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.”
Dr. Stewart is the author of Deep Medicine: Harnessing the Source of Your Healing Power. 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.
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Judith Tolson
Judith Tolson, MA, Director of Programs and Operations, 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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Sat Kartar Khalsa-Ramey
Sat Kartar Khalsa-Ramey, MA, is the Director of Hospital Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education at California Pacific Medical Center. She has 25 years of experience in healthcare including chaplaincy, movement therapy and imagery. Before joining the Institute for Health & Healing, Sat Kartar was the Director of Spiritual Care and an ACPE Supervisor at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Arizona, where she developed their in-hospital chaplaincy training program. She is also responsible for creating a healing ritual now offered at hospitals throughout the country called “Blessing of the Hands” which honors the healing work of nurses, as well as other hospital staff.
Within the ACPE Pacific Region Sat Kartar has served on several committees including Certification. She completed CPE training in 1997 and ACPE Supervisory Education Training in 2002 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Arizona. Ordained by Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere, Sat Kartar is also a member of the International Sikh Dharma Council of Nominees for the Western Hemisphere. She received her Master’s degree in Movement Therapy from University of California, Los Angeles.
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Susie Shipley
Susie Laurenson Shipley, MA, brings her experience and skills in both business and psychology to her management position with the Marin program of 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 for a number of years, 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 holds an advanced degree in a form of energy medicine and is a well-respected practitioner. Susie’s diverse skills and experience help her bring a broad base of knowledge in her role of bringing integrative medicine to the Marin community.
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Doug Winger
Doug Winger, MBA, oversees the Institute’s finances, marketing and fundraising. 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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