SFCHC Staff

Senior Staff

Audrey Simons, MSHA, has served as CEO of San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC) since 2013. She has spearheaded the organization's transition from a community hospital to a state-of-the-art Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides a full complement of medical, dental, behavioral health and education services for the entire community, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable and chronically underserved.

Under Simons’ leadership, SFCHC has experienced unprecedented growth – with a 284 percent growth factor from 2016-2019 – as it continues to remain true to its nearly century-long legacy as a treasured health resource by enhancing community access to high-quality primary care services. Major projects completed in the last several years include building out the SFCHC Primary Care Center, expanding the Dental Clinic and opening a satellite clinic in Mission Hills.

Prior to joining SFCHC, Simons served as Administrator of Community Benefits/Grants for the San Fernando Campus of Mission Community Hospital for 10 years. In that position, she was responsible for all community benefits programs and oversight of capital projects, plus wrote and administered grants.

Simons is actively involved in several community/civic organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Valley Cares Community Consortium. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene from Loma Linda University and a Master of Science degree in health administration from California State University, Northridge. Simons practiced as a registered dental hygienist in the San Fernando Valley for nearly 30 years.

Jeff Chawenson has an extensive background in overseeing organizational accounting and finance with emphasis on timely and accurate results, taking on new challenges, and working closely with both employees and those outside his organization to develop strong, trusting relationships.

A unique facet of Chawenson’s experience is his service to nonprofit organizations that do not have sufficient means to employ full-time financial personnel. His past clients include the Palm Springs Community Concert Association, California Indian Nations College in Palm Desert, Urban Community Action Project/Health to Hope Community Health Center in Riverside and Morongo Basin Healthcare in Yucca Valley, among others.

Chawenson’s background has encompassed virtually all aspects of financial and accounting duties to include experience with budgets, payroll, policies and procedures, billing and accounts receivable, grants, regulatory reporting, tax reporting and more. He also has personnel management experience in the areas of risk management and human resources.

Chawenson holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Pennsylvania State University.

San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC) Director, Special Projects Heidi Lennartz – a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with more than 35 years of management experience in both medical and psychiatric healthcare settings – joined the Center in August 2018 as Chief Operating Officer.

Lennartz plays a key role in developing initiatives that focus on SFCHC’s growth, access to care, new service site projects and strategic programming.

Prior to joining SFCHC, Lennartz served as Associate Administrator at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. Her previous experience also includes serving as Chief Executive Officer and as Director of Behavioral Health at Mission Community Hospital, and as Director of Case Management at USC University Hospital/Keck Medical Center. In addition, she performed work with Midway Hospital’s Immune Suppression Unit (AIDS).

Lennartz earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge and a Master of Social Work degree (public administration) from the University of Southern California, and received her Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives®(FACHE) certification in 2015. She has served on several community and healthcare organization boards of directors, and currently sits on the board of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the San Fernando Valley (NCADD-SFV).

Offering over a decade of experience in administration, accounting and financial services, Tatyana Barrios is Controller at San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC). She started as an intern with SFCHC in October 2016 before officially joining the team in January 2017 and promoting to her current position in July 2020. She is responsible for running the daily activities of the finance department, preparation and coordination of annual audits and budgets, grant reporting, payroll recording and other duties.

Barrios previously served as a senior accountant, staff accountant and accounting clerk/administrative assistant at SFCHC, during which she also performed various administrative duties. In addition to her accounting responsibilities, Barrios arranged special events, coordinated equipment maintenance and prepared records, files and reports for the Human Resources Department.

Prior to her tenure at SFCHC, Barrios gained work experience in the banking industry and was also a department lead for a major retail department store.

Barrios holds a Bachelor of Science in health administration from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration.

Providers - Medical

California native Dr. Andre Basmadzhyan returned to his roots in 2020, following his residency in Ohio, and joined the San Fernando Community Health Center’s (SFCHC) dedicated team of healthcare professionals as a board-eligible Family Medicine Physician.

As a resident doctor, Dr. Basmadzhyan worked for four years for Adena Health System. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California, Irvine; a master’s degree in medical clinical science from the Boston University School of Medicine; and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York.

Dr. Basmadzhyan’s experience includes conducting research in dental tumor proliferation and spinal cord compression. An avid sports fan, he also volunteered in high school sports medicine in the Midwest. In his free time, he enjoys biking and jogging.

Dr. Anastasia Williams, MD, FAAP, is recognized as one of the top pediatricians in her field, with honors from the Guide to America’s Top Pediatricians, the Washingtonian Magazine and the Northern Virginian Magazine. Most importantly, she has been consistently recognized by her patients for her compassion and bedside manner.

Dr. Williams is a board-certified member of the American Academy of Pediatrics with over 20 years of experience. She completed her pediatric residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD and her medical training at the University of Virginia. A native New Yorker, she is an alumnus of Cornell University, where she earned a degree in Chemistry on the Dean’s List.

