The Team Leading Global Change
World Telehealth Initiative’s board of directors and management team believe that telehealth has the potential to reform and transform global healthcare. We are dedicated to addressing the underserved by expanding access to care, increasing the quality of care and improving patient outcomes.
Board of Directors
Dedicated experts with a proven record of success.
Yulun Wang
Chairman, Board of Directors
Chairman, Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, InTouch Health, Inc.
Dr. Wang founded InTouch Health in 2002, and served as Chairman & CEO until 2016, when he assumed the position of Chairman and Chief Innovation Officer. InTouch Health is a pioneering and market leading telehealth company that enables patients to receive clinical care from specialists at a distance. InTouch has received numerous awards including Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 Award and Inc Magazine’s Inc 500 award as one of the fastest growing companies in America. Previous to InTouch, Dr. Wang founded Computer Motion in 1990, the company which pioneered surgical robotics. He was the principal architect and inventor of the voice-controlled robotic arm called AESOP, the first FDA-cleared surgical robot, as well as the ZEUS robotic surgical system, which performed the world’s first transatlantic surgery.
Yulun Wang, Chairman
Ron Werft
Ron Werft is President and Chief Executive Officer of Cottage Health, a not-for-profit multi-hospital system providing acute inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care. With hospitals in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley, Cottage Health offers a broad scope of clinical services including those of the Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital and Cottage Children’s Medical Center.
Susan Hackwood
Susan Hackwood is Executive Director of the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Riverside. CCST is a not-for-profit corporation comprised of 200 plus science and technology leaders of the highest distinction.
Andrew MacCalla
Andrew MacCalla is the Director of International Programs & Emergency Preparedness and Response at Direct Relief, the largest privately funded non-profit aid organization in California and the 7th largest in the country. Direct Relief works to provide essential medical resources to people around the world affected by poverty and humanitarian crises in over 80 countries and all 50 US States.
Jan Campbell
Jan Campbell is the Executive Director for Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County. She has more than 30 years of experience in leadership and community engagement, with a background in fundraising, grant writing, marketing, and communications. She most recently served as the Chief Philanthropic Officer at the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Robert L. Skinner
Robert L. Skinner served as the Chief Innovation Officer and General Counsel for Montecito Bank & Trust, the oldest locally owned and operated community bank in Santa Barbara County, with assets in excess of $1 Billion. Mr. Skinner is currently a member of the Bank’s Board of Directors and serves as the Chair of its Trust Committee.
Management Team
Sharon Allen
Executive Director
Sharon Allen is the co-founder and Executive Director of World Telehealth Initiative (WTI). As a recognized leader in international philanthropic telehealth, Sharon is often invited to speak at notable conferences, including American Telehealth Association, Magee Women’s Research Summit, InTouch’s Telehealth Innovator’s Forum, AAFP Global Health Summit, and more. She has traveled extensively to evaluate the needs of under-resourced healthcare clinics and communities worldwide. Under her leadership, WTI has developed an innovative model that leverages remote philanthropic physicians to provide care via telehealth. Since founding the organization in 2017, WTI has established remote specialist care and training to onsite providers in 11 under-privileged cities and communities throughout the Global South.
Previously, Sharon managed a successful distribution corporation for 25 years, first as Human Resources Manager, then as Director of Accounting and finally as CEO. She grew revenues from $20 to $30M while achieving record profits and leading a team of 75 employees. Over the years, Sharon has served as Board Member and Financial Chair for the AAPLE Foundation and volunteered in non-profit organizations, such as Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Dream Foundation & Children’s Creative Project.
Sharon earned her teaching credential and BS in nutrition from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Sharon Allen, Executive Director