Management Team
Richard Shinto, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Shinto has more than 20 years of health care experience, including 14 years in medical practice specializing in pulmonology and internal medicine. Before joining NAMM in 2003, Dr. Shinto was Vice President of Medical Management for MedPartners and later the Chief Medical Officer, first for Cal Optima and then for Medical Pathways. He has published several articles on pulmonary and internal medicine in medical journals, including the American Journal of Medicine. Dr. Shinto earned his B.A. from the University of California at Irvine, his medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and an M.B.A. from the University of Redlands.
Leigh Hutchins, MBA, President and Chief Operating Officer
Ms. Hutchins brings a wealth of knowledge to NAMM with over 20 years of progressively responsible health care management experience. Ms. Hutchins joined NAMM in 1993 and has held various positions in the areas of payor and provider contracting, network development, transactional services and IPA operations. Prior to joining NAMM, she was employed by FHP HealthCare and held several positions in both staff model and IPA operations. Ms. Hutchins received her B.A. degree in Pharmacology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her MBA from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Rod St. Clair, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of NAMM California, Chief Medical Officer of PrimeCare, Chief Medical Officer of Aveta, Inc.
Dr. St. Clair has more than 25 years of experience as a practicing and administrative physician leadership in Southern California. Rod's education includes an undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University, Saint Louis University School of Medicine and has been triple-boarded in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. His notable endeavors prior to joining NAMM of California: Private practice in North Orange County, Departmental Chief for numerous hospitals and multi-specialty groups, Assistant Clinical Professor at University California Irvine Medical Center, founder of 2 Independent Practice Associations, Chairman of a Residency Training Program, Chairman for a Respiratory Training Program and CMO of a Case Management Outsource Company. Since joining NAMM, he has helped develop a Medical Management and Quality Improvement Program that has passed all audits, integrated with the business strategy, improved clinical outcomes and has been portable and scalable in California, Chicago and Puerto Rico.
Julian Santoyo, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Santoyo is responsible for financial services and facilities management including the functional areas of financial reporting, general accounting, strategic business development and budgeting, investment and treasury management, actuarial analysis and rate development, reinsurance and risk management, medical cost and utilization reporting, regulatory audits and reporting, enrollment and member eligibility/capitation, accounts payable, capital purchasing, premium billing, TPL recoveries and property management. He has over 19 years experience in health care management and 7 years experience with large and mid-sized public accounting firms. He is a certified public accountant currently licensed to practice in the State of California. Mr. Santoyo has been a CFO for 15 years for Knox Keene health plans, IPAs, medical groups and management services organizations in Southern California. Prior to becoming the CFO of NAMM and Prime Care Medical Network, Mr. Santoyo served as the CFO of Community Health Group of San Diego County, CHG Foundation of San Diego County, Medaphis Physician Practice Management, Children's Primary Care Medical Group of San Diego, Children's Health Network of San Diego, CHOC Health Alliance of Orange County, Children's Physician Network of Orange County, Saint Joseph's Mission Network of Orange County and Schaller Anderson of Southern California.
Elizabeth Haughton, J.D., Vice President, Legal Affairs
Mrs. Haughton has more than 15 years of legal experience including 12 years in the health care field. Her background includes teaching business law for Campbell University and as a litigator, representing physicians and medical groups. Upon joining the Company in 1998, she founded its Legal and Compliance Departments and is currently responsible for the management of legal affairs, corporate compliance, regulatory issues and risk management oversight. Ms. Haughton is the Chair of the Public Policy Committee and a member of the Executive Committee for the California Association of Physician Groups. She is a member of the Health Plan Operations Roundtable Committee of the Department of Managed Health Care, and serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the California Quality Collaborative. She is licensed to practice law in the states of California and North Carolina, obtaining her undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University, and J.D. from Whittier Law and American University.
