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Board of Directors

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Catrina Awalt

Board Chair

Catrina Awalt grew up in San Diego, graduating from high school she went directly into the world of commerce. Awalt has lived on Catalina Island for 33 years and co-owns two local businesses — Two’s Company and Jewels of Interest. She has also served as Board Chairperson for the Catalina Chamber of Commerce. As a director of the non-profit “Avalon Beautiful” she helped to create “Old Ben” Park. She has a thorough understanding of the Avalon community and was instrumental in proposing the sales tax legislation that provides CI Health with sustainable operations funding. “It just seemed like an obvious solution to a serious problem. The island needs the hospital to thrive financially, “she commented.

Nicole Hohenstein

Nicole Hohenstein

Board Vice Chair

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Judy Grear

Board Secretary

Judy Grear is a retired educator who still works as a substitute teacher at Avalon School. She received a Bachelor’s of Arts in English and American Literature from the University of California, San Diego and has completed over 100 units of upper division and extension courses. She assisted her elderly parents with their medical care and “values having good hospital services available.” She is President of the Board for Avalon’s Friends of the Library and Vice-President of Catalina Kid Ventures. She and her husband Dave had visited the island for 40 years and decided to move to Avalon in 2010. Known for her honesty and reliability, Ms. Grear cares about “getting things done” while collaborating with other AMDC Board members committed to the hospital and how it can better serve the community of residents and visitors.

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Renee MacLeod

Board Treasurer

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Pete Savage

Board Member

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Jason Peret

Jason Paret

Board Member Ex Officio

Jason Paret has an Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Alaska Southeast and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from the University of Montana. Island life is not new to the Paret family, having lived in Australia, Hawaii, and islands in Alaska. Over the course of Mr. Paret’s several decades as a healthcare executive, he’s achieved significant financial improvements for his organizations. He also has important facility construction experience with two different projects, one in the amount of $20 million and another in the $50 million range. Mr. Paret (pronounced “pair–ay”) and his wife Aimee, an Avalon schoolteacher, have two children.

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Trudy Saldana

Board Member

Trudy Saldana has been married to her husband Joe for 50 years the two came to Catalina as newlyweds and raised their family on the island. Forty years ago, Ms. Saldana worked as part of a group seeking and starting P.L.A.Y., Avalon’s first preschool. The Saldana’s owned and operated Coyote Joe’s Restaurant for 33 years. A fiscal conservative, Ms. Saldana has experience with profit and loss issues, management, problem solving and strategic planning. She cares “about everyone receiving equal access to quality health care and effective medical treatment on the Catalina Island.” Serving on the AMDC Board is her way to give back to the community she has called home for over half a century.

Dr. John Christian Fox, Board Member

Dr. John Christian Fox

Board Member

As a leader in the medical field, Dr. Fox has served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs for the University of Irvine School of Medicine. He has also shared his expertise in ultrasound on numerous task forces, panels, and boards for the likes of the American Registry of Medical Sonographers, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and the Society of Ultrasound Medicine in Medical Education. Dr. Fox is also an accomplished lecturer and editor of several medical textbooks and currently serves as the Interim Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. Since he first visited Catalina Island when he was 10, the island has become his family's favorite playground. Dr. Fox has shared that it is an honor for him to contribute to the health of the community by serving on the CI Health Board.

Denise Motter

Denise Motter

Board Member

Denise’s career path as a CPA, attorney, and Bench Officer, has resulted in a high level of expertise in accounting and law.  In addition, she has been actively involved in a number of executive positions in professional and philanthropic nonprofit organizations, including, currently, Treasurer of the Catalina Island Women’s Forum and Recording Secretary of the Friends of the Avalon Library.  Denise will bring these skills, knowledge, and drive to the CI Health board.

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Ehab Mady, M.D.

Board Member

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