Dr. Williams is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, an alumnus member of the Raven Society and a member of the University of Virginia School of Medicine Alumni Board. She has served as Chairman of the Pediatric Council at UVA-Novant Hospital, an Assistant Professor for George Washington University and a Clinical Instructor for George Mason University.  Dr. Williams was honored by the City of Manassas for her service to the community and has served on multiple community boards.

Dr. Williams relocated with her husband to Southern California, to be closer to two of their three adult children. She enjoys singing, volunteering and traveling with her family. Dr. Williams has been fortunate to participate in mission trips to Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda and Haiti, and is fluent in Spanish and Creole.

“I love what I do, and look forward to practicing personalized medicine that will serve the individual needs of my patients. Health care should be personal, and easily available when needed. This is a new chapter of my career, and I look forward to building many more lasting relationships with families.” 

Dr. Vishaal Buch, the San Fernando Community Health Center’s (SFCHC) Chief Medical Officer, is an American Board of Family Medicine-certified doctor who has practiced in military facilities in the U.S. and abroad, as well as with underserved populations.

Through the lens of seeing medicine in its totality, he understands the importance of compassion, collaboration and empathy on both patient satisfaction and staff morale. He brings this vital perspective to SFCHC in its role as a welcoming healthcare home for the community, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable and underserved.

Dr. Buch treats patients of all ages – from newborns to centenarians – across the family care spectrum, including common childhood disease ailments, chronic adult disease management, women’s health, and geriatric and senior health. He also is experienced in other areas of medical practice, ranging from emergency medicine to hospital administration.

After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, Dr. Buch received his Doctor of Medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. During his subsequent doctor-in-training work at St. Louis University Family Medicine Residency, he became Chief Resident.

Michael Eshaghian, an advocate of providing patient-centered care, is a leading obstetrician and gynecologist serving the San Fernando Valley region. Board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, he offers a broad array of treatment options for women of all ages.

With extensive experience in all areas of obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Eshaghian offers each patient the individualized attention necessary to provide treatment that is focused on her unique needs. He is positioned to offer care and medical guidance for women from across the world, and speaks English, Farsi and Spanish.

After earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Eshaghian completed his medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine. He then completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Nassau University Medical Center in New York, an affiliate of Stony Brook Medical School, where he served as Chief Resident. During his residency, he also trained at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Dr. Margaret Stein is a California licensed physician at San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC) with decades of experience related to internal medicine and infectious diseases.

Prior to joining the SFCHC team, a highlight of Dr. Stein’s professional background was her experience treating HIV patients, most recently at the Los Angeles AIDS Healthcare Foundation. She also previously provided HIV-related care at the HIV Healthcare Clinic of Century City.

For several years, Dr. Stein was a staff member at several local hospitals and a member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. She is a diplomate of both the American Board of Infectious Diseases and the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Stein received her medical training from the Medical School Universidad Central del Este, San Pedro de Macoris, in the Dominican Republic and performed undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. She also received post-graduate training at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, and Western Reserve Care System Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio.  

Dr. Stein is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Armen Okunyan is a licensed nurse practitioner in California, and also with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. In addition, he has official certification from the American Heart Association covering various cardiovascular disciplines.

For several years prior to joining San Fernando Community Health Center, Okunyan was a registered nurse for the cardiopulmonary unit of Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills and the intensive care unit for East Los Angeles Promise Hospital. Previously, he also conducted medical research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center and West Los Angeles Veterans’ Administration Hospital where he co-authored peer-reviewed publications and designed experiments to ensure cellular compatibility with medications, among other duties.

Okunyan earned a Master of Science in nursing and family nurse practitioner from Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from UCLA. He is fluent in English, Russian and Armenian.

Registered Nurse Practitioner Aura Veliz joined the San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC) in 2018. She brings more than two decades of experience in women’s and reproductive health, cancer prevention screenings, and all aspects of family planning to serving patients with the highest-quality care in a trusted and caring environment.  

Veliz works closely with SFCHC’s obstetric and pediatric physicians, and is developing the Center’s Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program to provide the full spectrum of support for pregnant women through and after delivery, including vital resources and education services.

Prior to joining SFCHC, Veliz worked as a registered nurse specializing in women’s health at Providence Health & Services, Aurora Medical Center of San Fernando, Inc. and Valley Presbyterian Hospital. She also spent several years as a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Antelope Valley Hospital.

Veliz earned a Bachelor of Applied Science degree and Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Phoenix. In addition, she completed the Harbor-UCLA Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program, the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Graceland University, and the Duke University-Johnson & Johnson Nurse Leadership Fellowship.

Jenifer Sullivan, MSN, FNP-C, RNC-OB, joined the San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC) in 2020, bringing her compassionate and caring approach to this patient-centered healthcare home for the community.