Karen Gee, Vice President, Business Development and Operations
 Karen Gee joined NAMM in January 2006. She is responsible for identifying and evaluating opportunities for the company, as well as managing the implementation of projects under the direction of the President of NAMM. Her duties include oversight of Business Development and Marketing and Sales. Karen has over 18 years of experience in the health care industry, with a strong background in business development, budgeting, corporate finance, contracting, and investor relations. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and M.B.A. with a concentration in Health Care Management from Boston University.
Patricia Gutierrez, Vice President, Human Resources
Mrs. Gutierrez has more than 20 years experience in Human Resources in the areas of health care and management. She joined NAMM in March 1997 following a career in the manufacturing industry. Since that time, the Human Resources Department has been a critical component in complying with all labor laws and has kept the company from discrimination/harassment lawsuits. Her current responsibilities include oversight of all HR functions, including recruitment and retention programs, management training and company-wide customer service educational programs. Mrs. Gutierrez is an active participant in the Employer's Group (Human Resources Organization) and Society of Human Resources Management.
Demara Nuzum, R.N., Associate Vice President, Medical Management
Ms. Nuzum has more than 20 years of managed care experience in the area of medical management, which has included UM, QI, credentialing, risk management and case management. She also has worked as a private consultant for health plans and with IPA/MSO entities in the area of medical management, as well as assisting in preparation with regulatory audits and DHMC license filings. Ms. Nuzum joined NAMM in June of 2002 as Director of Corporate Compliance. In May of 2004, Ms. Nuzum assumed responsibility for Medical Management. She has always maintained an active role in ICE, serving on numerous workgroups focused on standardization of medical management processes.
Don Thompson, Associate Vice President, Finance
Mr. Thompson has more than 20 years experience in the accounting and auditing fields. He began his career with an international public accounting firm and has worked in the health care industry since 1991, in both hospital and managed care settings. Mr. Thompson joined PrimeCare in 1997. He is currently responsible for oversight of the Accounting, Eligibility and Capitation departments, including financial and health plan reporting, investment and treasury management, financial and regulatory audits, California Department of Managed Health Care reporting, member eligibility maintenance and provider capitation payments.
Joe Pastorelli, Associate Vice President, Information Technology
 Mr. Pastorelli has 20 years of Wide Area Network infrastructure experience, ERP systems and software development, Joe has led IT teams in major fortune 500 companies such as Linksys and Technicolor global. Some of the most successful projects Joe managed included, Global Supply chain for Linksys and Global financial ERP systems for Technicolor. These previous experiences included multiple locations ranging from North America to international locations. Joe currently leads the Network team, PC tech team and the development team for North American Medical Management.
Larry Jacobs, Associate Vice President, Network Operations
Mr. Jacobs has been with NAMM for just over one year and was previously the Executive Director for Central Valley Medical Group. He brings over 25 years of experience in provider, payer and hospital operations. Mr. Jacobs is a seasoned executive with significant contracting, business development and strategic planning experience.
Theresa Howard, R.N., BSN, Associate Vice President, Medical Management
Ms. Howard's responsibilities include oversight of utilization management, case management, disease management, specialty pharmacy, and the coding department. She obtained her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from California State University Los Angeles and has completed graduate courses in Nursing at Azusa Pacific University. Ms Howard has worked in the medical management industry for over twenty one years in positions covering both the public and private sectors of health care. Areas of expertise include program development and implementation as well as the accreditation process for NCQA and specialty pharmacy prior authorization. Ms Howard joined NAMM in 2005 as the Director of Chronic Care Improvement Programs and has accepted additional management oversight of PrimeCare IPAs and coding department.
Trisha L. Daniels, Associate Vice President, Claims, Contracting and Configuration
Ms. Daniels has over 16 years of managed care experience in the areas of contracting, claims, and managed care operations. She has worked for MSO entities and has managed physician practices. Ms. Daniels joined NAMM in March of 2003. Prior to assuming contracting responsibilities in 2006, Ms. Daniels was the Director of Transactions. Her current areas of responsibility include health plan negotiations, hospital and network contracting operations; including oversight of provider and benefit configuration in the company's managed care system.