Adjunct Professor

Biography

Dr. Pamela Davidson is an adjunct professor with expertise in strategic planning, leadership and career development, and evaluation design and methods.She is well published with 50 peer- reviewed articles in various medical, dental, and health services research journals. For more than two decades, Pamela has directed large-scale, multisite health services research and evaluation studies, and taught undergraduate and graduate courses in ‘health services evaluation’, ‘health systems and organizations’, and ‘organization and management processes’. Her research, teaching, professional activities, and mentoring continue to be transdisciplinary in medicine, public health, dentistry, life sciences, management, and nursing. She participated on the leadership team that developed and launched the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and has served as the CTSI Evaluation Core leader since its inception. Pamela also consults with mission-driven organizations in the medicine, social services, and public health sectors. She specializes in organizing and evaluating Collective Impact initiatives to address health and social priorities and needs. Dr. Davidson holds a BS in biological sciences from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, a MS in Health Sciences from the California State University, Long Beach, and a PhD in Health Policy and Management from the Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles. Her cognate field is in Leadership and Organization Development from the UCLA Anderson School. Pamela is involved in several church ministries including Silent Meditation, Lector Ministry, and Sealed Confirmation for teens. She enjoys spending leisure time with family and friends, traveling, touring the wine country, and Italian cooking.

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Brian C Dowd, MBA is the Executive Director of Digital Transformation and Innovation at MemorialCare Health System. He collaborates with key technical teams and is responsible for the evaluation, development and delivery of solutions and programs that foster transformational change in line with MemorialCare’s organizational strategies, values and priorities. His role will establish and support an environment of digital innovation and best practice, ensuring the use of evolving technologies for the benefit of consumer satisfaction and operational efficiencies.

Brian began his career at MemorialCare in 2015 where he joined the Lean Resource Office as a Lean Fellow. Brian was promoted to Master Fellow in 2018 and graduated from the MemorialCare Leadership Academy in 2019. Prior to MemorialCare he was an Executive Director of Lease End Customer Experience where he redesigned Lexus, Toyota, and Scion leasing strategies, supply chain, marketing, financing and customer experience.

Brian received his undergraduate degree in Law and Criminal Justice from California State University, Long Beach. He also received his graduate degree in Business Administration, Management and Operations (M.B.A.) from California Coast University graduating Summa Cum Laude. Brian is also an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University Irvine where he teaches graduate level courses in Leadership in the Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) Program. He is an Advisory Board Member at Concordia University Irvine, mentor to his students, AYSO Soccer Coach, and enjoys spending time with his amazing wife and daughter every second he gets.

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Andrew Goldfrach, FACHE, has nearly 20 years of healthcare executive leadership experience, and is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC); the public safety net hospital for the 2.2 million residents of San Bernardino County. From February 2021 to September 2021, Mr. Goldfrach was also tapped to be the interim Director for the Department of Public Health for San Bernardino County during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At ARMC, Mr. Goldfrach is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the 456-bed university-affiliated medical center providing executive leadership to the hospital’s ancillary and support services; ambulatory care network of five primary care clinics and over 40 specialty care clinics; population health management, marketing; strategic planning, and government relations.

Prior to joining ARMC, Mr. Goldfrach held several healthcare leadership positions in both for-profit and not-for-profit health systems across the nation; including several years as a healthcare strategy consultant.

Mr. Goldfrach is on the Board for the Community Health Association of the Inland Southern Region and the Southern California chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. In 2022, Mr. Goldfrach was named to the Marquis “Who’s Who in America” for his achievements in the healthcare management field and contributions to society as a whole. Mr. Goldfrach is board certified in healthcare management and a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Assistant Professor

Biography

Professor Kane received his Master's of Business Administration with a specialization in Healthcare Administration from Northcentral University. He also has a Master's of Education with a concentration in Organizational Leadership, a Master's in Information Technology with a concentration in computer security and assurance, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources. Professor Kane's experience in business, healthcare, and healthcare administration spans more than 20 years. During that time he has served as the president and CEO of a Joint Commission Certified multi-million dollar private national healthcare recruitment, human resources, and outsourcing firm for more than a decade. Professor Kane's healthcare experience includes home health, hospital staffing, physician recruitment & placement, healthcare operations and more.

