about us

Our Purpose

The Wellness Community - South Bay Cities offers a free program for cancer patients, and their families and loved-ones. Our goal is to help as many cancer patients as possible recover from the physical and emotional effects of cancer to the greatest extent possible. Our psychological support and educational programs are designed to address the loss of control, hopelessness and social isolation that cancer patients and their families often experience.
What People Are Saying About the Wellness Community
 

Executive Staff
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Director/CEO – Judith K. Opdahl

Email: jkopdahl@aol.com

Phone: 310-376-3550, ext. 25

Program Director – Tom May, LCSW, ACSW

Email: tmay@wellnessandcancer.org

Development Director – Lyla Knudson

Email: lylaktwc@aol.com

Phone: 310-376-3550, ext. 30

Phone: 310-376-3550, ext. 22

 

Administrative Staff
 

Program Staff

(Click HERE for photos and bios)

Rita Aron, MFT
Anne Clary, MFT
Maria Gallo, MA, Spanish Speaking Outreach

Steven Lottenberg, MD, PsyD

Linda Neal, MFT
Ruth Schriebman, MFT
Pamela Stephan, MFT, RArt
Christine Winkler, PhD, MFT
 

Jordana Katz, Graduate Practicum

Alexa Leskys, Graduate Trainee

Linda Tesar, Graduate Intern
 

Board of Directors

Ed Frankel, President/Chairperson; Development
Michael Fiore, Sr. Vice President
Christine Campisi, Vice President/Secretary
James Packard, CPA, Vice President/Treasurer

Thomas B. Ackland, Esq.
Kerry Brentlinger
Stan Corbett
Daniel DuRoss, Esq.
Daniel Hovenstine, MD
Laura Kauls, CPA
Kyle Kazan
Robert McCaman

Ed McKenna

Don Mehlig
Donna Morita
Jane J. Netherton
David Rice, Esq.
L. J. Stogsdill

Rebecca Weintraub, PhD

Honorary Directors
Harold H. Benjamin, PhD, In Memoriam
Norman Cousins, In Memoriam

Founders
Elise Asch
Jean McMillan
Tom Simko, MD
Joost van Adelsberg, MD
Anne Clary, Founding Facilitator

Professional Advisory Board

Daniel Hovenstine, MD, 
    Chairperson, Radiation Oncology
Fikret Atamdede, MD, Gynecology/Oncology
Paula Bauer, NP
David Chan, MD, Oncology
Lisa Fisher, MD, Obstetrics/Gynecology
Melanie Friedlander, MD, Surgery
Susan Goodlerner, MD, Dermatology 
Garth Green, MD, Radiation Oncology
Nora Ku, MD, Hematology/Oncology
John Link, MD, Medical Oncology
Eric N. Milefchik, MD, Internal Medicine & ID
James Mollenkamp, MD, Urology
Paul Murata, MD, Family Practice
Wade Nishimoto, MD, Hematology/Oncology
Richard C. Palmer, MD, Psychiatry
Joy G. Paul, MD, Urology
Christine A. Petti, MD, Plastic/Reconstruction Surgery
Patricia Sacks, MD, Radiology/Nuclear Medicine
Gerald I. Schiff, MD, General Surgery
Thomas G. Simko, MD, Radiation Oncology
Joost van Adelsberg, MD, Internal Medicine
James Waisman, MD, Medical Oncology
Fredrick Wolk, MD, Urology

updated November 3, 2006