Sullivan previously worked in the UCLA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for more than eight years, and has been practicing family medicine since then. Before becoming part of SFCHC’s provider team, she also worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner for the Joshua Medical Group. 

After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from California State University, Northridge, Sullivan earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Walden University (based in Minneapolis), graduating with honors from both programs.

A native of Brazil, Sullivan speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. She enjoys spending time with her family, including her two children, as well as hiking, kayaking and traveling.

Elizabeth Garcia is a California-licensed nurse practitioner and is certified with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She also has official certification from the American Heart Association covering various cardiovascular disciplines, as well as special training in oncology and chemotherapy administration.  

For several years prior to joining San Fernando Community Health Center, Garcia was a registered nurse for the oncology division of Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center. Prior to that position, she was a registered nurse for Olympia Medical Center in Los Angeles and the Pasadena Surgery Center.

Garcia’s primary care training is extensive and includes care of adults and the aged at Fatima Medical Clinic in Los Angeles. She also provided care for women’s health and children, along with general primary care, at Tri-City Medical Group in Vista, California.

Garcia holds a Master of Science in nursing and family nurse practitioner from Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from California State University, San Marcos, and an Associate Degree in nursing from Los Angeles Valley College. Garcia is fluent in English and Spanish.

Rita Jauregui is a health education manager and lifestyle coach at San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC) with over 18 years of diverse experience. Her work focuses on empowering individuals to actively manage their own health and combat chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity.

Jauregui utilizes her professional expertise to educate patients on the necessary lifestyle changes involved with a diabetes diagnosis. These include healthy eating, medications, stress management, diabetic foot care, physical activity, glucose testing and remote patient monitoring. She also collects data to help patients monitor their status and proactively manage their condition.

Jauregui is responsible for making a variety of health education resources and tools available to the community, including classes on how to cook healthy and delicious meals in SFCHC’s onsite Diabetes Teaching Kitchen. She also provides group diabetes self-management education classes and individual visits on nutrition and healthy lifestyle changes.

Jauregui is dedicated to enabling registered dietitians, health educators and community health workers at SFCHC to serve the most vulnerable members of the community. Her academic credentials include graduation from the University of Medicine in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico as a medical doctor.

Providers - Dental

Dr. Antonio Alfonso, DMD, joined San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC) in 2020 to touch the lives and hearts of his patients through gentle, kind dental care and to create healthy, happier smiles.

He was first introduced to dentistry in 1995 while working as a dental assistant and officer manager for his sister, Dr. Catherine Alfonso, DMD, until she passed away from cancer in 2008. Her caring work inspired Dr. Alfonso to also become a dentist, graduating from Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine in Pomona, California.

Dr. Alfonso is a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, Christian Medical and Dental Association, and Tri-County Dental Association. He enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, cycling, youth ministry, listening to music, playing the drums, and spending time with his wife Beth, who is a nurse. Their favorite travel destination is Boracay Island in the Philippines.  

Dr. Tiffany Chang is a California-licensed dentist with a comprehensive background in general dentistry, oral care advocacy and special patient care. Her experience includes restorative dentistry, pediatric dentistry, treatment planning, oral sedation, molar extractions, specialty care and more.

Prior to joining San Fernando Community Health Center, Dr. Chang gained considerable experience in dentistry-related public service. From 2019 to 2020, she was the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) volunteer coordinator for Special Olympics Special Smiles, an organization providing oral hygiene screening and instruction to athletes in the greater Los Angeles area. Previously for three years, she was also a volunteer coordinator for Care Harbor Los Angeles, a facility that provides dental, medical and vision care to Los Angeles area underserved communities.

Additionally, from 2018 to 2020, Dr. Chang volunteered for three organizations dedicated to providing oral healthcare to underserved community patients: CDA Cares, a foundation of the California Dental Association; the Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND) clinic, a non-profit poverty organization in the San Fernando Valley; and Homeless not Toothless, a service focusing on the homeless community, veterans and children within the foster care system.

Dr. Chang holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the UCLA School of Dentistry, where she also conducted her general practice residency, and a Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences from the University of Southern California. She is fluent in both English and Mandarin.

Dr. Giovanna Voshall is a California-licensed dentist with over 25 years of comprehensive general dentistry experience. She has been both an associate dentist and owner of a dental practice.

Prior to joining San Fernando Community Health Center, Dr. Voshall began her dental career in Brazil in 1997 and transitioned to the U.S. in 2003. From her years of experience, she has developed a wide range of professional skills in judgement, decision-making and patient management. She also is strongly committed to providing the best possible customer and personal service.

Dr. Voshall holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Itauna in Brazil and another from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. She is multilingual in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

Providers - Behavioral Health

Dr. Kenneth D’Oyen is a California licensed physician and psychiatrist at San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC) with an extensive background in private practice, community mental health, Veterans Affairs and correctional mental health services.

