We’re excited to introduce you to four new hires. Together, they bring a wealth of ideas, talents and creative energy to our work bringing younger and older changemakers together to solve problems and bridge divides.

Dr. Mike Rizzo
Retired radiologist and systems thinker
New title: Director, Encore Physicians program
New assignment: Mike runs the Encore Physicians program, which places retired physicians in community health centers where they use their experience to treat patients and mentor younger clinicians caring for the underserved. The program in the San Francisco Bay Area has been supported to date by a grant from Northern California Kaiser Community Services.
Background: Mike grew up outside Detroit. After an undergraduate degree in physics, he attended medical school at the University of Michigan and received his radiology training at the University of California, San Francisco. Mike worked as a radiologist at Alta Bates (Summit) Medical Center for 10 years before transitioning to Kaiser East Bay as a radiologist and administrator for 17 years. In the latter years working as a TPMG physician, he became a champion of and physician lead for performance improvement, using a lean approach to systems thinking to support frontline staff, physicians and patients.
One more thing: Mike looks forward to ascending the “second mountain” (credit to David Brooks’s book of the same name) of a career dedicated to patient care.
Follow Mike on LinkedIn

Michelle Gahee
Seasoned media, policy and fundraising professional
New title: Fellowships Coordinator
New assignment: Michelle is supporting the work of the Gen2Gen Innovation Fellowship program, the Innovation Summit, Encore’s cogenerational national service program and other new projects on the horizon.
Background: Michelle is a jack of all trades, but her wide-ranging interests and skills have always been rooted in storytelling, community building and social justice. She got her undergrad degree at Berkeley, received her law degree from Howard, and has had a wide-ranging career. In her early years, she worked as an editor, reporter, and television producer. More recently, she’s worked in community organizing, board and fundraising development, and nonprofit consulting. She has a deep belief in the power of intergenerational connection and collaboration, and a deep desire to do meaningful social impact work that centers diversity, inclusion and racial justice.
One more thing: Michelle is a nature enthusiast and certified yoga and fitness instructor and often leads or assists yoga workshops and retreats in Phoenix. She is also a certified Integrative Health Coach.
Follow Michelle on LinkedIn

Dr. Tom Burns
Retired rheumatologist and adjunct faculty at Stanford Medical School
New title: South Bay Regional Director, Encore Physicians program
New assignment: Tom is helping the Encore Physicians program expand throughout Silicon Valley, matching retired doctors to resource-strapped community health centers that deliver care to underserved populations.
Background: Tom grew up in New York and graduated from Princeton University and SUNY Downstate Medical School. He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Rheumatology/Immunology and spent 36 years as a staff rheumatologist and Chief of the Rheumatology section at Kaiser Hospital and Clinics in Santa Clara. Tom also served as the chief of the Quality Assurance Department for many years and remains as adjunct clinical faculty at Stanford Medical School. He has a passion for providing universal access to educational opportunities, serving on the board of Seeds of Love Worldwide, and believes in encouraging community involvement by serving on the board of the Northwest YMCA in Cupertino.
One more thing: Tom enjoys recruiting former colleagues to work as Encore Physicians in community health centers.

Nicole Pitre Ewing
Specialist in data evaluation and nonprofit management
New title: Operations Coordinator
New assignment: Nicole holds a large body of work at Encore.org, supporting operations, development, research and board management.
Background: Nicole has a master’s degree in administration with an emphasis on health sciences from Northern Arizona University. She was introduced to nonprofit administration through her membership with the African-American Women’s Giving & Empowerment Circle at the Arizona Community Foundation. She was co-chair of the Circle’s grantmaking committee, which provided grants and education to nonprofit organizations serving African-American women and girls in Arizona.
One more thing: Nicole recently moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee with her family and is a self-professed foodie who enjoys traveling, hiking and reading great books.

Have questions or want to get in touch? Email [email protected].