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OUR BOARD

How Our Board
Impacts the Community

As part of our foundation, board members oversee our medical group, ensuring fiduciary responsibility and unwavering commitment to our mission. 

Patient and father with doctor

Our board has been helping us provide excellent personalized family medical care to our Member Patients and free medical services to the underserved community for more than 20 years.

Photo of Jesse Hernandez

Jesse Hernandez

Position: President
Tenure: October 2015
Business: Morris Wholesale Nursery
Contact: [email protected]

Education: B.S. Plant Science – Ornamental Horticulture, Fresno State University, 1989 Research internship for Westvaco in South Carolina, 1990 Pesticide Certified Trainer Past President, California Nurserymen Association, Yosemite Chapter, 2001

Background: Jesse has been involved in the nursery industry since 1984.  What started out as a part-time summer job as a junior in high school at Escalon High, became a passion over the years to come.  A graduate of Modesto Junior College, and continuing to Fresno State University.  After 3 years of managing Monterey Bay Nursery in Watsonville CA, he returned to manage Morris Wholesale Nursery in 1994 before purchasing it in 2006.  He and his wife, Kathy have a daughter, Camila.

Michael Hicks

Position: Treasurer/CFO
Tenure: August 2019
Business: Owner, Michael Hicks, CPA
Contact: [email protected]

Education: BS Business Administration with a concentration in accounting, CSU Stanislaus, 2005, Manga Cum Laude; MS in Taxation, Golden Gate University, 2019; Certified Public Accountant

Background: Michael lives and takes pride in his hometown of Modesto.  He’s worked in the accounting industry for the past 15 years at various CPA firms in the central valley.  In 2018 he created his own firm where he caters to his client’s business and tax needs.  Michael and his wife Anna have four children.  His other passions include his Catholic faith, hiking, and backpacking.

Photo of Ralph Curtis

Ralph Curtis

Position: Board Member
Tenure: 2019
Business: Curtis Legal Group, A Professional Law Corporation
Contact: [email protected]

Education: Bachelor of Arts, St. Mary’s College, Magne Cum Laude; He earned his law degree at the University of California, Davis School of Law in 1974. He continued his legal education in 2006 at Pepperdine University with training in Mediation.

Background: Ralph has volunteered his time as a Past-President of the Ceres Rotary Club. He has served as a board member of Stanislaus Economic Development and Workforce Alliance, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Modesto Chamber of Commerce, County Health Services Agency, and was a Past Chairman for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Parish Council.

Edwin

Edwin Rizo

Position: Board Member
Tenure: 2021
Business: Founder Rizo Lopez Foods Inc
Contact: [email protected]

Education: Bachelor of Science in Animal Science UC Davis 1982, Master’s Cornell University 1984

Background: Edwin is a native from Nicaragua and he has been in Modesto since 1986. He founded Rizo-López Foods Inc. in 1990. He runs Rizo-López Foods, Inc with his brother Ivan. They have combined their management and technical expertise to create a solid, well-run company with an outstanding line of products. Edwin and his wife Erika have five daughters.

Photo of Renae Dias

Renae Dias

Position: Board Member
Tenure: 2021
Business: Owner, Hibl Insurance Services
Contact: [email protected]

Education: Modesto Junior College, State of California Insurance License since 1992

Background: Renae has been in the insurance industry for more than 30 years and became the owner of Hibl Insurance Services, Inc. in 2011. She and her team specialize in providing advice to businesses, individuals, and Medicare eligible members. She has been married to Daniel since 1993 and has two beautiful college graduate daughters, Danielle and Kristen. Renae loves to travel to the family cabin in Montana and spend time cooking for her family and friends. 

Joan Hart

Position: Board Member
Tenure: 2022
Business: Retired, Central Catholic High School
Contact: [email protected]

Education: BA in History and Spanish Literature

Background: Moved to Modesto from New York City just over 50 years ago with her late husband, Hugh. After working in publishing for a number of years, she was the development director for Central Catholic High School for 35 years. She has two grown children and two granddaughters. She is involved with the Catholic Social Services Guild, Catholic Charities and the Monsignor William Kennedy Foundation. 

Dr. Kiesel

Erin O. Kiesel, D.O.

Position: Board Member
Tenure: 2018
Business: St. Luke’s Family Practice
Contact: [email protected]

  • Board Certified, American Academy of Family Physicians, 2000 to date
  • Teacher of the Year, Stanislaus Health Foundation, 2012
  • Faculty Development Fellowship, UC San Francisco, 2011-12
  • Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, 2000 to date
  • Family Practice Residency, Modesto, 1997-2000
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1997
  • BS, Santa Clara University, 1994 | Cum Laude | Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society

Dr. Kiesel joined St. Luke’s Family Practice in 2018. She has been in practice in Hughson and Modesto since 2000 in affiliation with the Family Medicine Residency Program. Her special interests include women’s health and pediatrics. She speaks medical Spanish. Her interests include running, skiing, wake boarding and any other outdoor activities. She enjoys spending time with her husband, George, and their four children. They attend Our Lady of Fatima Church in Modesto.

Dr. Forester

Robert Forester, MD, FAAFP

Position: Board Member
Tenure: 2004
Business: Retired Co-Founder, St. Luke’s Family Practice
Contact: [email protected]

  • Retired from St. Luke’s, 2020
  • Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians, 2005
  • Board Certified, American Academy of Family Physicians, 1989 to date
  • David Stein MD Award, Outstanding Graduating Resident, 1989
  • Family Practice Residency, Modesto, 1986-89
  • Doctor of Medicine, UC Davis, 1986
  • BS, UCLA, 1982 | Summa Cum Laude | Departmental Scholar

Dr. Forester was in practice in Modesto from 1989-2020. Since retirement he has maintained his medical license and board certification. He is an active member of the Board of Directors and occasionally helps out when St. Luke’s needs another doctor to cover the practice. His special medical interests include skin disorders, preventive cardiology and medical ethics. Dr. Forester is an avid do-it-yourselfer who enjoys exercise, travel, history, and languages.

Dr. Forester and his wife Anne have four adult children and one grandchild. Bob and Anne attend St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Carson City, NV.

Ross Lee

Position: Legal Counsel
Tenure: October 2012
Business: Ross W. Lee, Inc. Law Firm
Contact: [email protected]

Education: BS, Finance, CSU Stanislaus 1989, Summa Cum Laude; Juris Doctor, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law 1992, with Great Distinction

Background: Born in Modesto and raised on a dairy and almond farm. 1980 graduate of Modesto High School. Parishioner at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, involved as Eucharistic minister, Lector, and Catechist. Past President of Modesto Rotary, nine years on the Board of Community Hospice.

Law practice is business, corporate, and transactional practice with emphasis in agricultural clients. Married to Gina since 1988, two college-aged daughters, Jenna Rose at Cal Poly SLO, Caroline at Modesto Junior College. He enjoys farming, travel, ministry, reading, and the San Francisco Giants.

Photo of St. Luke's Board of Directors 2024