Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Biography

Danica Dotson is an adjunct faculty member with a passion for pediatric administration. With a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Danica brings a wealth of experience from her work in several pediatric hospitals across the country. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, she is dedicated to advancing healthcare practices for young patients.

Outside of her professional life, Danica enjoys an active lifestyle, including playing volleyball, paddle boarding, and traveling the world. When she's not on the move, you can find her with a good book in hand. Her diverse interests and experiences contribute to her engaging teaching style and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

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

Dr. Dale L. Gooden (a.k.a. Dr. D) is an award-winning educator and subject matter expert in business administration, information and informatics systems, health administration, Law, and ethics.

As a mid-career healthcare and life sciences professional, he was a Senior Consultant for Infosys, a global IT services, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation consulting firm. Also, Dr. D has been a FTE or consultant for LabCorp, Humana, Community Health Systems, and Kaiser Permanente.

Dr. Gooden was conferred a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Health Services Management from the University of La Verne in 2011. Dr. Gooden received a Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) in Fundamentals of Education from A.T. Still University of Osteopathic Medicine in 2017. He earned an Executive Juris Doctorate (EJD) from Purdue University Law School in 2021.

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Andrew Goldfrach, FACHE, is the Chief Executive Officer at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC); the public safety net hospital for the 2.2 million residents of San Bernardino County. In his capacity, Mr. Goldfrach is responsible for the overall strategic and operational direction of the 456-bed university affiliated medical Center. Prior to his appointment as the CEO in June 2024, Mr. Goldfrach was the medical center’s chief operating officer where he led the day-to-day operations.

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 where he led the department and County in its COVID-19 response. Prior to joining ARMC, Mr. Goldfrach was the Chief Executive Officer for University Hospitals Avon Rehabilitation Hospital, a joint venture hospital in Cleveland Ohio, where he transformed the hospital from it’s opening to a nationally top-rated hospital for quality. Mr. Goldfrach has held several senior level hospital positions across the United States throughout his nearly 20 years in healthcare management. Mr. Goldfrach is on the Board of Directors for the California Association of Public Hospital, Board of Trustees for California University of Sciences and Medicine and has held several board positions with the American College of Healthcare Executives of Southern California and Community Health Association of Inland Southern Region.

Mr. Goldfrach is on faculty at Concordia University, Irvine as an adjunct professor in their Master of Healthcare Administration program and routinely guest lectures in healthcare management at UCLA School of Public Health, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, and Ithaca College in New York. In 2022, Mr. Goldfrach was named in Marquis Publishing “Who’s Who in America” for his achievement’s healthcare leadership and contributions to society. Having graduated with his master’s in healthcare administration (MHA) from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and a bachelor’s degree in health policy from Ithaca College in New York; Mr. Goldfrach is board certified in healthcare management and a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Lauren Illescas is a highly analytical leader with extensive experience in driving organizational growth and enhancing operational efficiency. Lauren excels in strategic planning, process improvement, and operational efficiency, with notable achievements in managing integrations and fostering client-centric environments. She is recognized for her servant leadership approach, particularly during challenging post-acquisition change management projects.

She holds a Master's in Healthcare Administration and a Bachelor's in Business Administration and Leadership from Concordia University. Additionally, she is an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University Irvine.

Associate Professor

Biography

Dr. Robert 'Todd' Kane, an accomplished healthcare and business professional with a diverse background in business leadership, healthcare administration and operations, human resources, and higher education, brings over two decades of experience to his roles in the healthcare sector and academia. With an impressive array of academic accomplishments including an EdD in Higher Education Leadership, an MBA in Healthcare Administration, and multiple other advanced degrees, Dr. Kane has cultivated a robust understanding of the intersection between healthcare systems and organizational leadership. His tenure as President and CEO of a national, Joint Commission Certified, healthcare human resources, staffing and recruitment firm, along with senior management roles at various healthcare organizations, underscores his capacity to drive strategic initiatives, ensure operational excellence, and foster organizational growth.

