Elise Sonnenberg-Gootherts RN, PHN, MA, BSW

Clinical Director

Elise Sonnenberg-Gootherts RN, PHN, MA, BSW has had a lifetime of experience in being of service to people who are dealing with serious illness. She has worked as a nurse in HIV and AIDS community clinics, Emergency, Home Health, and Surgery Departments in Marin and Mendocino Counties. Her palliative care practice started as a director and case manager at local hospitals, in collaboration with UCSF Palliative Care Department and community organizations, concomitantly with getting her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. Elise is Madrone Care’s director of clinical services, a trained facilitator with the County of Mendocino and Stanford University to teach “Healthy Living with Chronic Disease”, and a group meditation mentor through Sacred Mountain Sangha in Sebastopol. Traveling is one of her greatest passions, in addition to hiking, kayaking, swimming, and working with multi-media art.

Kate Erwin, RN

Nursing

Kate Erwin is a nurse who deeply cares for people dealing with chronic illnesses. She started her career in the ER after nursing school. Fortuitously, she found herself working in Palliative Care, which she truly loves. Now, as part of the Madrone Care Network team, she feels honored to help patients and families. She’s excited about her future in this role, where she can continue to impact lives with compassion and dedication.

Michael Kipp, RN

Nursing

Michael Kipp is a Registered Nurse. He is a graduate of California State University Chico School of Nursing (2007). Mr. Kipp began his career in intensive care hospital nursing and has 11 years of experience working as a primary care case manager for the Veterans Health Administration. He is enthusiastic about palliative care and working to support the whole person, including their social needs. He is dedicated to his family and operates a micro-scale gourmet edible mushroom farm when not serving Madrone Care clients.

Liz Lasater, RN, PHN

Nursing

Liz Lasater, RN, PHN is a Registered Nurse in Northern California and serves as Madrone Care Network’s Case Manager for Mendocino and Humboldt Counties. Liz is a 1998 alumna of Cal Poly Humboldt and holds degrees in biology, psychology, and nursing. Liz has further training and certificates in Oncology Management from the University of Southern Indiana, and Palliative Care from California State University Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care. She is a Ready Public Health Nurse certified through the SUNY School of Public Health in Albany and has undertaken specialized studies in cannabis and immunotherapy medicine as an active member of the American Cannabis Nurses Association. Liz began her career in oncology and palliative care in 2013 under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Fratkin, a pioneer of palliative medicine programs in Northern California. She has been on the MCN team since October of 2020 and is both personally and professionally fulfilled providing holistic, integrative care to our patients. Some of Liz’s favorite activities are traveling and spending time with her small family both in and on the ocean.

Barbara Mercer, RN, PHN, MSN, PhD

Nursing

Barbara Mercer, RN, PHN, MSN, PhD grew up on the East Coast, completing a BSN and an MSN (Cardiovascular Nsg) before moving to the West Coast in 1978 to obtain a Ph.D. She was a Hospice RN and Supervisor at CPMC during the Aids crisis. After 13 yr in SF, she worked for Social Services in Mendocino Co as PHN for the APS team, then became Hospice Clinical Manager at a free-standing Hospice in Petaluma. She joined Madrone Care in July of 2021. Barbara has lived off the grid in the hills of Laytonville since 1995. She has a Real  Estate License and raises and shows Bernese Mountain Dogs.

Kathy Mize, RN

Nursing

Dorray Fisher, LVN

Nursing

Jenny Grissom, ASW

Social Work Manager

Jenny Grissom, ASW is a social worker from Mendocino County, with a Master’s degree in Social Work from Cal Poly Humboldt. She began working in inpatient healthcare in 2015 at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley, and in outpatient palliative care in 2018. Jenny incorporates a strengths-based approach in her practice and uses self-care to keep herself grounded. She has been an integral part of the Madrone Care Network team, as the second employee ever hired by the organization as a practice manager. Jenny is passionate about offering support to her patients with serious illnesses and loves practicing medical social work. Some of her favorite activities are cooking, exercising, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Nori Dolan, BA

Social Worker

Nori Dolan is a Social Worker and Life Coach, who since 1977 has worked in education, human services, and the arts. She received her BA in Community Studies from UC Santa Cruz in 1990. Nori gained her certification as a Co-Active Coach in 2000 from the Coaches Institute in San Rafael, CA. In 1976 she moved to Mendocino County from the San Francisco Bay Area, after becoming a mother, beginning her career in the medical field, and joining a “back-to-the-land” commune. Nori shifted to social work in 1991, primarily in child welfare, and has been with MCN since November 2021. She is a performing/visual artist and a certified laughter yoga instructor. When working with our patients she loves recognizing and encouraging the joy and creativity that is a part of their lives. Nori loves gardening, dancing, singing, creative projects, spending time with her grandchildren, and volunteering in the community, where she lives.

