Meet Our Team

All Big Sur Health Center practitioners are trained in family practice which includes emergency medicine, basic cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, gynecology, pediatrics, urology and general medicine. If a problem is discovered which requires specialty care, the health center maintains a working relationship with many specialists on the Monterey Peninsula and will help arrange the appropriate referral.

Staff

KathieKathie Lester

Executive Director

Kathie brings over 25 years of comprehensive experience in healthcare program management and business operations. She is a graduate of The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN where her career in Social Services began. While working for the American Lung Association in Minneapolis, she focused on nonprofit management, fund development, financial management, communication strategies, and event planning.

Her philanthropic interests in local and global environmental and social issues motivated her to advocate on behalf of underrepresented communities. In Spokane, WA she worked as an Agency Program Director managing a homeless shelter that provided emergency services to victims of domestic violence. She provided support and resources to clients, as well as leadership and direction to staff and volunteers.

She then relocated to Southern California, where she spent 8 years in a private medical practice responsible for billing best practices. She has spent the last 10 years managing and directing residential treatment facilities for adolescents. Kathie’s personal interests include animal rescue, hiking, travel, and music. She is excited to join the Health Center and explore all that the Central Coast and Big Sur has to offer.

Dr. Sharen CareySharen Carey, PA-C

Executive Director Emerita
Grant Administrator

Sharen started her career as a laboratory technician for Dr. Jonas Salk at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California.  She became a licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist in 1969, working at Children’s Hospital in San Francisco for 2 years, followed by 7 years in immunology and cancer research at the University of California at San Diego. With a keen interest in medicine, Sharen returned to school at the University of Southern California where she completed her Family Practice training in 1981.  She has been a Physician Assistant at the Big Sur Health Center since 1987.  In 2005 Sharen received the Outstanding Service Award from the California Academy of Physician Assistants. In 2006, she was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Women of Monterey County. Sharen was Administrator of the Big Sur Health Center from 1990-1994 and 1998-2008. She became the center’s first Executive Director following a strategic plan update and reorganization in early 2008.  Sharen is a member of the California Academy of Physician Assistants. She is a member of the Allied Health Staff at Westland House.

MargaretDr. Margaret Simon, MD

Medical Director

Dr. Simon completed medical school at the University of California, San Francisco. She completed residency at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, CA earning the Hannon-Lauderdale-Rumbel-Santell Memorial Award for outstanding performance in 2010. She is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. 

Dr. Simon has been in practice for 13 years, delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to families in the Salinas Valley. During the pandemic, she helped open, staff, and run the two new Altais by Everside clinics. Dr. Simon cherishes the time she spends with her patients. She believes that hearing their stories and actively listening to their concerns fosters a strong doctor-patient relationship that all patients deserve. She insists on providing thorough, high-quality, evidence-based medical care and strives to do so with compassion and humor. 

Her interests include integrative medicine, improving care for the underserved, and championing family medicine. 

Outside of her working hours, Dr. Simon enjoys spending time with her family, which includes, (but is not limited to) daughters, dogs, and chickens. She enjoys being in her garden, under redwoods and in the ocean. She also enjoys reading, fiber arts, and baking.

Danielle GlazerDanielle Glazer, FNP-C

Family Nurse Practitioner

Danielle was born in Southern California but has called Big Sur "home" since the age of four. After graduating from Carmel High School, she studied Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley where she received her Bachelor of Arts in 2003. She then spent a year traveling and working in New Zealand before returning to school to study medicine. In 2010, Danielle received her RN license and in 2012 completed a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner, both from the UC San Francisco, School of Nursing. Danielle's clinical experience encompasses a wide range including family practice, women's health and children's care. Danielle has a special interest in end-of-life care and planning. While at UCSF she completed research on how to integrate advance care planning into everyday family medical practice.

Danielle brings a diverse set of skills and experience with her. She has an intimate knowledge of the health center, having worked at BSHC intermittently since 2001. During that time she served in a variety of capacities including: Front Office Receptionist, Medical Assistant, IT Project Manager, and relief RN. She is also fluent in Spanish.