Dr. Kane’s extensive experience in healthcare, in both the public and private sectors, has allowed him the opportunity to work with various stakeholders to enhance healthcare delivery, drive results and outcomes, and work strategically to improve lives of patients, employees, and communities. Dr. Kane’s ability to navigate the complex healthcare regulatory environment is second to none. His ability to engage stakeholders, oversee budgeting and financial operations, analyze and act on data, and address challenges with a solutions-oriented approach has contributed greatly to his success.

In his academic career, Dr. Kane has served in various faculty and leadership positions at esteemed institutions of higher learning. His expertise in instructional design and curriculum development has enabled him to create and deliver innovative, learner-centered educational experiences focused on continuous quality improvement and positive student outcomes. Dr. Kane's dedication to professional development and student success is evident in his award-winning teaching and the positive feedback from his students. Dr. Kane is a Certified Course Reviewer for Quality Matters and has built and evaluated numerous courses with a focus on quality. Dr. Kane has served as a subject-matter expert and written and developed dozens of courses over the years.

Dr. Kane is a dedicated faculty member with a unique ability to focus on both student success and organizational/departmental success. His work in course and program development, educational effectiveness, and various institutional initiatives is demonstrative of his ability to add value, resolve complex issues, and ensure the success of his students and colleagues.

Courses

• MPH525- Health Policy and Management
• MPH540- Leadership and Organizational Management in Health Services

Education

• MEd in Organizational Leadership
• MBA in Healthcare Administration
• EdD in Higher Ed Leadership

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Dr. Tricia Kassab, EdD., RN, FACHE, CPHQ, CPHRM, HACP

Tricia Kassab is an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University in the MHA program, UMass Global in the undergraduate and graduate business programs and a Nursing Instructor at the American Career College. She recently retired after 2 decades of being a healthcare executive. Most recently she was the District VP of Quality & Patient Safety at Palomar Health in San Diego, CA. Tricia is a systems thinker and is passionate about patient safety and mitigating preventable patient harm. She is the Regent for the American College of Healthcare College (ACHE) So Cal and San Diego and a past President of ACHE SoCal.

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 works at EPIC, the electronic health record company in Wisconsin. Her youngest son is a PhD student at U. Wisconsin in Madison in data science. Tricia’s husband works at the Pentagon in DC in the Department of Defense. In her spare time Tricia enjoys Zumba classes; reading, computerized sewing and Netflix!

Dean, Christ College
Director of FaithWorks Center at Concordia University Irvine
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

• “Called By Whom and How? Reflections on the Structure of Vocation.” Concordia Journal 49, no. 1 (Winter 2023): 35–46.
•  “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 42, no. 2 (2021): 157–79. (Originally published by Cambridge University Press online, Dec. 26, 2018.)
• 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

Dr. Pete received his Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) degree with a concentration in leadership from Walden University. He received his Master of Business with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from American Public University. He currently functions as a Nursing Home Administrator, operating a 163–bed nursing home. He has amassed over 30 years of progressive healthcare experience. Dr. Mirville’s mission is to lead leaders and help others navigate their personalized journey to achieve their destinies. Dr. Mirville has maintained the highest performance standards throughout his career in various administrative and leadership functions. His commitment to quality is evidenced by leading his teams to achieve national quality awards and improve federal survey outcomes. In addition to being a Nursing Home Administrator and a leader of leaders, Dr. Mirville currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University, where he teaches Long-term Care Administration, Strategic Management, Leadership, Healthcare Law, and Marketing courses in the Master of Health Administration graduate curriculum.

Dr. Mirville began his career in the active Army as a Combat Medical Specialist in 1990. After returning from combat, he became a Respiratory Therapist. As a Respiratory Therapist, he has worked in many facets of respiratory therapy, from treating the acutely ill and managing a respiratory department to working as a Respiratory and Educational Consultant for a large nursing home company with over 100 homes in the south. As a consultant, Dr. Mirville assesses organizational effectiveness related to education, training, and clinical processes for managing acutely ill patients.

Among Dr. Mirville’s greatest accomplishments are his consultancies with nonprofit organizations located in New York, Connecticut, Texas, and the Country of Dominica that provide academic resources to unfunded schools. Through his research on Communication Strategies for Increasing Nonprofit Organization’s Fundraising Revenues, the organizations were able to significantly increase their ability to provide resources to underfunded schools.