Kate Feigin, ASW

Social Worker

Kate Feigin, ASW is a social worker who has made Mendocino County home for the past 17 years. She grew up in Portland, Oregon. Kate earned her Masters in Social Work from CalPoly Humboldt in 2021. Kate is currently working on a PhD in Community Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute.  She has an extensive background in aligning with marginalized people in her community, including in county behavioral health, addiction counseling, and the justice system. Kate teaches future Human Service workers at Mendocino College and enjoys mentoring folks entering the helping profession. Kate enjoys spending time in nature and working outdoors at her small homestead in Ukiah.

Bryan Kraus, ASW

Social Worker

Bryan Kraus is a social worker originally from Baltimore, MD. He graduated with his MSW from Cal Poly Humboldt in 2019, and has been working in medical/palliative care ever since. Bryan has a passion for working with patients and their families as they face serious illnesses. He has been with MCN since April 2023 and is currently working towards getting his LCSW. In his spare time, Bryan enjoys playing music and spending time with his girlfriend and his pooch, Luna.

Abby Henson

Community Health Worker Supervisor

Abigail “Abby” Henson is a Community Health Worker for Madrone Care Network. A true team player with an excellent work ethic, she started working with us in September 2021. Previously, she assisted youth and adults in foster care residential care, and in the community through her work at Redwood Community Services and Whole Person Care. Abby is caring and compassionate and loves to help those in need. She graduated from Potter Valley High School in 2002 and later pursued an AA degree in General Ed and Psychology from Mendocino Jr. College. She is happily married to Tremayle Henson and has three wonderful stepchildren. Abby also works as a server for a caterer and loves the social aspect of working at events in different venues. She is a huge fan of sports, and with her husband are in a Fantasy Football League. Abby spends most of her time being with her family and engaging in spiritual activities.

Karen Gutierrez

Community Health Worker

My name is Karen Gutierrez and I am a Community Health Worker at Madrone Care Network. I am a girl mom and a wife. I currently am a student at Mendocino College and I aspire to become a social worker one day. My eldest daughter inspired me to go into this field, as she had medical and education needs. As a parent, I did not have much guidance. Due to my need for guidance, I would like to help parents that need assistance in navigating services within our community. I am grateful to be part of Madrone Care Network as I am learning many things that correlate with my career goals like: facilitating applications, working in connection with outside specialties and services, and most importantly being a helping hand to our patients. When I am not working or studying I enjoy spending time with friends and family. I am a big fan of reality tv and podcasts. I enjoy going for walks with my daughters, husband, and my two fur babies. 

Emily Frey, PA

Advanced Practice Provider

Emily Frey, PA is a compassionate physician assistant (PA). She was trained at the Stanford University Primary Care Associates program in the mid 90’s, and Duke University as an undergrad, and spent most of 15 years doing emergency medicine at Ukiah Valley Medical Center before joining the Hospitalist team taking care of in-patients, with an emphasis on providing excellent palliative care. Emily joined Madrone Care Network in 2020 to practice home-based palliative care. Her father was a pediatrician who specialized in global medicine, so since childhood, she has been exposed to how other cultures provide health care, which prompted her to volunteer in Guatemala, Mexico, and Haiti, and as medical and psychiatric care in music festivals. She has meaningful relationships, with a loving husband, children, grandchildren, dear friends, and many mutually respectful colleagues. She balances work and her healthy, active home life, with hiking, gardening, reading, cooking, and canning, and spending time with her grandchildren, all of which fills her days.

Lynn Meadows, CNM, PA

Advanced Practice Provider | Board Secretary

Lynn Meadows, PA is a Physician Assistant who has lived off the grid in Mendocino County since 1972. She graduated from San Diego State University, Stanford University, Foothill College PA, and Midwifery programs. Lynn is specialized in midwifery, orthopedics, emergency/hospital medicine, and palliative care. She is a community organizer, co-founding the Mendocino County AIDS Volunteer Network, River Oak Charter School, La Vida Charter School, Hearthstone Village, Tu Hogar en El Cardonal (a non-profit clinic in Baja, Mexico), and Madrone Care Network. Lynn enjoys healing arts, watercolor painting, nature, family, succulents, and spending time in Mexico.

