Leadership Team

Why I Work in Community Health

Growing up, I didn’t just witness disparities in healthcare, I lived them. Coming from humble beginnings, I experienced firsthand how the quality of medical care can shift dramatically based on where you come from or what you have. As I grew older, I tried to rationalize it. I made excuses for the system, for the long waits, for the dismissive attitudes, for the times family members were turned away or misdiagnosed. I told myself this was just how things were.
But deep down, I knew it wasn’t right.

With time, education, and experience, I began to fully understand the layers of injustice that shaped my early encounters with healthcare. The system, as it stands, too often prioritizes profits over people, speed over compassion, and insurance status over human need. Watching loved ones suffer, and even die, from treatable conditions like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes only deepened my disillusionment. These were lives that could have been extended, maybe even saved, if only the care had been there.
I was close to giving up on healthcare altogether, until I found something different.

When I began working at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Berkeley, everything changed. From day one, I heard a message that stopped me in my tracks: “We do not turn anyone away. We care for everyone the same.” Honestly, I didn’t believe it at first. It sounded like wishful thinking, a well-meaning slogan that couldn’t possibly be true.
But as time passed, I saw it was real.

I saw patients treated with dignity, regardless of their background, insurance, or ability to pay. I saw a team of people working not just to heal illness, but to prevent it, to serve, to support, and to uplift a community. And slowly, my heart began to heal too. This place, this mission, reignited something in me that I thought was gone, hope.

I found my purpose, not in a job title or a paycheck, but in the moments that truly matter. A kind word to someone feeling forgotten. A shared smile. The simple act of listening without judgment. Community health gave me more than a career; it gave me a calling, and that calling was to serve.

Today, I am proud to be part of something greater than myself, something rooted in compassion, equity, and the belief that everyone deserves care. That foundational truth: we care for everyone the same—has become the compass guiding my work and my life. It is the passion that keeps me strong.
I cannot imagine doing anything else.

Now more than ever, we must continue to break down barriers to care, listen with empathy, and stand up for those who are too often overlooked by the system. I invite you to join us in this work—whether as a partner, advocate, donor, or community member.

Together, we can build a future where health care truly belongs to everyone!

Dr. Elizabeth Shaw serves as Chief Medical Officer at Marin Community Clinics, bringing a deep commitment to accessible, patient-centered care rooted in her North Bay upbringing. A graduate of the University of California, San Diego and the Ventura County Family Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Shaw is board-certified in Family Medicine and fluent in both English and Spanish.

With a passion for delivering comprehensive care across the lifespan, Dr. Shaw provides full-spectrum services including pediatrics, adult medicine, behavioral health, reproductive health, and in-office procedures. She is especially dedicated to empowering patients and families to identify and achieve their personal health goals—placing a strong emphasis on preventive care and shared decision-making.

Dr. Shaw believes that effective health care means meeting patients where they are. She strives to make every visit collaborative, respectful, and tailored to the individual. As a lifelong advocate for whole-person wellness, she encourages her patients to explore Marin County’s incredible outdoor spaces as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Shaw enjoys running, hiking, camping, and traveling. Whether in the office or on the trail, she leads with compassion, connection, and a belief that everyone deserves care that supports both physical and emotional well-being.

Dr. Kadera joined Marin Community Clinics in 2008 and was instrumental in establishing the state-of-the-art dental clinic in San Rafael. She has continued to see patients and oversee the growing dental department ever since. Dr. Kadera is a longtime member of the Marin County Oral Health Access Program designed to address county oral health disparities among underserved populations. She is currently Chair of the Dental Director Peer Network of Aliados Health (formerly known as Redwood Community Health Coalition). She was a Fellow of the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) Health Care Leadership Program and Healthforce Center at University of California, San Francisco in 2022.
While attending UCSF School of Dentistry, she initiated outreach programs for the underserved, which have been expanded nationally. She was a member of the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Diversity, and often contributed to free clinics for the homeless. She was a recipient of the UCSF Derzon-Butler scholarship (for community involvement) and the Western Region National Association of Medical Minority Educators scholarship. In 2014, Dr. Kadera was Scholar of the National Oral Health Learning Institute offered by the National Network for Oral Health Access designed to offer new directors a solid foundation and career development in managing Federally Qualified Health Center dental practices.
Prior to moving to Marin County, she practiced at Mountain Valley Health Centers serving Siskiyou and neighboring counties in northern California. A native of Colombia and self-described coffee lover, Dr. Kadera is fluent in English and Spanish.

Daniel Escobar earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma and has dedicated his career to advancing technology in healthcare.

Since joining Marin Community Clinics (MCC) in 2014, he has played a key role in strengthening the organization’s IT infrastructure and leading a highly effective support team. After serving as Director of Information Technology for six years, he now leads MCC’s technology strategy as Chief Information Officer. His commitment to innovation ensures that providers and support staff have the best possible technical solutions to deliver high-quality patient care.

As a long-time resident of Novato, Daniel is passionate about making a positive impact in the community and supporting MCC’s mission to build a healthier Marin.

Lynne joined MCC in 2021 as Director of Human Resources where she oversees the HR department that provides comprehensive services and solutions to the MCC team and supports the MCC mission through its most valuable resource – its people. We do this by creating and delivering HR policies, procedures and programs that promote a culture of fairness, open communication, high performance and equal opportunity for personal and professional growth. We strive to provide the same level of respect, service and care within MCC that we share externally with our patients.
As a strategic business partner, Lynne’s passion is partnering with leaders to create a positive and effective culture and employee experience. Lynne brings more than 15 years of HR Leadership experience, having worked with for profit and nonprofit organizations including Newport Healthcare, Scandinavian Design, Vivalon (Whistlestop) and Symmetricom. She received her Masters’ degree in Organizational Development from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York and her Senior Practitioner in Human Resources (SPHR) from the Society for Human Resources Management. Lynne has taught Human Resources as an Adjunct Professor at the Santa Rosa Junior College. She lives in Petaluma with her husband and son and is active in the community, volunteering with the Petaluma Arts Council.

With over two decades of experience, Bhari has held key leadership roles at Providence, Stanford Health Care, and Sutter Health, where he played a crucial role in enhancing financial performance, optimizing decision support systems, and driving operational excellence.

A strategic and servant leader, Bhari has successfully led cost restructuring initiatives, strengthened financial sustainability, and advanced reimbursement strategies to support the long-term success of healthcare institutions. His expertise spans revenue cycle, financial reporting, healthcare strategy & business development. He has also led EPIC system implementations, improving revenue cycle processes and clinical informatics, resulting in greater efficiency and enhanced patient care.

Beyond his professional impact, Bhari is deeply committed to community advocacy and education. For over 15 years, he and his family have invested in providing educational opportunities for underserved children in a rural Sri Lankan village—a testament to his passion for making a difference beyond the healthcare sector.

Outside of work, Bhari enjoys cooking especially breakfast for his wife, Sam, who is a nurse, and loves running with his dog, Kalu, and playing golf in his free time.