Board of Directors

Dr. Jimi O. Benson, II is a board certified Internal medicine physician in San Diego, California. He received his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Dr. Benson completed his internship and residency at Howard University Hospital. He has been in practice for the past 7 years. His expertise is in the management of chronic diseases. He has a specific interest in the care of the psychiatric population. Dr. Benson is affiliated with many hospitals in the area including Sharp Grossmont and Sharp Chula Vista Hospitals, Alvarado Parkway Institute and Paradise Valley Hospital. He currently holds the position of medical director at Sonata Hospice INC.

Dr. King is a California native who received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She then returned to Los Angeles and received her medical degree from The University of Southern California where she also completed her training in anesthesiology. Since that time, Dr. King moved to San Diego and has been a member of Anesthesia Services Medical Group, Inc. Most recently, she was selected as the new Medical Director for The Ambulatory Surgery Center at Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla and continues to actively participate in a multitude of community service related organizations and activities.

Dr. Lawrence A Wood has over 40 years of service to the community as a Physical Therapist, Flight Surgeon, and Naval officer. He retired from the US Navy at the rank of Captain, and after a few years in the civilian sector, Dr. Wood retired from the practice of Ophthalmology and transitioned to writing.

He and his wife, Vanessa, founded Fan of the Feather, Inc a non-profit which provided a myriad of services to homeless veterans. The organization was dissolved in 2016.

He is the author of the stage play No Marks Just Memories, multiple poems, yet to be published. He has authored a series of crime novels, Among Pigeons, Love and Death Among Pigeons and the soon to be published Life Among Pigeons. He has also published an illustrated short story, The Strawberry Tree: A Story for Christmas. Presently, he is a screenwriter, director with YLP Productions.
In keeping with his tradition of passion for helping others, he is presently a broker with Westpac Wealth Partners.

Dr. Gwathney earned his medical degree from the University of Washington and his Master of Public Health from Loma Linda University. He is currently a board certified Family Physician, Fellow of the American Board of Family Medicine, and a Captain in the United States Public Health Service.

Dr. Gwathney has spent his career providing primary care and disaster medical relief to the under or uninsured patients of the United States and the world.

He has served as a medical director caring for inner-city patients in Washington, DC; provided disaster and humanitarian response in countries all over the world including most recently fighting Ebola in West Africa and providing public health leadership in Flint, MI; to currently serving as a medical director within the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

CAPT Gwathney’s favorite quote is: Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?” MLK, Jr.