Governing Board

Heart to Heart is a 501(c)3 volunteer-driven charity organization, led by a governing board of directors. Board members provide organizational oversight to ensure consistent programmatic and financial accountability. They all share a strong belief in the effectiveness and value of developing self-sustaining heart centers to save children born with heart defects.

Given the long-term objective of our mission and the complexity of cardiac medicine, board continuity is key. Most current members have provided more than a decade of continuous service. The board functions as a team; decisions are made by consensus and then implemented by a combination of board members, office staff, and medical volunteers. The Board works closely with the executive director to allocate resources, maximize donor ROI, and build our own organizational sustainability.

NILAS YOUNG, MD
Founder & Medical Director
Professor & Chief Emeritus,
Cardiothoracic Surgery
UC Davis Medical Center

SHALU SALUJA, ESQ.
Board Chair
Chief Administrative
Officer & General Counsel,
E2 Consulting

FRANK CETTA, MD
President
Pediatric and Adult Cardiologist,
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

JOSIE EVERETT
Senior Advisor, Strategic Initiatives
Executive Director Emerita,
Heart to Heart Global Cardiac Care

LIZBETH HASSE, ESQ.
General Counsel & Secretary
Managing Partner
Creative Industry Law LLP

CHESTER ZELAYA
Board Member
Senior Vice President,
Global Manufacturing Operations
Edwards Lifesciences

SCOTT PARKER
Board Member
President and CEO,
Sumitomo Electric
Device Innovations USA

ERIK HOLLAND
Treasurer
President,
Fidelity Insurance Service

GARY RAFF
Board Member
Chief of Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
UC Davis Medical Center

LAILA E. DREIDAME
Board Member
Executive Director
Heart to Heart Global Cardiac Care