventura County
Past President, Stonewall Democratic Club of The Central Coast
1999 Humanitarian Award, Santa Barbara Gay & Lesbian Business Association
Past Chair, Santa Barbara County Democratic Party Central Committee
Past Board Member, Austin Val Verde Foundation
Past Board Member, Westside Neighborhood Clinic (1996-1999)
Past Chair, current member of City of Santa Barbara Transportation & Circulation Committee
Past Vice-Chair, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (member 1999-present)
Treasurer/Secretary Robert Knight
Robert Knight is President of Technology Venture Services, a new venture consulting firm, located in Santa Barbara California. From 1990 through 1996 he was Chairman, President and CEO of Digital Sound Corporation, a voice messaging hardware and software company, located in Carpinteria California. Bob just finished a three year term as Chairman of the Board of Cottage Health Systems and remains as an advisor to the Board on major building projects of the system. He has served as an Advisor to Frontier Technologies and Network Hardware Resale both Private companies based in Santa Barbara. He is also a past Trustee of the UCSB Foundation, and prior Board member of Blue Cross of California and it's successor company Wellpoint Health Network (9 years), to name just a few. Bob has served as a Board member and treasurer of the Santa Barbara region Chamber of Commerce, and was a co-founder of the Santa Barbara region Economic project. He was selected by Mayor Miller of Santa Barbara to chair the organizing committee of the Santa Barbara downtown and waterfront visioning project. He also served on the steering committee of this organization which produced a series of recommendations regarding the future development of the downtown and waterfront areas of the city. Bob is also a past president of La Cumbre Country Club. Bob and his wife, Nancy, are natives of the Pacific Northwest and graduates of the University of Washington. They have lived in California for 30 years and in Santa Barbara since 1991.
Board Members
Eileen Bunning, R.N.
Roger Heroux
Paul Jaconette
Cheri Jasinski
Brent Levine, Esq.
Lisa Moore
Michael O’Kelley, CPA
Luis Pelayo, CPA
Kimberly Schizas
Mahil Senathirajah
Richard Steckel, M.D.
Alana Tillim