Executive Director – Bill Skeen, MD MPH (bill@pnhpcalifornia.org)

Dr. Bill Skeen, the Executive Director of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) California, has more than fifteen years experience in public health advocacy. Prior to PNHP, he worked for Soapbox Consulting, a Washington, DC-based consulting firm specializing in grassroots advocacy. The former Director of Public Policy for the statewide advocacy organization Florida AIDS Action, Dr. Skeen also served as the Director of Grassroots Programs for AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), the second largest HIV/AIDS services provider in the nation. Dr. Skeen co-founded Union Positiva, the first HIV/AIDS services organization dedicated to the needs of Miami’s Hispanic/Latino community. Prior to his work in public health, Dr. Skeen practiced emergency medicine.

Education and Outreach Coordinator – Molly Tavella, MPH (molly@pnhpcalifornia.org)

Molly Tavella received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She then attended the UC Davis MPH program, focusing her coursework in the study of epidemiology. While attending UC Davis, Molly worked as the Saving Lungs, Saving Lives intern in the Yolo County Health Department’s Tobacco Education Program. Additionally, during this time she completed her practicum with the Sacramento Wraparound Program, a comprehensive hospital-based intervention program that helped gang-involved youth change their lifestyle. Molly was the 2010-2011 Shearer Student Fellow for PNHP California and is now the Education and Outreach Coordinator.

Joseph Foy – Shearer Student Fellow (joey@pnhpcalifornia.org)

Joseph Foy was born and raised in Chico, California. He studied International Relations and Biology at CSU, Chico, graduating in 2009. Joseph spent his junior year studying abroad in Ghana. In addition to taking classes during this year, Joseph volunteered at a health clinic in a camp for Liberian refugees, where he first developed a passion for public health issues. In June 2009, Joseph moved to Laos to work with Village Focus International, an NGO doing health and development work in rural Laos and Cambodia. In July 2010 he began working with the Emerging Disease, Surveillance and Response team of the World Health Organization. Joseph returned to California in June 2011 to join the fight for single-payer. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Global Health Policy by distance learning through the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.