Melissa Stafford Jones is vice president of the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, or CAPH, a nonprofit trade organization representing California's public hospitals and health systems since 1983. CAPH works to strengthen the capacity of its members to advance community health, ensure access to comprehensive, high-quality, culturally sensitive health care services for all Californians and educate the next generation of health care professionals.
Dr. Benjamin is a physician with over 20 years of experience in public policy development, management of health systems and clinical care. He is the former secretary of the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, former health commissioner (acting) and director of emergency medical services for the District of Columbia, former chief of emergency medicine at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
C. Duane Dauner is president of the California Hospital Association, the statewide leader representing the interests of hospitals, health systems and other health care providers in California. CHA includes nearly 500 hospital and health system members and more than 200 associate members.
Art Sponseller is president and chief executive officer of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, a nonprofit hospital and health system trade association representing 190 hospitals in 50 of California's 58 counties -- from Kern County to the Oregon border. The Hospital Council's membership includes hospitals and health systems ranging from small, rural hospitals to large, urban medical centers. The Hospital Council works to influence state and federal legislation and regulatory issues.
