 |
In January of 2019, the VIM Board of Directors bestowed the title of Founder & Counselor to Dr. Hare, agreeing unanimously that his insight, wisdom and thoughtful advice will be cherished and sought after as we continue to make his vision of affordable and accessible healthcare in the Coachella Valley a reality.
Dr. Hare is credited as the Founder of VIM having been the initial driving force to establish the clinic. He has been involved in all aspects of the clinic, served several terms as the Chair, Board of Directors, and continues to promote the clinic in the community. A recipient of numerous awards for his community service, in addition to VIM, Dr. Hare is well-known and respected throughout the Coachella Valley, and beyond, for his contributions that improve the community. Today, he continues his commitment to VIM, as a nonvoting member of the Board of Directors and its various committees. |
 |
Charlene Montgomery is a human resources consultant and former Registered Nurse. Most recently Charlene held several human resource positions with both the Betty Ford Center, Eisenhower Medical Center and Desert Regional Medical Center. She also has a history developing and operating addiction treatment programs.
Since 2017, Charlene has volunteered at VIM to lend her knowledge and expertise on human resource matters, working closely with the Executive Director, and more recently, the staff. Perhaps her biggest volunteer challenge yet was reviewing our Employee Handbook to make sure it was current with our own policies, but also, and more importantly, that is was current with State and Federal Labor Law. Charlene also completed a benefits review of local, nonprofit organizations, similar in size and budget to VIM, to assist our Executive Director and Board of Directors to ensure our employment benefits were competitive with other organizations. Most recently, she has begun offering regular training on a variety of topics to our employees. Charlene is the current Board Chair and continues to serve in administrative capacities, working closely with our Executive Director. |
 |
Stewart B Fleishman MD gained much of his primary care experience in the development of what is thought to be the first organized program for adult survivors of adult cancer. Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, he worked with an interdisciplinary team applying principles of active symptom management to care throughout the trajectory of cancer illness focusing on the period of treatment and beyond. He currently surveys cancer centers around the country for accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
He is the Founding Director of Cancer Supportive Services at Continuum Cancer Centers of New York: Beth Israel and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt. He also served as the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Continuum Hospice Care, and the Chair of its Ethics Committee. Dr. Fleishman has been an investigator at the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (now the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology) since 1986, and was the Vice Chair of its Quality of Life Sub-Committee. He is the author of LEARN to Live Through Cancer: What You Need to Know and Do and the accompanying provider’s textbook Manual of Cancer Treatment Recovery: What the Practitioner Needs to Know and Do. He has authored numerous peer reviewed journal articles as well. Prior to attending medical school, Dr. Fleishman taught in the New York City public schools. |
 |
Chauncey has a distinguished career in managing people with several positions at Bank of America, and most recently as the Relationship Center Manager – Vice President for One West Bank in La Quinta. Currently, Chauncey is the Firm Manager at Barton CPA with several offices in the high and low desert. When not working, volunteering at VIM or tending a grill, Chauncey enjoys time with his wife and three children.
Chauncey is the organization’s Treasurer, Chair of the Finance Committee, and an active member of the Fund Development Committee. |
 |
Lori Boucher has over 30 years of experience in the financial industry. Beginning her career in Fremont, Ca. as a bank teller, Lori broadened her experience by serving clients as a licensed personal banker, operational manager, assistant manager and 15 years of exposure as a branch manager. She currently serves as Branch Managing Director in the La Quinta branch of Bank of Southern California. Lori loves serving and assisting her customers. Throughout the years, she developed a successful career and extended relationships through her passion to serve, always focusing on finding solutions to her customer’s needs with the highest integrity. Lori lives with her husband Jim in La Quinta, CA for the past 9 years. She has two children who reside in Northern California, and loves to travel, bicycle ride, kayak and spend time outdoors. |
 |
Linda Evans is the Chief Strategy Officer of Community Advocacy for the Desert Care Network, which comprises Desert Regional Medical Center (Palm Springs), JFK Memorial Hospital (Indio), and Hi-Desert Medical Center (Joshua Tree). She has worked for the hospitals’ parent company, Tenet Healthcare for 26 years. Linda is also Mayor for the City of La Quinta and has served as Mayor since 2014. Prior to that, she served on La Quinta’s City Council beginning in 2009. Linda received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications/Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton. She holds two Master’s Degrees: one in Health Administration and the other in Gerontology, both obtained from the University of La Verne, California. Linda Chairs the following Boards:
Her role with the Desert Care Network and Mayor provides for extensive networking across a large spectrum of agencies, organizations and community groups – all of which have a common goal of ensuring access to care, healthy eating, and active living. |
 |
Bio coming soon! |
 |
Linda Hodsdon has been a volunteer with VIM since 2018 helping to take patient vital signs and working with the medical providers in direct patient care. Linda first learned about VIM as a member of The Springs Woman, a fundraising and social club for residents of The Springs Country Club, Rancho Mirage, that has adopted VIM as their benefiting charity since 2015. To date, The Springs Woman has donated more than $190,000 in support of our mission.
