Meet the team

Making a difference, together.

Each of our members have unique skills and passion for advancing surgical care in developing countries and working together and with others to advance training and bring mentors and mentees closer than ever. Ohana means “family” and we bring everyone into our Ohana to feel supported, inspired and connected. 

Board of Directors

David Kulber, MD

Co-Founder | President

David Kulber, MD, FACS, is a board-certified specialist in hand and plastic surgery with Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, covering a wide range of surgical practices. After earning his degree from UC Berkeley and a medical degree from the University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, he completed extensive training at several prestigious institutions. Dr. Kulber directs the Plastic Surgery Center at Cedars-Sinai, serves as a professor at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, and holds numerous professional affiliations and board positions. He has published extensively, received numerous research grants, and is actively involved in innovative surgical research and global medical missions with Mending Kids International and Ohana One.

David Kulber, MD

Co-Founder | President

David Kulber, MD, FACS, is a board-certified specialist in hand and plastic surgery with Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, covering a wide range of surgical practices. After earning his degree from UC Berkeley and a medical degree from the University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, he completed extensive training at several prestigious institutions. Dr. Kulber directs the Plastic Surgery Center at Cedars-Sinai, serves as a professor at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, and holds numerous professional affiliations and board positions. He has published extensively, received numerous research grants, and is actively involved in innovative surgical research and global medical missions with Mending Kids International and Ohana One.

Michele Dee, MD

Co-Founder | Immediate Past President

Since 2002, Dr. Michele Dee has served as an attending Anesthesiologist at Cedars-Sinai, where she is one of the few board-certified Pediatric Anesthesiologists. She also manages scheduling and daily operations for Beverly Anesthesiology and teaches residents and nurse anesthetists. During the pandemic, she was key to the Cedars COVID Airway team and coordinated PPE donations. As Director of Anesthesiology at Cove Surgery Center, she focuses on pediatric reconstructive surgery. Dr. Dee co-founded Ohana One International Surgical Aid, emphasizing surgical and anesthesia education globally.

Kylie Tanabe, PA-C

Co-Founder

Kylie continues her love for bringing access to surgical care throughout the world with Ohana One.

After graduating from Wagner College’s five year BS/MS Physician Assistant program, Kylie knew that surgery would be the natural next step for her. She entered the Norwalk/Yale Surgical Residency Program for PA’s, where she would then combine her love and passion for surgery and traveling. Kylie is a Physician Assistant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Network, in the Beverly Hills Hands Surgery Department.

Kylie Tanabe, PA-C

Co-Founder

Kylie continues her love for bringing access to surgical care throughout the world with Ohana One.

After graduating from Wagner College’s five year BS/MS Physician Assistant program, Kylie knew that surgery would be the natural next step for her. She entered the Norwalk/Yale Surgical Residency Program for PA’s, where she would then combine her love and passion for surgery and traveling. Kylie is a Physician Assistant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Network, in the Beverly Hills Hands Surgery Department.

Adrian Ashkenazy

Ohana One Vice President
Co-Owner, L’Ermitage Hotels

Susan K. Laffer

Ohana One Tresurer
Attorney

Jennifer Bepple, MD

Digital Health Consultant, 
Urologist

Aaron Bergman

Attorney,
Bregman Law Group

Marshall Geller

Co-Founder and Managing Partner, St. Cloud Capital, LLC

Tom Gordon

Chairman at DSL Construction,
Co-Trustee, Don Levin Trust

Harry Levitt

Managing Director,
Mack Financial Group

Sharon Oreck

Writer/Producer

Garry Pearson

Sun Valley, Idaho,
Private Investor

Bill Pope

Director of Photography

Jay Roach

Director, Writer, Producer,
Delirious Media

Sandra Rodriguez, RN

Registered Nurse,
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Pedro Santos

African Education Coordinator

Karissa Sharifian

Plastic Surgery, Physician’s Assistant,
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Robert Uhlaner

Senior Partner,
McKinsey & Company Inc.

Operations Team

Marchelle Sellers, MBA

Executive Director

Maggie Bohlman

Marketing and Media

Jeanne Bray

Partnerships

Grace Berglin

Surgical Support Specialist

Theo Brown

Surgical Data Scientist

Rachel Buigas-Lopez

Graphic Designer

Sidra Bugsch

Office Administrator

Flávia Cavicchioli

Special Project Researcher
& Data Analyst

Tarek Elshayal

Biomedical and Logistics Coordinator

Cristina Farrut

Mission Manager

Kelly Fogel

Photographer

Nikitha Garapaty

Research Intern

Megan McCullough, MD

Surgical Consultant

Bevin Metzger

Grant Partner Success

Advisors to the Board

Joyce Brandman

Philanthropist

Andrew Freedman, MD

Vice Chair Pediatric Urology,
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Gracie Fermelia

Chief Operating Officer,
Causeway Capital

Edward Ray, MD

OO App Developer