Education

• MBA - Healthcare Administration
• Me.D - Organizational Leadership

Publications

• Kane, R. T., Shaw, M. E., Pang, S., Salley, W., & Snider, J. B. (2016, January). Relationships among faculty training, faculty degree, faculty longevity, and student satisfaction in online higher education. Journal of Online Distance Learning Administration, 18(4).
• O’Bryan, A., Kane, T., & Shaw, M. (2013, April 29). Establishing an online professional development community to promote faculty engagement and excellence. Faculty Focus.
• Shaw, M. E., Walters, K. J., Kane, R. T., & Long, D. M. (2012). Online Course Activities: A Survey of Assignment and Assessment Types. In Learning Management System Technologies and Software Solutions: Tools and Applications. IGI Global.
• Kane, R. (2012). Career Management. School to Work Consortium. Colorado State University.
• King, W. & Kane, R. (2012). Live Session Course Enhancements. IGI Global. Stevens Henager College.
• Shaw, M., & Kane, R. T. (2011, July). Online Teaching Opportunities and Strategies! The Missouri Distance Learning Association Annual Conference. Springfield, MO.
• Shaw, M., & Kane, R. T. (2011, April). Teaching Online and Loving It! The United States Distance Learning Association National Conference. St. Louis, MO.
• Kane, T. (2010). Removing Obstacles to Student Success. Stevens Henager College- Faculty Best Practices, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Kane, T (2010). Staffing gets a partner. San Antonio Medicine (SAM), 63 (9).
• Bradley, C., Talbott, B., Kane, R.T. (2010). Online Discussion Strategies: Build Critical Thinking and Online Community. Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield, MO.
• Braun, N. & Kane, T (2010). The future of management. The Journal of Business Management and Entrepreneurship (JOBME), 1 (8).
• Walters, K., Shaw, M.E., Lessard, D., & Kane, R.T. (2010). Innovative Professional Practices, Synergy, and eCollaboration. The eLearning Institute 2010 Virtual Conference.
• Shaw, M. E., & Kane, R. T. (2010). Distance Learning Course Activities and Assessments. Missouri Distance Learning Association Conference, Springfield, MO.
• Shaw, M. E., & Kane, R. T. (2009). Distance Learning Course Activities. The Fifteenth Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning, "The Power of Online Learning: Opportunities for Tomorrow.” Orlando, FL.
• Kane, R. T. (2008). Industry Roundtable. Staffing Industry Analyst Healthcare Staffing Summit, "Breaking the Ten Million Dollar Barrier”. San Francisco, CA.
• Kane, R. T. (2007). Expert Panel. Staffing Industry Analyst. Healthcare Staffing Summit, "Organizing & Operating for Growth”. Chicago, IL.

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Tricia Kassab recently retired as the District VP of Quality & Patient Safety at Palomar Health in San Diego, CA. Tricia is a systems thinker and is passionate about organizational leadership, team development, patient safety and mitigating preventable patient harm. She is the Past President of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) SoCal and the current Regent for ACHE SoCal and San Diego. In addition, Tricia is an adjunct professor at Concordia University in the MHA program and University of Massachusetts Global University in the School of Business.

Dr. Kassab’s background as a RN began in the cardiovascular ICU at Mass General. She has worked at high performing organizations across the nation over her 35+ years of a professional career. Tricia holds a doctorate degree in education, specifically organizational leadership from UMass Global. She is a reviewer for the Journal of Healthcare Quality. Tricia is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and is a certified professional in healthcare quality and healthcare risk management. Additionally, Tricia holds a healthcare accreditation certificate professional.

Outside of work, Tricia has 2 sons in their 20’s, one of whom graduated Berkeley and works at EPIC, the electronic health record company in Wisconsin. Her youngest son graduated Chapman University in computer science with both an undergraduate and master’s degree in computer science and is currently in a PhD program at the U. Wisconsin in Madison in data science. Tricia’s husband is an engineer and energy management for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. In her spare time Tricia enjoys Zumba classes; reading, computerized sewing and Netflix!

Associate Dean, Christ College
Director of FaithWorks Center at CUI
Professor of Philosophy, Theology and Ethics

Curriculum Vitae

Education

• Ph.D. St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO
• M.Div. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO
• B.A. Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN

Professional Experience

• Concordia University Irvine: Professor, 2019 - Present
• Concordia University Irvine: Associate Professor, 2015 - 2019
• Concordia University Irvine: Assistant Professor, 2011 - 2015
• Zion Lutheran Church, Bolivar, MO: Pastor, 2003 - 2011

Research Interests

• Doctrine of Vocation
• Church, state, and public life
• Political thought

Selected Publications

Translations

• Editor, Pastoral Theology, by C. F. W. Walther. Translated by Christian Tiews (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2017)
• “C. F. W. Walther’s Concept of Missions,” by Volker Stolle. In Missio Apostolica 10, no. 1 (May 2002): 38-40.
• “Kant’s Idea of Peace and the Philosophic Concept of a World Republic,” by Matthias Lutz-Bachmann. In Perpetual Peace: Essays on Kant’s Cosmopolitan Ideal, ed. James Bohman and Matthias Lutz-Bachmann, 59-77. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1997.

