Leadership
The Institute for Health & Healing’s credibility and uniqueness stem from its commitment to provide integrative medicine within the structure of a mainstream medical center. The Institute is an integral part of California Pacific Medical Center with participation and representation on senior management, medical staff, key committees and clinical departments. An Advisory Council of community leaders, volunteers and donors ensures strong community input, participation and support.
A talented management team, listed below, ensures the ongoing growth and success of the Institute for Health & Healing.
William B. Stewart
William B. Stewart, MD, is a nationally renowned oculoplastic surgeon, a former Chairman of California Pacific Medical Center’s Department of Ophthalmology, and a current member of the Senior Management team at California Pacific Medical Center. He is a co-founder and the Medical Director of the Institute for Health & Healing.
Dr. Stewart was inspired to create this integrative medicine program after working at the world’s largest eye hospital in India, where each patient is served with a balance of scientific expertise and spiritual attention. “Health involves the physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental, and spiritual dimensions of our existence,” he says. “Healing ranges from becoming aware of feelings, to surgery, to lifestyle changes, to transformative spiritual experiences.”
He has received the "Best Doctors in America" recognition every year for more than ten years, and is a frequent, inspiring guest lecturer around the world, dedicated to changing the way we understand health and healing.
Dr. Stewart's medical degree is from the University of Minnesota Medical School, and his postgraduate medical education included study at UCSF, the University of Colorado, the University of Miami, the University of London, and the Aravind Eye Hospital in India.
Dr. Stewart is the author of Deep Medicine, visit his deepmedicine.net website and blogOpens new window.
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Judith Tolson
Judith Tolson, MA, Director, is the primary architect of the Institute for Health & Healing programs. In 1992 she joined Dr. William B. Stewart as administrative director for the Program in Medicine and Philosophy at California Pacific, which in 1994 became the core program of the Institute for Health & Healing. During those formative years, she worked with Dr. Stewart to design weekly educational programs for physicians in grand rounds, as well as evening lectures, classes and support groups. She was also responsible for financial management, marketing, hiring, and supervision.
As part of the leadership team, Judith has been key in implementing a compassionate and comprehensive program that provides opportunities for deep healing. Under her creative guidance, programs for patients and the public as well as for health professionals have steadily evolved—including California Pacific’s first complementary medicine community benefit program.
Judith has a master’s degree in organizational development from San Francisco State University and more than 20 years of program development experience in nonprofit, educational and service organizations, including the San Francisco Education Fund, California Pacific Medical Center, and the Sonoma Waldorf School.
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Susie Laurenson Shipley
Susie Laurenson Shipley, MA, brings her experience and skills in both business and psychology to her management position with the Institute for Health & Healing. Before joining the Institute in 2002, Susie worked as a business executive for an entrepreneurial company dedicated to changing the way health and wellness is defined in the insurance industry. She also practiced as a counselor and psychotherapist, primarily focusing on emotionally disturbed and incarcerated youth.
Susie holds a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Sonoma State University and a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University in Social Psychology. In addition, she is a lifelong student and teacher of spiritual development. She has helped develop the Institute’s services in Marin and Sonoma counties, and in San Francisco. Susie’s diverse skills and experience help her bring a broad base of knowledge to her role of managing and developing integrative medicine inpatient programs and outpatient clinics.
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Doug Winger
Doug Winger, MBA, oversees the Institute’s finances, retail store and marketing. He has worked closely with the leadership team to develop a sustainable model of integrative healthcare that can be utilized by other hospitals. As a part of this, Doug has led the development of the Institute’s brand and a new marketing program. Doug has ten years of marketing experience with the Clorox Company and in the Silicon Valley. He has five years of fundraising experience for the California Pacific Medical Center Foundation and Environmental Defense. He has an engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University and a Masters in Business Administration from San Francisco State.
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