Currently Dr. Mirville is the Nursing Home Administrator of a 163 – bed nursing home in the Atlanta Georgia area. He enjoys, cooking, rollerskating, playing the piano, and spending time with his family.

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

Since 2013, Dr. Catherine Sinardi has worked with the healthcare programs at Concordia University Irvine. She is the Director of the Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Public Health, and Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management. As a Professor, she develops and teaches a variety of courses in the aforementioned programs. Dr. Sinardi 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.

Courses

• MPH500- Foundations in Public Health
• MPH515- Principles of Health BEhaviors

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. (2023). Moving forward in compounded grief: Communicated resilience after COVID-19 related losses. Western Journal of Communication.
• 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

Jonathan Westall, FACHE is currently the Vice President of Ancillary Services at MLK Jr. Community Healthcare in South Los Angeles. He previously held multiple positions at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena and ended his time there as The Director of Support Services. Prior to working in the acute care setting, Jonathan oversaw Security, Emergency Response, OSHA Compliance and Parking operations for Sony PlayStation and its subsidiary groups across the United States. Jonathan spent 8 years working in various Federal, State, and local correctional facilities where he oversaw operations within the Institution.

Jonathan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice w/ a minor in Sociology from Upper Iowa University and a Master’s degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Grand Canyon University. He is also a graduate of ACHE’s Senior Executive Program. He has held volunteer leadership positions with ACHE, IAHSS, FGI, and HASC.

Jonathan is a native of Massachusetts and is a huge Boston sports fan. He enjoys spending time with his 4 daughters, hiking, historical biographies, and true crime documentaries.

Assistant Professor of Public Health and Healthcare Administration

Biography

Tayah Wozniak, PhD, MPH is interested in the interdisciplinary field of public health, specifically health communication. Within the field of health communication, her research primarily focuses on combating the spread of and belief in health misinformation. She is currently examining primary care physician message strategies in correcting patient-held health misinformation. Her goal is to provide translational research on health misinformation and strategic health communication, with specific attention to health disparities and individuals facing significant health disadvantages.

In addition to Dr. Wozniak’s educational background, she has several years of experience working in the nonprofit sector serving under-resourced communities through programmatic design, management, and evaluation. She is passionate about encouraging the progression of health quality and access by improving health communication and promoting the empowerment of individuals for behavior change. It is her goal to educationally equip people with the necessary life skills to be competent in health situations.

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Hello my name is Professor Reginald Hannah. I am originally from Milwaukee, WI and I have resided in Southern California for 20 plus years. I first started my career in finance, specifically dealer finance. For 10 plus years, I worked for General Electric (GE), and the west coast headquarters of Hyundai. I got my start in healthcare 2012 working as an EPIC credential trainer for Loma Linda hospital. I then worked for Kaiser Permanente as a contractor for their outpatient pharmacy system. I currently work as a senior clinical informaticist at Providence St. Joseph Heritage for nine years. I possess an AA in IT, Bachelor of Science in Computers, MBA from (Concordia University, Irvine), and an EPIC certification in clinical informatics. My wife, Dr. Sheila Hannah, is a current faculty for the MCAA program at Concordia University, Irvine. I love to read, travel, game (yes game since the 80’s), museums, technology, sports (Green Bay Packers - Go Pack Go), movies (all genre’s), and the outdoors. Most of all I love God, family, and his people. I stay positive because of my faith in God and try to help as many people as I can, which is why I am an instructor.

Adjunct Faculty

Biography

Dr. Jen Zamzow completed her Ph.D. in philosophy with a minor in cognitive science from the University of Arizona followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Philosophy and the Center for Ethics and Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. In addition to her academic publications in ethics, Dr. Zamzow also writes about mental health and wellbeing for popular publications such as The Washington Post, CNBC, Insider, Fortune, Success, Good Housekeeping, Christianity Today, Sojourners, Common Good Magazine, and Psychology Today.

Education

• Ph.D., Philosophy, University of Arizona
• B.A., Philosophy and Psychology, Azusa Pacific University