Miscellaneous

•  “Luther, Vocation, and the Search for Significance.” Lutheran Quarterly 35 (2021): 50–72. Responses by Robert Benne, Suzanne Hequet, and Kiara Jorgenson.
• “Confession of a Lutheran University.” Concordia Theological Journal 7, no. 1 (Winter 2020): 60–76.
• “Hegel’s Critique of Greek Immediacy.” Hegel Bulletin. Forthcoming.
• Contributor, Devotions on the Small Catechism. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2019
• “To Be Known as I Know Myself: Identity, Politics and the Gospel.” Issues in Christian Education 48, no. 3 (Summer 2015). http://issues.cune.edu/the-lgbt-disputes-teaching-and-practice-in-the-church-2/the-lgbt-disputes-teaching-and-practice-in-the-church/
• “What Is the Theology of the Cross.” Sidebar. LEA Shaping the Future (Summer 2014). http://stf.lea.org/summer2014/feat1schumacher.html.
• “What the Gospel Does: Three Ways of Applying the Gospel Concretely.” Concordia Journal 36, no. 1 (Winter 2010): 21-31.

Bible Studies

• The Parables Leaders Guide. Edited by Brian Chisamore. LifeLight Bible Study series. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2013.
• 1 and 2 Kings Leaders Guide (lectures only). Edited by Brian Chisamore. LifeLight Bible Study series. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2013.
• Heaven and Hell. Edited by Brian Chisamore. LifeLight Bible Study series. Concordia Publishing House, 2012.
• 1, 2, 3 John Leaders Guide. Edited by Brian Chisamore. LifeLight Bible Study series. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2012.

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Peterson Mirville is an Army Veteran with 9 years of active duty service. As a Respiratory Therapist, he has worked in many facets of respiratory therapy; from treating the acutely ill, managing a respiratory department, to working as a Respiratory Consultant for a large nursing home company with over 100 nursing homes in the south. He currently functions as a Nursing Home Administrator for C-Ross Management, where he operates a 71 – bed nursing home. He has amassed over 25 years of progressive healthcare experience. He is very passionate about serving. Most importantly, he is passionate about family. He is a motivator, mentor, and teacher at heart, and takes great pride in helping others achieve their full potential. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the piano, keyboard, training in martial arts, and spending time with his family.

Education

• B.S. Respiratory Therapy – Augusta University (formally Medical College of Georgia)
• MBA Health Care Administration – American Public University
• DBA Leadership – Walden University

Associate Professor of Communication Studies

Biography

Dr. Erin Nelson is an Orange County native and loves being part of the family at CUI. Her research interests include interpersonal and family communication with an emphasis on health. She has recently been published in Health Communication and Journal of Social and Personal Relationships with her research on coping with loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a published scholar who continues to work on many research projects surrounding issues of health and interpersonal communication. She is also a member of the National Communication Association and has over 25 conference presentations. Her full time appointment is in the Communication Studies Department at Concordia but she also teaches in the Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Public Health programs because she specializes in the intersection between communication and health. She is passionate about teaching and you can definitely tell when you enroll in her classes. She builds personal relationships and helps guide her students toward achieving future aspirations.

Education

• Ph.D. Communication - University of Texas at Austin
• M.A. Communication - San Diego State University
• B.A. Communication - University of California, Santa Barbara

Research

• Interpersonal Communication
• Health Communication
• Family Communication

Publications

• Emily Scheinfeld, Katlyn Gangi, Erin C. Nelson & Catherine C. Sinardi (2021) Please Scream Inside Your Heart: Compounded Loss and Coping during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Health Communication, DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2021.1886413
• Donovan, E., Nelson, E. C., & Scheinfeld, E. (2016). Cyberframing cancer: An exploratory investigation of valenced cybercoping on cancer blogs. Health Communication.
• Vangelisti, A. L., & Nelson, E. C. (2015). The morality of revealing secrets. In V.Waldron, & D. Kelley (Eds.), Moral talk across the lifespan: Creating good relationships. New York: Peter Lang Publishing
• Hanan, J., Bagley, M., & Nelson, E. (2014). Sources for your presentation. In J. L. Ford, K. Stimpson, & J. Daly (Eds.), Professional communication skills (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
• Bolkan, S. & Nelson, E. (2014). Speaking to inform. In J. L. Ford, K. Stimpson, & J. Daly (Eds.), Professional communication skills (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Classes Taught at Concordia

