North Bay Business Journal

Western Health Advantage has filed for an expansion of its business into Marin and Sonoma counties, where it hopes to partner with the Marin-Sonoma IPA and much of the region’s hospitals in offering a new health plan for employers and individuals

Mark Keating, certified financial planner and advisor, was named a partner with Willow Creek Financial Services, a wealth management firm in Sebastopol.

Rebecca Na Li, M.D., joined the North Marin Internal Medicine Specialists in Novato — one of the Marin Healthcare District Medical Care Centers.

Jennifer Lucas, M.D., a medical oncologist at Marin General Hospital’s Marin Cancer Institute, was honored as the 2012 Healing Professional by Zero Breast Cancer.

Artisan Sotheby’s International Realty hired Mike Bryant.

Quelene Slattery joined Grgich Hills Estate as national accounts manager, a new position for the winery.

Mendocino Wine Company appointed John Girty vice president of national sales.

The Marin Community Foundation will help oversee a philanthropic effort on multiple sclerosis research, according to Jansssen Research & Development, a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, which established the fund. …

Dr. Michael Caccavale, an interventional radiologist, has joined Redwood Regional Medical Group in Santa Rosa. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in physiology and public health. …

Sutter Medical Foundation announced that board-certified urologist Dr. Kadee Thompson has joined the foundation in Vacaville. …

The Northern California Center for Well-Being said it will offer technical assistance for implementation of Sonoma County’s new smoking ordinance, which will prohibit smoking in multi-unit residences in unincorporated areas of the county. …

Both Marin General Hospital and Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital received “A” grades on the Hospital Safety Score from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. …

Marin General Hospital received certification from the Joint Commission for its stroke program and, for the second year in a row, was given the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. …

GREENBRAE — Both sides in a long-running feud between Marin General Hospital and Sutter Health are claiming victory in last week’s arbitration ruling awarding $21.5 million to the hospital district.

Barbara Vierra was appointed assistant vice president and customer service manager for Rabobank’s new Santa Rosa branch. …

Bank of Marin hired Matthew Bartlett as a vice president and commercial loan officer with expertise in wine industry lending. …

John Meislahn, vice president at Exchange Bank, was promoted to manager of the newly formed Sales and Business Development Department. …

Paul Nightingale has been appointed as country manager for Enphase Energy, Inc. as the company enters into the United Kingdom solar energy market. …

Lloyd Miyawaki, M.D., medical director at Marin General Hospital’s Marin Cancer Institute, was honored by the Marin Prostate Cancer Information and Support Group with the group’s prestigious Physician Award. …

Silverado Resort and Spa hired Stacey Turner as its new wedding specialist. …

Jenay Cottrell has joined LITA (Love is the Answer) in Marin as executive director. …

Rebecca Geschwender joined Grgich Hills Estate as California sales manager. …

GREENBRAE — Marin General Hospital today said it was awarded $21.5 million from arbitration in the long-running dispute between the hospital and Sutter Health, which operated the facility until it ceded control nearly two years ago.

In an effort to gauge how the region’s major employers are dealing with continued economic uncertainty, the North Bay Business Journal reached out to major companies with a series of employment-related questions, in addition to identifying the top human resources professional at each organization.

The results, from tech to health care, to hospitality to manufacturing, show that many of the major players are faring better, some even thriving, but challenges nonetheless remain.

SEBASTOPOL — In its first real budget outlook since aligning with Marin General, Palm Drive Hospital reported improved cash flows while significantly lowering its deficit, all positive develops, though challenges still remain.

The Santa Rosa Community Health Centers has selected a new location for its Roseland Children’s Health Center, which is currently housed at an elementary school, that will accommodate the growing services by nearly quadrupling the size of the current site. …

Kaiser Permanente is joining a nationwide effort to combat what health officials say is a growing epidemic — obesity. …

Marin General Hospital’s Cancer Institute received the “Outstanding Achievement Award” from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Only 106 out of roughly 3,000 cancer centers in the U.S. have recieved the award, according to Marin General, and it has not been given to any other hospital in Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco or San Mateo counties. …

Marin General Hospital’s Cancer Institute received the “Outstanding Achievement Award” from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. …

Kaiser Permanente’s Napa-Solano region recently awarded $800,000 in grants to local nonprofits in both counties, focusing on five key areas: access to prevention and primary care services; reducing obesity and overweight rates in adults and children; decreasing risky teen behaviors; prevention of community violence; and reducing health disparities. …

SEBASTOPOL — The Palm Drive Healthcare District named current Chief Financial Officer Rick Reid as interim chief executive, replacing Charles Guenther, who himself was serving on a three-month interim basis.

GREENBRAE — Marin General Hospital has finalized the addition of a sixth medical practice to an expanding network of clinics it will now operate, a development seen as pivotal for the hospital as it looks for ways to attract and retain physicians amidst an increasingly consolidating, reform-driven health care landscape.

SEBASTOPOL — The Palm Drive Healthcare District on Monday night unanimously approved an affiliation agreement with Marin General Hospital, a move that district officials hope will help Palm Drive Hospital achieve long-term financial stability.

GREENBRAE — The judge arbitrating a lawsuit to recover more than $120 million transferred out of Marin General Hospital into the Sutter Health system has dropped former Marin General Hospital Corp. board Chairman Robert Heller from the case.

GREENBRAE — Marin General Hospital today announced that it will open an outpatient diabetes center next year, funded by a $1 million donation from Kentfield resident Bruce Baden, diagnosed with type I diabetes himself.

The Palm Drive Healthcare District’s recent vote to begin exclusive negotiations for affiliating with Marin General Hospital has the potential to help the long-struggling Sebastopol hospital stabilize, while creating an expansive network of alliances between numerous district hospitals across the North Bay that might otherwise struggle for survival.

SEBASTOPOL — The Palm Drive Healthcare District last night chose to advance affiliation talks with Marin General Hospital over four other proposals, a move that came earlier than expected.

MARIN COUNTY — Prima Medical Group will provide trauma and elective surgeries for Marin General Hospital, marking the first time that all local physicians will deliver such services to the level III trauma center and its patients.

SEBASTOPOL — The Palm Drive Healthcare District has received proposals from five health care organizations for possible affiliation, as the 37-bed hospital overseen by the district seeks a larger entity to assist in providing long-term financial stability.

SEBASTOPOL — The Palm Drive Healthcare District has received proposals from five health care organizations for possible affiliation as the 37-bed hospital overseen by the district seeks a larger entity to assist in providing long-term financial stability.

MARIN COUNTY — Marin Community Clinics, the county’s largest federally qualified health center, has appointed Linda Tavaszi as its permanent chief executive officer.