Ronald Sand, MD, ABHPM

Medical Director

Dr. Sand is the Chief Medical Officer and a Palliative Care Physician at Madrone Care. He was born and raised in rural Sonoma County, California, and has lived most of his life in Northern California. His education has included undergrad and medical degrees at U.C. Davis 1974-78 and 1979-83, and Family Medicine training at the University of Arizona 1983-87, with an emphasis on pre and post-doctoral medical education. He practiced in Sonoma and Shasta Counties from 1987to 2017, including home and hospital-based hospice and palliative care since 1999. He was board certified in this field in 2006. He is married with two children, both of whom work in the medical field, and has two grandchildren. He has taught and practiced medicine in many countries throughout Oceania and Southern/Southeast Asia. Dr. Sand brings his extensive experience in palliative medicine, team-based care, working in low-resourced, culturally diverse rural areas to our team, and is passionate about family, community, and an eco-friendly world.

Zahra Esmail, DO, ABHPM

Physician | Board President & CEO

My name is Zahra Esmail and I am a Board Certified, Fellowship trained Hospice and Palliative Medicine physician. I joined Madrone Care Network in the summer of 2020. The first decade of my professional career was spent creating an in-patient Palliative Care Program at a community hospital located in east Los Angeles. Thereafter, I transitioned to lead a Joint Accredited Inpatient Palliative Care Program at a Providence ministry in South Bay, Los Angeles. I continue to strive to increase early access and quality Palliative Care to the Seriously Ill. I am also a mother of two, a 12 year old daughter going on 22 and a 9 year old son who believes he is on the set of Star Wars daily. 

Norma Marks, MD, ABA

Physician

Dr. Norma Marks, MD, is a physician from Los Angeles, CA, who has completed a BA in Chemistry from the University of Southern California, and a subsequent MD from UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine in 1982. Upon finishing her residencies in Pediatrics and Anesthesiology she worked at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles until 1989. Drawn to Napa and Mendocino County, she fulfilled a rewarding 32-year career as a board-certified Anesthesiologist at Adventist Health, Ukiah Valley Medical Center in 2019. After attending the UCSF Interprofessional Education in Palliative Care, she joined the Madrone Care team in 2020 to collaborate as a medical provider in meeting the spiritual, medical, and psychosocial goals of seriously ill patients in Mendocino, Lake, and other counties. She enjoys snorkeling, traveling and connecting with the world’s humanity, prayerful gratitude, and embracing quality time with family and friends.

Cary Smeltzer, DO

Physician

Dr. Cary Smeltzer, D.O. (aka ‘Dr. Wheeler’) is a board certified family medicine physician, with subspecialties in osteopathic manipulation and addiction medicine. Dr. Smeltzer was born and raised in Southern California, and received her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a Spanish minor in 1999.  Her desire to make a difference in people’s lives eventually led her to pursue a career in medicine. She attended Touro University, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo, CA, and earned her medical degree in 2009. After graduating from medical school, Dr. Smeltzer completed her residency training in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative therapy in Kingman, AZ, graduating in 2012.  In late 2012, Dr. Smeltzer moved with her family back to Ukiah, and began working at a small health center in Cloverdale, where she serves as the chief medical officer, as well as primary care physician for an underserved patient population of all ages, races, genders and sexual orientations. Dr. Smeltzer is joining Madrone Care team with a desire to give back to her community, and to ease the suffering of the medically complex patients, bringing with her an understanding of how difficult caring for patients with serious and complex conditions can be in the current medical system. Dr. Smeltzer hopes to improve the quality of life of the patients she cares for by addressing their individual needs with compassion, and hopes to also ease the burden on their primary care and specialty providers as a natural result. Her 3 amazing daughters ages 20, 14 and 11 are her pride and joy. In her down time she enjoys spending time and laughing with her daughters and friends, crafting, woodworking, music, photography and hopes to one day be able to travel again like when she was 20!

Sam Kaligithi

Chaplain

Samuel Kaligithi (aka ‘Sam’) is a CPE and Palliative Care certified chaplain who grew up in India and immigrated to the US when he was 17. He studied music in Vienna, Austria, earning a BA in music before completing his Master of Divinity degree in Michigan. He worked as a pastor for ten years in Ohio and Santa Cruz, CA before transitioning to healthcare chaplaincy. He received his Clinical Pastoral Education and Palliative Care certification from UCSF Medical Center and worked as a chaplain at UCSF and Sutter CPMC before moving to Mendocino County. Here, he served as Spiritual Care Director of a three-hospital system before joining the MCN team. He enjoys playing classical guitar, studying world religions, cooking, and traveling.

