Leadership
The Institute’s credibility and uniqueness stem from its commitment to provide integrative medicine within the structure of a traditional medical center. California Pacific Medical Center's medical staff, executive staff, and administrative committees oversee the Institute’s programs. An advisory committee of community volunteers called the Community Council ensures that we have strong community participation and support.
The medical center has assembled a talented management team, listed below, to ensure the ongoing 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 processes range from becoming aware of feelings, to combinations of therapies such as surgery and nutrition, to deep lifestyle changes.”
Dr. Stewart has received the “Best Doctors in America” recognition every year for more than ten years. He is a frequent guest lecturer around the world, has published in numerous medical journals, and is soon to publish a consumer health book based on his experience. His 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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Shelby Speas
Shelby Speas, Mills-Peninsula vice president of Ambulatory Services, has been instrumental in bringing the Institute for Health & Healing to Mills-Peninsula. The Institute is located at Mills Health Center in San Mateo, a comprehensive outpatient facility which Shelby developed and oversees. The Center is filled with original art – beautiful images and sculpture that evoke nature and calm the spirit, and gardens blooming with healing plants. It is an ideal setting for the Institute for Health & Healing, where people find services such as therapeutic massage, guided imagery, T'ai Chi and other non-traditional modalities. Together with director Sheila Littrell, Shelby has brought a new focus to these services and created a unique setting for health and healing.
Shelby's background includes physician practice management, imaging center development and oversight and client services management for a major manufacturer of clinical and hospital information system products. Since her days as a sales executive for the Ford Motor Company, Shelby has long understood the importance of customer service, and she incorporates those principles throughout the Health Center. Shelby also is active in community projects, including the American Heart Association and African American Community Health Advisory Committee. She was inducted into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2001.
Shelby graduated with degrees in economics and foreign languages from Lewis & Clark College in Oregon. She spent her childhood in Peru and speaks fluent Spanish.
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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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