Our Board of Directors
Beyond the daily operations of your community hospital lie the long-range issues governing patient care, finances and planning. The all-volunteer Board of Trustees works closely with the hospital's administrative and medical staffs to address these long-range issues.
They help to ensure that Sutter Coast Hospital continues to enhance the health and well being of the citizens of Del Norte and Curry counties, as well as visitors seeking our services.
Meet the Sutter Coast Hospital Board of Trustees
John Menaugh, Sutter Coast Hospital CEO, arrived in Crescent City in 1986. Under his leadership, the hospital has grown into the most sophisticated health care facility in the region. Beginning with the construction of the new hospital, which opened in 1992, he has overseen the continuous development of services, including the state-of-the-art MRI and CT scan. He and his wife, Cindy, have two children.
Ted Fitzgerald, a local lawyer and businessman, has lived in the area since 1969. He and his wife, Sharon, have a daughter, Adelaide, and two sons, Frank and Seamus.
Andrew Ringgold, past superintendent of Redwood National and State Parks, moved to the area in 1995. He retired in 2003 after 36 years with the National Parks Service. He served in many parks across the country, and early in his career he provided emergency medical treatment to park visitors and residents as an EMT (emergency medical technician). He and his wife, Barbara, live in Hiouchi and have two grown children.
Donald Micheletti, M.D., is a board certified internist with offices in Crescent City and Brookings. He is on the board as an at large member of the medical staff of Sutter Coast Hospital. Dr. Micheletti is the ICU medical director and has been an active member of the medical staff since 1993. He previously served as chief of staff in 1998 and 2005. He and his wife, Tess, have three children.
Fran Jommen taught sixth grade for 17 years before she and her husband retired to this area in 1996. She has a special interest in children and serves on the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Commission and on California’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Board. She was a founding member of the local CASA Board and is on the executive committee of the Crescent City Women’s Club.
Philip Schafer is a retired judge. He served on the bench for 12 years, first in municipal court and then in superior court, and is a former Del Norte County district attorney. He is currently a judge on assignment, presiding over numerous cases as needed.
Joe Wierzba joined the board after a successful administrative career in the health industry. He worked in hospital and medical group management for 30 years after earning an MBA. He and his wife, Shelly, live in Gold Beach. He currently works part-time as a health care consultant.
Michael J. Cohill has been a member of Sutter Health’s leadership team for more than 20 years. Mr. Cohill possesses experience in hospital and physician organization management and integration, as well as a thorough knowledge of Northern California’s unique and challenging health care environment.
Janice Willms, M.D., Ph.D., has an extensive history of medical practice, academic medicine, and medical department chairmanship. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine, she received her medical degree from the Washington University School of Medicine and her Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Willms formally retired from the practice of medicine in 1998 to pursue the integration of Medicine and the Humanities, especially the history of medicine, literature and medicine, and medical ethics.
Nancy Ehorn has held numerous positions with the National Park Service including project manager, park planner and assistant superintendent. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Colorado State University and obtained a Master of Forest Science degree from Yale University. Since 2003, she has served with the Redwood Parks Association, a non-profit organization that supports interpretation and education activities for Redwood National and State Parks.
Kevin Hartwick is a partner in Cholwell, Benz & Hartwick Accountants and Consultants. He has held positions on numerous boards including the Humboldt Area Foundation, North Valley Bank, Six Rivers Bank, and is a founding board member of the Wild Rivers Community Foundation. Mr. Hartwick received a bachelor’s degree with honors from California State University, Chico. He and his wife Gayle have two daughters.
Board members' terms last for three years, with a bylaw option of serving up to nine consecutive years.