Dr. D’Oyen’s treatments focus on both pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. The goal of his treatment is to improve problematic thought patterns, often rooted in some form of trauma, that have produced anxiety, depression, pain and addiction.

Dr. D’Oyen emphasizes that the accuracy of his diagnoses and treatment is optimized with open communication and ongoing collaboration to target a multitude of treatment measures. He believes a consistent rapport to establish appropriate treatment expectations has contributed to his success and his patients' longstanding relationships in their mental health treatment.

Prior to SFCHC, Dr. D’Oyen practiced telemedicine outpatient psychiatry with over 350 patients, implementing psychotherapy and pharmacologic treatment regimens for trauma, mood, anxiety, substance-induced conditions and more. His clients consisted of both public and private sector patients, including U.S. veterans. Previously, he also treated inmates at the Los Angeles County Twin Towers Correctional Facility.

Dr. D’Oyen explains his treatment as follows: “I have taken much time to consider my career as a psychiatrist and focused a considerable amount of my education and training on providing treatment to populations that have limited access to resources. Understanding that mental health wellness is a lifelong pursuit, my treatment approach is insight-oriented and patient-driven. The goal of treatment is to target negative thinking patterns affecting patients’ relationships with themselves and others.”

Dr. D’Oyen earned his Doctor of Medicine at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and spent his general psychiatry residency at Olive View-University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. He also completed interdisciplinary studies in child development at the University of California, Berkeley. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a member of both the American Psychiatric Association and American Medical Association.

Ani Balabegian is a dual board-certified nurse practitioner in California with over 15 years of experience specializing in both psychiatric mental health and gerontology.

Prior to joining the San Fernando Community Health Center behavioral health team, Balabegian provided psychotropic medication management for participants in Turning Point, an intensive outpatient mental health treatment day program at Mission Community Hospital in Panorama City.

Balabegian started her nursing career as a registered nurse at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The breadth of her experience comes from working in multiple long-term care facilities in the greater Los Angeles area, where she managed mental health problems and psychiatric disorders for the geriatric population. During this time, she developed a passion to improve the quality of life at the end of life for patients with dementia.

She has also enjoyed the privilege of returning to her original alma mater, Glendale Community College (GCC), to serve as both a theory and clinical mental health instructor for registered nursing students.

Balabegian holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in nursing from University of California, Los Angeles, earning her nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist titles. She also completed an associate degree in nursing from GCC and a post-graduate psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certificate program through National University.

She is fluent in English and Armenian, and enjoys watching mixed martial arts fights, playing tennis, and hiking with her family and two dogs in her spare time.

Brenda Sanchez is a licensed clinical social worker with an extensive background in psychiatric social work in both the private and public sectors.

Prior to her position at San Fernando Community Health Center, Sanchez was a psychiatric emergency team clinician at the University of Southern California (USC) Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale where she worked in the emergency room to provide evaluations for mental conditions, crisis intervention and referrals for psychiatric placement when needed.

She previously served as a psychiatric and medical social worker at Mission Community Hospital in Panorama City. In this position, she performed high-risk screening for patients when appropriate, and assessed and reported cases of suspected child abuse to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and Adult Protective Services. During that time, Sanchez was also a psychiatric social worker at the USC Keck Medical Center where she was responsible for mental health assessment, preparation of referrals and discharge planning, provision of on-call coverage for all units at the medical center and many other duties.

Sanchez also worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Emergency Outreach Bureau in Granada Hills where she performed psychiatric field evaluations and other related duties that included referrals for substance abuse and the presentation of high-risk cases for appropriate follow-up and treatment.

Sanchez holds a Master of Social Work from Stony Brook University in New York, and a Bachelor of Science in sociology and criminology from California State University, Northridge. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Yesenia De Anda is a licensed clinical social worker who has a passion for working with underserved and underrepresented populations. She joined San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC) in 2022.

Prior to her position at SFCHC, Yesenia worked in a variety of settings with non-profit organizations, including Los Angeles County Children’s Bureau in the area of foster care/adoption and Child and Family Center as a clinician.

Yesenia fulfilled a variety of roles in those organizations including crisis intervention, child abuse assessment, suicide assessments, safety planning, diagnosing and treatment of a variety of mental health disorders. While at Child and Family Center, Yesenia was certified in Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP) through Penny Lane Centers.

Yesenia has experience working with individuals, families and groups treating a variety of difficulties including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, interpersonal conflict, relationship issues, low self-esteem, communication difficulties and family conflict. She uses a variety of evidence-based practices to help those in her care improve daily functioning and meet established goals.

Yesenia earned a Master of Social Work from California State University, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Science in sociology from Mount St. Mary’s University. In her spare time Yesenia enjoys spending time with family and friends. Her favorite activities are hiking and traveling.