James A. Peters, MD
James A. Peters, M.D. is passionate about educating and motivating
people to make healthier lifestyle choices. He is board certified in
preventive medicine with a focus in integrative, lifestyle and
nutritional medicine. He has extensive primary care experience and is
highly trained in treating diabetes, asthma, weight management, smoking
cessation, heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, COPD,
osteoporosis, and hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Peters integrates
traditional medicine with evidence-based interventions from nutrition,
botanicals and alternative therapies.
Dr. Peters is a graduate of Loma Linda University's School of Medicine
and has a second doctoral degree from Loma Linda University in public
health with a special emphasis in health promotion and prevention. He
also is a registered dietitian and has a strong appreciation for the
power of nutrition and the role it plays in health. Additionally, he is
a registered respiratory therapist and has over 30 years of experience
with various lung health problems.

Vicki Saunders, MS, RD
Nutrition Educator
For 25 years, Vicki Saunders has been counseling individuals and
organizations on optimal nutrition. Vicki is an expert
in diet behavior modification, having helped thousands make a comfortable,
step-by-step transition to healthful eating. Ms. Saunders received her MS in Medical Dietetics from
Ohio State University. She began her career as a dietician in Tennessee
and joined the St. Helena Center for Health in 1979. She has extensive
experience with therapeutic diets, vegetarian diets and eating disorders.
In addition to her counseling work for the program, she lectures on
nutrition and teaches cooking classes.

Lisa Hinz, Ph.D., ATR
Clinical Psychologist
Lisa Hinz is a clinical psychiatrist and a registered art therapist. She
graduated from Louisiana State University with a doctorate in psychology.
Dr. Hinz earned a post-doctoral certificate in art therapy at the
University of Louisville. She is currently an adjunct professor in the
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Master of Arts degree program in art therapy.
For more than twenty years, Dr. Hinz has focused her clinical work on
helping people with eating disorders. Dr. Hinz has published professional
articles and presented research papers on the prevention and treatment of
eating problems. She brings with her wealth of knowledge of the
psychological aspects of eating to the Transformations Program.
Outside of work, Dr. Hinz enjoys watercolor painting, especially scenes of
beautiful Napa Valley. In addition, she loves teaching art history and art
techniques in her children’s elementary school classrooms. Lisa is proud
to be married to cardiothoracic surgeon, Andreas Sakopoulos and is mother
to their three children.
Russell Melgar, BA, CPT, CFT
Fitness Specialist and Coordinator
Russell brings an extensive background of instructing
various sports and fitness activities as well as practical and theoretical
training in rehabilitation, exercise and massage to the Center for Health."
He received his Bachelors Degree from San Francisco State University in
Broadcast Communication Arts. Russell has a second-degree black belt in
Goju-Ryu Karate. Russell is also a certified personal trainer, certified
fitness therapist, and a certified massage therapist/health educator. He
was most recently employed by Meadowood Napa Valley Health Spa as a
personal trainer and gym manager."

Marcia W. Sturm, MA
Stress Management Therapist / Yoga Instructor
Marcia has a Masters Degree in Psychology from Sonoma
State University. Her thesis integrated her 20-year yoga experience (ten
years as a teacher) with modern psychological therapies to assist
individuals on their journey toward wellness and self-discovery. Marcia
has discovered progressive relaxation and guided visualization
techniques direct clients toward a more stress-free life, while gentle
Yoga postures help build strength, flexibility and self-awareness.
Certified in Integrative Yoga Therapy and licensed in massage, Marcia
combines these skills to offer students a supportive environment in
which to grow toward wellness and self-discovery. When not on the Yoga
mat, Marcia enjoys reading, playing golf and hiking

Mary Jane Franus, MS, MFT
Rehabilitation Therapist
With extensive training and experience in addiction disease, family of
origin, and family dynamics, Mary Jane brings compassion, enthusiasm and
expertise to the Center for Health. She is a licensed psychotherapist
who received her master’s degree at San Francisco State University and
has worked with people of all ages and backgrounds. A life-long organic
gardener, Mary Jane plans to integrate a therapeutic gardening component
into her work at the Center for Health.

Susan Witt
Chef
For 21 years Susan Witt has been creating delectable cuisine for
clients across the United States such as Julia Childs and former
President Bill Clinton. She holds a Culinary Arts degree from Johnson &
Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. Before venturing west,
Susan worked as the Chef de Cuisine at Agora, a posh Providence hotel
restaurant and cooked for the James Beard House in New York City.
Following in love with the quaint town of St. Helena, Susan ventured to
the Napa Valley where she worked as resident chef for Beringer
Vineyards. After the birth of her son, Chase, Susan became a personal
chef for some of Saint Helena's finest residents. She has worked for the
St. Helena Hospital for more than three years and loves teaching cooking
classes. She spends her free time in the great outdoors with her family
and Hank the wonder dog.

Carrie Gehrke,
Business Coordinator
Carrie Gehrke joined the Center for Health team as the business
coordinator in July 2007. She has worked for St. Helena Hospital for 12
years in different departments and comes to the Center for Health with a
passion for health and nutrition.
Carrie was born at St. Helena Hospital and, except for two years when
she attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, has lived
in the Napa Valley her entire life. Carrie holds an associate’s degree
in fashion merchandising and started her own style and wardrobe
consulting business in 2007.