Board Of Directors

Local Leaders Committed to Orange County

CalOptima is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Directors is made up of member advocates and representatives from the medical community, business and local government.

The Board of Directors represents the diverse backgrounds, interests and demographics of Orange County residents and helps ensure CalOptima, as a public agency, remains highly accountable and responsive to the health care needs of our members.

Our Board Members

Photo of CalOptima Board Member, Ed Kacic

Edward B. Kacic (Chair)

President, Irvine Health Foundation

Edward B. Kacic is the President of the Irvine Health Foundation, a position he has held since 1989. Mr. Kacic is the current past chair of the Health Funders Partnership of Orange County and chairs its Health Care Safety Net Task Force. He also serves on the Investment Committee of the Mardan Foundation of Educational Therapy. Mr. Kacic has been a Director since 2009.

Photo of CalOptima Board Member, Jim McAleer

Jim McAleer (Vice Chair)

President and CEO, Alzheimer’s Association Orange County Chapter

Jim McAleer is the President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Orange County Chapter. Prior to joining the Alzheimer’s Association, Mr. McAleer provided consulting services to non-profit organizations. Mr. McAleer is an active volunteer in the community and is involved with several organizations, including the Assistance League, CHOC Children's and Friends of El Faro Orphanage. Mr. McAleer has served as a Director since 2010.

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Ellen Ahn

Executive Director and Social Worker, Korean Community Services

Photo of Board of Director member, Bill Campbell

Bill Campbell (Alternate)

Orange County Board of Supervisors,
Supervisor, Third District


The Honorable Bill Campbell represents the Third District cities of Anaheim, Irvine, Orange, Tustin, Villa Park and Yorba Linda. Since his election to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in January 2003, Supervisor Campbell was re-elected to a full term in March 2004 and a second term in June 2008. Supervisor Campbell previously served in the California Legislature as an Assemblymember, an Assembly Minority Leader and Vice Chairman of the prestigious Committee on Appropriations. While in the Assembly and now on the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Campbell works to enhance the quality of life for Orange County residents through the preservation and development of recreational, cultural, educational and historical assets. He has safeguarded Orange County’s natural resources through proposals such as Assembly Bill 1969, which protected coastal resources by requiring an increased standard of treatment for wastewater. In addition to his duties on the Board, Supervisor Campbell continues to serve as a member on several Orange County committees, boards and agencies.

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Samara Cardenas, M.D.

Pediatrician, Anaheim Regional Medical Center

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Viet Van Dang, M.D.

President, Viet Van Dang, M.D., Ophthalmology

Photo of CalOptima Board Member, Mary Anne Foo

Mary Anne Foo

Executive Director, Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance

Mary Anne Foo is the Executive Director and Founder of the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA). Ms. Foo has worked for more than 20 years on immigrant and refugee community issues at the national, state and local levels. She oversees 20 different programs focused on community health, mental health, community and economic development, youth development, education and policy. Ms. Foo is also principal investigator and co-investigator of several community-based participatory research health studies. Ms. Foo has been a Director since 2009.

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Steven Knoblock

General Counsel, Multimedia LED
Of Counsel, McKenna Long & Aldridge


Photo of CalOptima Board Member, Janet Nguyen

Janet Nguyen

Orange County Board of Supervisors,
Supervisor, First District


The Honorable Janet Nguyen represents the First District cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Westminster, and Midway City on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. She was elected to the Board in February 2007, and overwhelmingly re-elected in June 2008. In doing so, she became the first woman ever to represent the First District, the first Asian-American and the first Vietnamese-American to serve on the Board of Supervisors, and the youngest ever elected in Orange County. Prior to being elected to the Board, she served on the Garden Grove City Council; the first woman to serve in nearly 35 years. She also served on the Garden Grove Planning Commission, Garden Grove Traffic Commission and Orange County Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board. Supervisor Nguyen has received numerous awards and recognition for her leadership and public service, including the 2008 St. Anselm’s Cultural Diversity Award. Representing the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Nguyen served as an Alternate Director to CalOptima from 2007 to 2011 and has served as a Director to CalOptima since 2011.

Photo of CalOptima Board Member, Lee Penrose

Lee Penrose

President and CEO, St. Jude Medical Center

Lee Penrose is the President and CEO of St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton. Since 2008, Mr. Penrose has been responsible for all components of the 384-bed, faith-based acute care hospital. He works collaboratively with other providers in the St. Joseph Health System, including St. Joseph Hospital and Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center. Prior to his current position, Mr. Penrose was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at St. Jude for eight years. He also has a background in working for a large medical group and managed care companies. Mr. Penrose was appointed a Director in November 2011.

Photo of CalOptima Board Member, Mark Refowitz

Mark Refowitz

Interim Director, Orange County Health Care Agency

Mark Refowitz is the interim director of the Orange County Health Care Agency. Prior to his appointment on February 28, 2012, Refowitz had been the director of Behavioral Health Services for the agency since January 2004. In that capacity, he was responsible for implementation of the local Mental Health Act program, as well as the overall operation of the county’s Behavioral Health Services. Prior to serving Orange County, Refowitz was director of Mental Health Services for the County of San Diego from 2001 to 2003 and gained extensive management experience through positions in public sector organizations, as well as private managed care entities. He became a CalOptima Director in March 2012.

Picture of Board of Director member, Michael Riley

Michael Riley, Ph.D.

Director, Orange County Social Services Agency

Dr. Michael Riley is Director of the Orange County Social Services Agency. The agency employs more than 4,000 and operates four divisions that offer services and assistance programs for children, adults and families. Prior to his current position, Dr. Riley was the Social Services Agency’s Chief Deputy Director and the previous Director of the agency’s Children and Family Services Division for more than 10 years. Dr. Riley’s longstanding public service career stretches back to work with troubled children and families through Boys Town programs in Omaha, Neb., and later in Southern California. He received his doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Nebraska. Dr. Riley was appointed a CalOptima Director in December 2011.

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