Staff Bios
Alvaro Fuentes
Executive Director
As Executive Director of the Consortium, Alvaro is responsible for ensuring that member clinics are recognized as key leaders and providers of quality health care services and resources throughout Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Alvaro has been with the Consortium since 2008 and has served as Fund Development Manager and Director of Community Affairs. Alvaro is also active in local community efforts, most notably the Healthy Richmond Initiative, which is an effort sponsored by The California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities Initiative. Prior to joining the Consortium, Alvaro was employed by AltaMed Health Services Corporation in Los Angeles; one of the largest community health care organizations in the country. Over the last fifteen years, Alvaro has dedicated his career to non-profit social service work particularly in public housing, economic and community development, and health care.
Laura Sheckler, MHA
Community Affairs Manager
As Community Affairs Manager for the Community Clinic Consortium, Laura is responsible for leading and managing advocacy and outreach activities for the organization. This includes increasing access to healthcare in Contra Costa and Solano counties, building alliances with community stakeholders, and carrying-out initiatives to assist implementation of Health Care Reform priorities. Laura has over a decade of experience with community and public health organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, ranging from direct service, to clinic management, and program administration. Her work has focused on improving access to care for underserved communities, and developing inter-organizational networks. She received her Master’s degree in Health Care Administration and Interprofessional Leadership (MS-HAIL) through the University of California, San Francisco.
Sarah Wang, MPH
Project Coordinator
Sarah Wang is a Project Coordinator for the Community Clinic Consortium. She is responsible for supporting the Consortium’s local advocacy, outreach, and program development efforts. During her time at the Consortium, she has worked to promote Health for All through communications on social media and the Consortium Quarterly newsletter, and through the creation of an online story-telling platform about the remaining uninsured in Contra Costa County. She is actively involved in the #OneContraCosta Coalition, a group of local advocacy and community based organizations and resident leaders committed to advancing access to quality health care, regardless of immigration status. Sarah is passionate about ensuring access to quality, affordable health care for all, and is excited about the opportunity to work with community health centers in advancing the work. Sarah has a Master’s degree in Public Health from UC Berkeley, with a concentration in maternal and child health. She brings a social determinants lens to her work, and also recognizes that health is more than health care.
Danielle Pedersen, MS
Project Coordinator
As a Project Coordinator for the Community Clinic Consortium, Danielle is responsible for supporting the Consortium’s local outreach, education, program development, and advocacy efforts. Danielle also serves as the Center Director for the East Bay AHEC (Area Health Education Center), which is housed at the Consortium. The East Bay AHEC is committed to working with member health centers and community partners to train, recruit, and develop the community health center workforce in the East Bay. Danielle received her undergraduate degree in Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior from UC Davis and a Master of Science in Infectious Disease & Vaccinology from UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Danielle is excited to use data-driven practices to support the work of health centers in Contra Costa and Solano Counties.
Brandie Newton
Operations and Finance Manager
As the Operations and Finance Manager, Brandie is responsible for management of the Consortium finance, operations, technology, human resources, and assisting the other members of the staff as needed. She has a very diverse professional background, starting with her education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she studied Finance and Economics. Brandie obtained most of her office experience after starting and running a small business with her husband for over seven years. She has also worked and volunteered for non-profit organizations such as the YMCA, Mocha Moms, and the PTA. Originally from Southern California, then a resident of the Central Coast for twelve years, Brandie is glad live in a diverse area such as the East Bay and have the opportunity to work for an organization that does so much for local health centers and the community at large.