Becki Armstrong

Patient Care Coordinator

Teresa Hale

Patient Care Coordinator

Teresa Hale has been with Madrone Care since March of 2022, starting as a receptionist before becoming a Patient Care Coordinator. Teresa was born and raised in Ukiah, CA. Some activities Teresa enjoys are cooking, shopping and spending time with her family. Before joining Madrone Care Network Teresa worked as a Behavioral Therapist for 2 years. Her passion for helping others continues by helping those with serious illnesses. 

Jocelyn Martinez

Patient Care Coordinator

Poppy Brodoski

Finance Director

Poppy Brodoski was born and raised in Mendocino County. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Accounting from Sonoma State University. She obtained her license as a Certified Public Accountant, and worked briefly in the field before starting a family and following other interests. She has two adult children, one is in college and the other is a firefighter. She started working with Madrone Care in February 2020 as Finance Director and is primarily responsible for working with insurance companies. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, camping, and visiting with her kids.

Steve Franey

Chief Operating Officer

Steve Franey is Madrone Care Network’s Chief Operating Officer. He was born and raised in Visalia, California, but has lived most of his adult life in Portland, Oregon. Steve received his MBA with a concentration in Hospital Administration and Finance from the University of Chicago in 1979. His long standing career in healthcare started that same year when he began a healthcare management consulting practice that has dominated much of his professional life. Steve has a wealth of knowledge regarding quality and innovation in End-of-Life/Palliative Care. He has contributed to the development of the Supportive Care Coalition; served as Chairman and is currently a member of the Circle of Life Award Committee; a past member of the Palliative Care Steering Committee for the Oregon Region for Providence Health & Services; and was the co-founder and Chief Financial and Strategy Officer for Resolution Care. Steve is married with 3 grown children and three grandchildren. He enjoys gardening, spending time with family and friends, and playing bridge.

Amanda McWilliams

Intake Coordinator

Amanda McWilliams has been with Madrone Care Network since August of 2021, starting as a Patient Care Coordinator before becoming our Intake Coordinator. Previously, she worked as a Dialysis Tech at the local Dialysis Clinic for over 15 years. She made the switch of careers to be able to have more time with her family, which consists of her husband, Jody, three dogs, Dill E. Pickles (Dilly), Luna, and Albus, a cat named Cat, six chickens, who rule the yard, and four beautiful nieces and nephews who live next door! Aside from a career shift, she has recently built a new home on two acres of land where Amanda and Jody are creating their dream home and garden, where Amanda spends most of her time weeding, planting, and growing. Jody thinks she has a plant problem! When she is not home it is usually due to dirt bikes and the Cross Country Enduro series that Jody and the nieces and nephews participate in every spring and fall. The family loves to travel all across Northern California and parts of Nevada, enjoying each other’s company and being on the road. Obviously, she and her family love the dirt in many different ways. Amanda often uses the words hilarious, fun, and caring to describe herself, always trying to find the positive in every situation.

Deborah Mead

Business Consultant

Deborah Mead moved to Northern California in 1984. Since that time she has worked extensively with non-profit organizations in Mendocino County. She was the Director of the Mendocino County AIDS Volunteer Network (MCAVN) from 1987- 2000. From 2001 to 2006 she was the Director of the Ukiah Valley Cultural and Recreational Center helping to raise more than 4 million dollars for the development of the facility. For many years Deborah was actively involved with Hearthstone Village supporting education for girls in Haiti. Deborah worked for more than 13 years as a clerk in the UVAH Emergency Department. Since March 2022 Deborah has been working part-time for Madrone Care Network assisting with administrative tasks. She believes in the service that MCN provides to the community and is honored to be part of the team. Now that she is retired (mostly), she enjoys the luxury of time to spend with her grandchildren and focus on gardening.

Maureen Taylor

Practice Manager

Maureen Taylor joined the Madrone Care Network team in Summer 2022 as a Patient Care Coordinator. After graduating from San José State, the first decades of her career were spent educating youth as a classroom teacher and outdoor science educator. She brings her calm nature, desire for justice and advocacy, and inquisitiveness to her work in Palliative Care. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, gardening, and trying new recipes from her cookbook collection.