Linda was a high school teacher in Spokane, Washington, raised her family, and later became the Director of Volunteers at St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma, WA. She worked in marketing and advertising before opening her own business and later, retiring with her husband, Geoff, in Rancho Mirage. Linda is the Chair of the PR & Communications Committee |
 |
A staff attorney with Desert Legal Aid, providing access to justice for low-income residents of the Coachella Valley, Ross also has his own legal practice providing services in civil litigation, personal injury, business matters and criminal defense.
Ross is a member of the Fund Development Committee and Chair, VIM Legacy Society. |
 |
Bio coming soon! |
 |
Barbara Limardo is a graduate of California Baptist University’s Masters in Business Administration program, where she is also focusing on attaining her Doctoral Degree in Business. Barbara works at Desert Orthopedic Center in Rancho Mirage, California, as the Director of Finance, where she has been promoted through several positions. She has worked in healthcare for over 20 years in various roles and has experience in healthcare accounting. She began working in medicine as a coder and medical biller.
Barbara is a native of Bronx, New York. Barbara moved to the Coachella Valley in 1999, where she discovered her love of hiking and the desert landscape. She also enjoys indoor gardening and Crossfit. Barbara has a wonderful daughter and miniature poodle named Jagger. VIM is Barbara’s first opportunity to participate and serve the community that she now calls home. |
 |
Esfandiar “Essie” Nasr, M.D. grew up in Palm Springs, attending local PSUSD public schools. After high school, Dr. Nasr left the Coachella Valley for higher education and lived in various cities and states across the country and abroad, returning home to the valley to practice medicine in 2007 at Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Nasar is married with three children, and resides in Palm Springs. |
 |
With a career background in banking and investments, Sandy is an active member of The Springs Country Club, Sandy serves on the Board of the Ladies’ Golf Association and the Palm Springs Woman, a charitable organization. A community activist and advocate, other interests include the Coachella Valley Boys and Girls Club, Mama’s House and The Monarch School of Homeless Children.
Sandy is a member of the Fund Development Committee and Board liaison to The Springs Woman who offer generous and ongoing financial support to VIM. |
|
|
Bio coming soon! |
 |
Dr. Stephan Scoggins is a true renaissance man. He is an international motivational speaker, registered nurse, PhD, veteran with the U.S. Army, former OKC police officer, educator and author. Currently, based in Palm Springs, California, Dr. Scoggins is the founder of ESTEEM, an educational health and motivational center. He is a national recording artist, volunteer Citizens on Patrol with the Palm Springs Police Department and Brothers of the Desert member.
Stephan was a volunteer nurse with VIM before joining our Board in January 2023. Stephan assists with administrative tasks and is a member of our Clinical Care Committee. |
 |
Tom Thetford, MBA, is a retired healthcare executive with over 40 years in leadership positions with CIGNA, Western Medical Center, Heart Hospital of the Desert, Clinicas de Salad, Yale New Haven Medical Group, and Quest Diagnostics.
Since retiring in 2021 Tom has joined as a volunteer with Desert Healthcare District Behavioral Health Initiative, FIND Food Bank, as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) serving the needs of Riverside County foster children, as a Read With Me 5th and 6th grade reading teacher at Oasis Elementary School in Thermal, and as a Board Member of VIM. Previously Tom has served in Board positions with Riverside Hospice, Fair Haven Community Clinic, and Yale New Haven Medical Group. Tom is a U.S. Army veteran, a 40-year American Legion member, and 10-year resident of La Quinta. Tom and his wife Teresa are parents of 4 very successful grown adults and proud grandparents. |
