about
About US
We Support U is a community-based nonprofit organization providing support services for individuals and families in San Diego County.
Mission
Is to revive, renew, restore confidence, empowerment and self-esteem in every individual facing a cancer diagnosis.
Goal
Is to improve cancer prevention, screening and survival among underserved low-income communities and to be a comprehensive link between healthcare providers, cancer patients, their families and all community resources.
Executive Director
bertha tiznado
Bertha Tiznado, originally from Tijuana, Mexico, is a health professional who started her career as a Certified Medical Assistant in San Diego. As she explored her career, her passion for working with cancer patients led her to become a case manager and then join the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. Over sixteen years, she has made significant contributions to various organizations and initiatives, earning recognition for her work with the Celebrando and MANA “Dia de la Mujer” committees, the National Training Partnership Advisory board, San Diego County Promotores Coalition, and many others. Bertha co-founded We Support U, a non-profit organization in South Bay, San Diego, dedicated to cancer education, prevention, and treatment, and served as the Business Liaison for UC San Diego Radiation Oncology South Bay for 11 years.
Now, as the Promotoras Program Director for Optima Medical Management Group, Inc and Serene Health IPA, she supervises and trains Promotoras across California, creating programs and outreach activities to enhance medical and social services. In addition, she serves on the board of the Rotary Club of Coronado Binational, San Diego County Promotores Coalition, and the Mexican Consulate’s Binational Health Committee. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to making a difference in the lives of patients and improving the quality of life in her community. Bertha's holistic approach to patient care, her passion for educating communities about cancer prevention and early detection, and her belief that everyone should understand their health options make her an inspiring figure in the fight against cancer.
Director
oscar medina
Oscar Medina, with 34 years of healthcare experience, is a seasoned professional known for managing national and international business development for expanding healthcare firms. He is skilled in HMO contract evaluation, financial analysis, and business plan development, which has led to the creation of several successful strategic enterprises. As the founder and president of Optima Medical Management Group, Mr. Medina has shown remarkable growth, taking Community Care IPA from 700 to 152,000 managed care members. His expertise also extends to the founding of Serene Health IPA, a telehealth platform for mental health services, and serving as a consultant for the University of California San Diego Health System, where he developed a successful strategy for UCSD to manage the local El Centro Regional Medical Hospital.
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Mr. Medina's analytical acumen has enabled him to identify critical issues and implement effective solutions leading to positive results. He has been instrumental in obtaining necessary regulatory Knox Keene license requirements in California and setting up IPA physician networks across various states. As a bilingual entrepreneur with dual citizenship in the USA and Mexico, he has promoted and marketed healthcare services in different private sector segments. His experience in corporate administration, planning, and finance allowed him to successfully launch several start-up companies.
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Currently, Mr. Medina serves as a board member and founder of Cancer Circle Network of Healing, dba "We Support U" a non-profit organization aiding cancer patients and their families. He has served on several boards and sub-committees, including the San Diego County Medical Society Foundation, the Department of Health Services for the State of California, San Diego Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Coachella Valley Health Partnership. His dedication and commitment to the healthcare field have made him a respected figure in both private and public sectors.
Meet the Team
FOUNDERS
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Treasurer
rafael garcia
With over eighteen years of experience, Mr. Garcia has staunchly served the Latino community as a founder and President of various organizations, offering assistance based on his own experiences of immigrating to the United States without knowledge of the language or the immigration laws. His career, marked by a successful tenure in marketing with companies like Telemundo San Diego, NBC Universal, and currently Talamantes Immigration Law Firm, has been fueled by the dream of success he arrived with, compelling him to establish honest and professional relationships that work towards addressing the needs of the Latino community and preventing exploitation of their circumstances.