JanyceAllison Greenberg, FNP-C

Family Nurse Practitioner

Alison Greenberg is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who recently joined The Health Center’s clinical team. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Master of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University. Greenberg brings a broad background in primary care, functional medicine, critical care oncology, and integrative mental health. Her approach centers on personalized, whole-person care, with a deep commitment to supporting the long-term health and well-being of every patient she serves.
A proud resident of Big Sur, Greenberg is grateful to call the community home and honored to provide compassionate care to its residents.

JanyceJanyce Brumsey, RN

Staff Nurse

Born in Virginia and raised in New York City, Janyce came to California in 1979. Initially working as a Nurse’s Aid at Beverly Manor, she later attended Maruine Church Coburn School of Nursing in Monterey. Upon graduation in 1993, she worked as a registered nurse at Natividad Medical Center.  After leaving Natividad, she worked at Crestwood Skilled Nursing Facility as a Wound Care Specialist and Nursing Supervisor, from 1994 until 2001. She joined the staff at the Big Sur Health Center in June of 2001.  Her passions are reading, quilting and walking.

FatimaFatima Ortiz , CMA

Medical Assistant

Fatima was born in Monterey California and has lived here all her life. After high school, Fatima studied medical assisting at Monterey Peninsula College and graduated in 2018. Currently, Fatima is studying to become an ultrasound technician, taking prerequisites at MPC, with plans to eventually attend a training program at Foothill College. Fatima’s pasttimes include reading fiction and hanging out with her friends at social gatherings. Fatima is also very family oriented and enjoys spending additional time with them.

FelaFelicitas Tejeda “Fela”

Senior Office Manager

Originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Fela came to California at the age of 11. After graduating from Carmel High School she worked at Apple Pie Preschool as a teacher’s aid.  She frequently accompanied Spanish-speaking patients to the Big Sur Health Center to assist with translation, so when there was an opening at the health center for a receptionist in 1997, it was obvious that Fela was the perfect choice.  She soon expanded her duties and was promoted to Front Office Manager. She is the busy working mother of 2 daughters.

MarlenMarlen Perez

Front Office Manager

Marlen was born and raised in Big Sur where she attended Captain Cooper School. After graduating from Carmel High School, she won a scholarship to attend Marinello’s Schools of Beauty and earned a cosmetology license. Afterward, she worked in the hospitality industry at several of the area’s hotels and restaurants. Marlen comes from a large, traditional Mexican family and is the 2nd of 3 children. She also has 2 young children of her own. Marlen said she was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to work at the Big Sur Health Center because she has always been fascinated by the medical field. She was quick to learn new skills and after celebrating her second anniversary with us was promoted to Front Office Manager. Marlen has become a truly valuable member of our Health Center family. And, by the way, she has never given up her passion for cosmetology; she continues to do beauty treatments on the side by special request.

CarmenCarmen Garcia

Administrative Assistant
Billing Specialist

Carmen is originally from the vibrant streets of Mexico City, she now proudly calls Big Sur, California, home. Family is at the heart of everything she does. She enjoys every moment spent around the dinner table enjoying a good meal with loved ones, sharing laughter, and creating memories together. As a lifelong learner, she strives to embrace every opportunity to grow, both personally and professionally. Her passion for numbers has led to a successful 20 year career in bookkeeping, where she excels in the meticulous nature of the work and the satisfaction she gets from helping others manage their finances effectively.

She is a proud wife, and mother of a son who has introduced her to the exhilarating world of football. Learning about the game, attending matches and cheering him on is one of her favorite things to do. Her family’s beloved chihuahua, brings so much joy with her affectionate nature and love. She is a reminder of the simple joys in life. In her free time, you can often find her dancing to Latin rhythms with friends and family. She believes that life is a blend of work, play, and connections with those around us. She looks forward to making more unforgettable memories with family, all while continuing to strive for personal and professional growth.

Carmen finds working at Big Sur Health Center incredibly rewarding, as she has always admired the kindness, vision, and commitment to the Big Sur community. The staff truly embody the core values that resonate with her.


Board of Directors

President - Derric Oliver
Vice President - Mike Linder
Secretary - Samantha Jones
Treasurer - Ben Perlmutter

Directors at Large:

Fran Heller
Tajha Chappellett-Lanier
Juliana Pazzaglia
Jerilyn Hesse
Pam Conant