Our Team

Number of Patients Treated

Patient Encounters

(%) of Patients Best Served in Non-English

Number of All Employees

Executive Team

Tatyana Bak

Our CEO

Tatyana Bak was named CEO by the Elica Health Centers Board of Directors in October 2017, having served the organization in various capacities over the course of nearly 20 years. Prior to assuming her new leadership post, Tatyana was a consultant on several special projects, Director of Business Development, and for several years Chief Operations Officer.

Tatyana emigrated with her family to the U.S. in 1976 from what was then the Soviet Union, part of a wave of Russian immigration to the U.S. in the 1970s. Her's was the first family in that wave to settle in Sacramento, which now has one of the highest concentrations of Russian immigrants in the U.S.

Guided by her experience and a desire to help others facing challenges similar to those that most immigrants face in adapting to new conditions, Tatyana chose to work in health care, specifically for organizations sensitive to the needs of immigrant and other underserved populations.

Tatyana’s deep connection and commitment to the communities served by Elica, along with her thorough knowledge of the organization’s role as an FQHC, are exactly what the Board of Directors decided were key for Elica’s continued growth and ability to adapt to the changing healthcare landscape, while staying true to the needs of its core constituents.

David E. Hughes

Our COO/CFO

David E. Hughes recently assumed an important new position at Elica Health Centers as Chief Operating Officer (COO). He is an accomplished healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience developing, growing and aligning community health centers.

Coming to Elica from Wisconsin, David brings an abundance of skills and experience that will undoubtedly serve Elica well, including a successful track record obtaining federal, state, and private funds in support of health center growth and expansion. He has set up 340B pharmacy programs, school-based health centers, mobile access sites, and integrated academic programs with health centers. David’s performance record also includes success with physician recruiting, medical staff development, along with managing and training highly knowledgeable and diverse medical teams.

Prior to accepting his position with Elica, David served as an independent contractor providing support to more than one-third of the Community Health Center’s in Wisconsin, performing financial and operational assessments, participating in strategic planning, preparing budgets and cost reports, and conducting mock HRSA site visits. Also, he served for 12 years as CEO/CFO for Cabin Creek Health Systems in West Virginia.

Dr. Scott Needle

Our CMO

Dr. Scott Needle is a practicing community pediatrician and is our new Chief Medical Officer. Before arriving at Elica he was the Medical Director for Patient Safety and Quality of Care at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Naples, Florida.

Dr. Needle has extensive experience in healthcare, medical research and education, but it is his sincere dedication to ensure quality healthcare is accessible to all people that makes him a stand-out in his profession.

Dr. Needle has given talks nationally about children, disasters and community preparedness, and he has had numerous articles published in the pediatric literature. In 2007, he testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding formaldehyde and FEMA trailers. As a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Needle has served on numerous councils and sections, including the AAP's Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council. He has written and lectured extensively on the needs of children and the role of pediatricians in disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and has worked closely with numerous local, state, and federal groups.

Most recently, he was the Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters. Dr. Needle received his M.D. degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and completed pediatric internship and residency at New England Medical Center/Tufts University in Boston.

Program Leaders

Dr. Theresa Boswell, Ph.D.

Behavioral Health

Theresa Boswell, PhD, LCSW, has directed several Behavioral Health programs at FQHCs in Kansas and California. She has been instrumental in creating integrated health care systems that coordinate primary care, mental health and substance abuse services for those patients with complex diagnoses.

Dr. Boswell has extensive experience in program development and implementation, including Suboxone treatment (MAT) services for opioid addiction and other outpatient substance abuse treatment programs. In her position, Dr. Boswell has oversight of all behavioral/case management/ and social service staff, with the provision of community outreach, education and staff development, and provider training.

Dr. Boswell is also a skilled psychotherapist who has worked extensively with patients in the areas of substance abuse, trauma-informed care, and general mental health concerns, such as depression and anxiety. She is also a specialist in the area of persistent mental illnesses, including Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia.

Dr. Nina Tecson, DDS

Dental

Dr. Nina Tecson attended the University of California, Davis where she earned a degree in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior. Dr. Tecson continued her education at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, where she earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery.

Following dental school, Dr. Tecson furthered her training in an advanced general dentistry program, earning her General Practice Residency certificate at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Tecson’s hospital based training focused on treating adults and children of underserved populations with complex medical and dental needs.

Dr. Tecson believes oral health is an integral part of a patient’s overall health and well-being. Dr. Tecson is committed to educating patients and their families about oral care habits that can build a foundation for a lifetime of good oral health in the entire community. Dr. Tecson has served patients all over the world – Jamaica, Fiji, Mississippi, and California. She is excited to bring her experience from private practice and community health to Elica Health Centers where she can build lasting relationships with our patients in a positive and caring environment.

Dr. Tecson is a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association and Sacramento District Dental Society. She is continuously taking courses to provide her patients with the latest advances in dentistry.

Aide Silva, MBA

Health On Wheels - Mobile Medicine and Street Medicine

Bio coming soon!

Maria Conner, J.D.

Patient Advocate

Maria Conner recently joined Elica Health Centers as the Patient Advocate for the organization. Before coming to Elica, she worked in the insurance industry and brings a wealth of experience in customer relations, investigations, communications and training. Maria has a background in the social sciences and law and has lived in the Sacramento area for over 20 years.