Director
chantal tovar
Born and raised as a second-generation Mexican/American in Los Angeles, CA, Chantal Tovar, a bilingual and bicultural individual, moved to San Diego at the age of 9, where she grew up in the community of Logan Heights, cultivating interests in travel, reading personal development books, and animal welfare while balancing her hobbies of roller derby, hiking, meditation, and minimalism. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services and a Master’s degree in Organizational Management and Leadership from Springfield College, as well as a certificate in Meeting and Events Planning from San Diego State University and a LEAN instructor certification, Tovar is the first in her family to earn a college education and has leveraged her qualifications to serve the Family Health Centers of San Diego for 20 years, including 5 years as Clinic Director for the Lemon Grove Family Health Center, making strides in adult health education and aspiring to become a certified financial coach to help others escape personal debt, all guided by her belief in servant leadership, compassion, and setting a positive example.
Director
Michelle darnelle
As the Operations Business Development Manager and 340-B Hospital and Clinic Director for Medical Center Pharmacy, Michelle Darnelle has cultivated a remarkable career in the pharmaceutical industry for over 35 years, overseeing enterprise accountability, marketing sales, service management, and spearheading research and development initiatives. Prior to her current role, she honed her expertise as the Operations Manager at Community Medical Center Pharmacy, diligently servicing 340-B clinics, doctor clinics, discharge hospitals, and more than 400 residential care facilities across San Diego County.
Director
Jesus Omar partida
Jesus Omar Partida, founder and CEO of Molecular iQ Corp, is a nuclear medicine postgraduate from the University of California, San Diego, with extensive training in nuclear pharmacology and cyclotron operations. He has a distinguished record of launching over 50 cancer centers and molecular imaging facilities across the United States, Latin America, and the Middle East. Leveraging his years of experience in physician training, contracting, sales and marketing, and clinical operations, Partida has forged strategic partnerships with healthcare systems, governments, medical equipment manufacturers, and clinicians, delivering a practical yet forward-thinking approach to joint venture goals. His entrepreneurial prowess was exemplified in his 13-year tenure at RadNet, Inc., where he held numerous pivotal roles and successfully managed RadNet’s largest international partnership with the State of Qatar, leading to a significant increase in cancer screening. As a leader in clinical research collaborations with numerous pharmaceutical companies, Partida has successfully launched and commercialized Molecular Imaging and Therapies, driving medical advancements in a variety of patient populations.
Director
Rosa Sandoval
Dra. Rosa Sandoval has over 25 years of experience in Healthcare. She graduated medical school from UAG in Guadalajara Mex. and has worked in the U.S. and Mexico, she has an extensive background, coming from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, AltaMed, and Shriners Hospital for Children where she was part of the ambulatory outreach clinic providing pediatric evaluations for orthopedics, burns, and cleft lip & palate patients. Currently, she manages the Women’s Health department at San Ysidro Health and for the past 7 plus years, her main focus has been prenatal care and cancer detection in Women, helping to bring access to medical services to our underrepresented monolingual Spanish-speaking patient population in San Diego. Additionally, she provides medical services to “Carita de Dios AC” a school for Special Needs children in Tijuana Mexico, providing them with free treatment, and medical equipment, all in an effort to decrease the inequalities in medical care in Tijuana. She is passionate about serving the community on both sides of the border to lessen disparities and barriers to healthcare.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Medical Advisory Board
carlos deCarvalho M.D.
Dr. De Carvalho has been practicing medicine since 1983. Dr. De Carvalho received his medical degree from Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in 1976.
Advisory Board
mery lopez gallo
Mery Lopez-Gallo, a broadcasting graduate from San Diego School of Broadcasting, celebrates her 15-year tenure at Univision Radio, where she began as a creative writer and translator and ascended to the role of a radio personality and Director of Community Affairs. Her key contributions include raising $5.1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, serving on the boards of multiple non-profit organizations, including the Foundation for the Children of California, the Chicano Federation, and the Teatro Mascara Magica, and playing a crucial role as a member of Mexico's Institute of the Mexicans Abroad advisory board. She also led a campaign promoting voting among Mexicans in the US during the 2012 Presidential elections, and as the Executive Producer and host of "De Viva Voz," Univision Radio's Sunday morning Community Affairs show, she has empowered the Hispanic community by facilitating around 700 informational interviews with representatives from major government agencies and organizations from both sides of the border.
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WE SUPPORT U is registered in the United States as a 501(c)(3) charity (EIN: 46-4545866).
Donations are tax deductible as permitted by law.
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