• COM 280: Theories of Human Communication
• COM 335: Nonverbal Communication
• COM 340: Persuasion & Attitude
• COM 371: Introduction to Social Media
• COM 471: Advanced Strategies in Social Media

Curriculum Vitae

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Dr. Jay Schaefer brings practitioner experience to the classroom having served for more than twenty years in executive positions for a major metropolitan healthcare system. His experience spans a broad spectrum of functional areas including information systems development and support, financial and operational analytics, facility programming and development, and strategic facility and land use planning, and he actively consults on the planning and development of major healthcare facility projects.

He has served on the boards of directors for numerous organizations focused on healthcare, education and community development, and particularly enjoys working with faith-based groups in advancing their respective mission and ministries.

Dr. Schaefer brings experience in both the traditional classroom and online environments, and he enjoys fostering faith and ethics as foundational to the academic discussion.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy, Public Affairs, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
• Master of Arts in Applied Economics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
• Master of Business Administration, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
• Post-baccalaureate studies, Computer Science, Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, IL
• Bachelor of Arts, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN

Program Director and Professor

Biography

Dr. Sinardi holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from St. Cloud State University and a Master's degree in Counseling from California State University, Long Beach. She became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 2006. In 2011, Dr. Sinardi completed her Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership at the University of La Verne.

Professional Experience

Dr. Catherine Sinardi is the Director of Healthcare Programs, overseeing the following: Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management (traditional and online), Master of Healthcare Administration, and Master of Public Health. As an Associate Professor, she develops and teaches a variety of courses in the aforementioned programs. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Healthcare Executives of Southern California as the Chair of Academic Affairs. Previously, she was Regional Director of Clinical Services at Children’s Institute and Director of Quality Assurance and Program Evaluation at Counseling4Kids, both in the greater Los Angeles area. She also worked in private practice as a licensed counselor and held various administrative positions at ChildNet Youth and Family Services in Long Beach.

Education

• Ed.D. Organizational Leadership, University of La Verne
• MFT Counseling, California State University Long Beach

Publications

• Scheinfeld, E., Barney, K., Gangi, K., Nelson, E. & Sinardi, C. (2021). Filling the void: Grieving and healing during a socially isolating global pandemic. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
• Scheinfeld, E., Gangi, K., Nelson, E. & Sinardi, C. (2021). Please scream inside your heart: Compounded loss and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Communication. 

Manuscript Under Review

• • Scheinfeld, E., Barney, K., Gangi, K., Nelson, E. & Sinardi, C. (Under Review). Moving forward in compounded grief: Communicated resilience after COVID-19 related losses. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Dr. White has worked in several hospitals in Virginia over the past 13 years in various roles, including management, home health account liaison, and technician. Dr. White has worked in the non-profit sector of healthcare and was involved in developing and writing policies for Stroke procedures and hospital diversion for emergency medical technicians and firefighters in the surrounding communities. Additionally, he created policies on proper laser use within the hospital system, including surgical, dermatology, and ophthalmology. Before completing his education and entering the healthcare field, Dr. White worked in UPS's management sector for 12 years.

Dr. White is currently researching Ketogenic diets to improve patients' lives with Parkinson's disease and works as an adjunct professor across the country. He also has been researching resilience in higher education for both students and faculty.

Dr. White earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (2010) from Liberty University and his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care Management (2013) from Saint Leo University. He earned his Doctorate of Health Science with a concentration in Education (2017) from A. T. Still University, where his research focused on attendance barriers to ophthalmology appointments.

Dr. White has traveled extensively, including Spain, Portugal, Greece, Jamaica, Mexico, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Canada. His favorite place to visit is any place that has a beach and warm sunshine. Dr. White and his wife, Dr. Dawn White, have been married for 14 years. Their close-knit family includes two children and six grandchildren. His family is important to him, and they gather for family dinner each Tuesday.

As a new hobby, Dr. White has found a passion for making his special BBQ and his cheesecakes, which are plain, lemon, lemon-blueberry, chocolate, and unique Keto versions. Dr. White stated that it was good that he now enjoys cooking, as he was promoted to head chef at home since his wife started working on an additional doctorate.