About Arc Health
Arc Health is dedicated to advancing health equity by delivering compassionate, culturally humble care to rural, tribal, and underserved communities. We envision a world where the most vulnerable have access to top-tier healthcare professionals.
Our Ethos
Committing fiercely to reducing health disparities and advancing health equity for the underserved.
Delivering care with compassion and cultural humility.
Serving exclusively rural, tribal, and underserved communities.
We believe quality healthcare is a human right and support staff to provide excellent care and advance health equity and provide uncompromised patient outcomes.
We ensure clinicians practice cultural humility, compassion, and integrity, enhancing patient care through targeted leadership and community-focused training.
We integrate sound business practices with a mission-driven approach to maximize social impact as a public benefit corporation.
Our mission is to connect the best healthcare clinicians to the underserved, with an ethos embedded in health equity and social justice.
Visionaries Driving Social Impact and Health Equity
Arc Health was founded in 2018 by Dr. Phuoc Le, Dr. Sri Shamasunder and Dave Shaffer, each bringing unique experiences and a shared dedication to social impact.
Dr. Phuoc Le's journey began when he arrived in the United States as a refugee from Vietnam at the age of five. Having personally experienced the harsh realities of health inequality, he dedicated his career to serving impoverished communities. His drive led him to co-found the HEAL Initiative at UCSF in 2014, a global health fellowship program focused on supporting healthcare practitioners committed to serving the poor.
In 2018, Dr. Le and Dr. Shamasunder had a vision to enhance health equity in rural and underserved areas, which led them to partner with Dave Shaffer, an accomplished social enterprise expert.
Dave Shaffer brought 25 years of leadership experience, transforming organizations like First Step Staffing, which helps people experiencing homelessness find jobs. Under Dave's leadership, First Step Staffing's revenue grew from under $2 million to about $50 million, proving that social enterprises can achieve financial sustainability and substantial social impact.
When Dr. Le and Dave met, they realized their complementary strengths. Dr. Le had the vision and Dave had the business acumen and entrepreneurial mindset needed to execute that vision. Arc Health was born from this collaboration.
Dave’s philosophy centered on the idea that the pinnacle of social enterprise is to achieve a mission while being financially self-sufficient. His belief in integrated social enterprise—where the product is the impact—guided their approach. This meant focusing on building a solid business that, in turn, would enable them to serve more people effectively.
Dr. Le and Dave’s work at Arc Health exemplifies a model with the right combination of heart and business strategy, it's possible to address significant social issues while building a thriving organization.
Our Services
Meet Our Team
Dave is a social entrepreneur who believes in the true value of each individual. Building on his management and accounting education from Purdue University and his CPA certification, he has spent the last 20 years leading and growing social enterprises that serve individuals who traditionally are left behind. His core belief that with appropriate focus and alignment, healthy businesses should play an important role in the overall ecosystem.Prior to Arc Health, Dave led two not-for-profit employment agencies. First Step Staffing focused on employment for persons experiencing homelessness and before that DePaul Industries which served those with disabilities. Prior to DePaul, Dave Co-Founded and led Moonstruck Chocolatier, a successful high end chocolate company. Dave has won numerous awards during his career, among those the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year accolade in 2012.
Niki's has dedicated the past 25 years to steering startup and turnaround organizations. She thrives on leading impactful ventures, setting them up for scalability and growth. With extensive management expertise across finance, mergers, operations, marketing, and client relations, Niki holds a pivotal role at Arc Health's Chief Operating Officer. As a steward of culture, HR, and marketing, she oversees daily operations to ensure we are cultivating impactful client-practitioner relationships. Niki's fresh perspective, drawn from experiences beyond the staffing realm, fuels her passion for amplifying Arc Health's narrative and mission. Her driving ambition is to enhance healthcare accessibility for underserved communities through broader outreach and advocacy.
Dr. Knuppel is a Board-Certified Family Medicine Physician. Since completing residency at Maine-Dartmouth, his clinical practice has included full-spectrum medicine as a solo provider in Hospitalist, ICU, ER and Ambulatory Care settings. He is recognized internationally as a leader in Public Health, having worked as Medical Director of Health Centers for the Pacific Island Country of Palau and as Co-Founder of the nonprofit, Bannu Hospital and Clinic of India. He has served as Medical Director and Physician for Alaskan Native and American Indian Critical Access Hospitals and Clinics including the Quartz Valley Reservation of California and federally recognized tribes of Klamath, Karuk, and Shasta Indians as well as the Maniilaq Health Association and Inupiaq People of the northern most boroughs of the Alaskan Arctic.
As Chief Sales and Customer Relationship Officer at Arc Health, PBC, William Clemmons is responsible for the sales operations. He brings more than 20 years of experience to Arc Health, PBC. His experience and leadership have been focused on developing and delivering business solutions, providing outstanding client service, driving profitable revenue growth, and expanding the mission-driven purpose of providing healthcare for underserved communities, rural areas, and tribal communities.
Chief Nursing Officer. She resides in the Southern Hills of South Dakota, has over 30 years of clinical nursing experience, 15 years as travel nurse, and 9 years as Owner of Lux Travel Nurse, Inc. After the acquisition by Arc Health of Lux Travel Nurse, Inc. in April 2024, she remains on staff as CNO of which is now, Lux Nursing. Her leadership and management role continues as overseeing Lux recruitment staff, providing support to Lux Nursing travel staff, as well as maintaining the relationships with the facilities we service in the Great Plains Region of South Dakota and the neighboring Regions within the Nebraska Panhandle. She has firsthand experience as a nurse and understands the importance of providing staff who are familiar with tribal and rural culture.
Lara Snow is a distinguished clinical staffing professional with over 18 years of experience in managing the recruitment and delivery of health services for Indigenous and underserved populations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Behavioral Sciences from Oglethorpe University and is pursuing her MBA in Healthcare Management at George Washington University.
A highly analytical and results-driven leader, Lara has achieved notable success in program management, business planning and development, talent acquisition, and cross-functional collaboration. Her proficiency in CRM, VMS, and MSP software, coupled with her comprehensive understanding of federal acquisition processes, empowers her to optimize operational efficiency effectively.
Lara has an impressive track record of analyzing policies and procedures to design and implement strategic improvement initiatives that enhance outcomes for her clients and their patients. Her adeptness at navigating complex situations while mitigating risks and identifying value-creation opportunities distinguishes her in the field. With a strong commitment to managing intricate projects and healthcare delivery programs, Lara consistently balances compliance with client expectations and the evolving needs of the business.
As she advances in her career in healthcare management, Lara remains dedicated to developing impactful, compassionate, and culturally sensitive solutions that strengthen clinical workforce capabilities and improve healthcare access for underserved patients in rural communities nationwide.
Caron is a CPA and MBA with extensive knowledge and experience managing the accounting and financial reporting systems for small to mid-sized organizations. Caron has served as the Vice President, Controller at Twinlab and Director of Finance at Sally Hershberger Professional Hair Care. Caron holds a BA in Psychology from Binghamton University and an MBA with a focus in Accounting from Kennesaw State University.
Bonnie Hamel joined Arc Health as a Social Medicine Recruiter in March 2022, bringing a wealth of experience from her long career in recruiting teachers and healthcare providers. She excels in developing key relationships and collaborating with facilities and providers to ensure optimal matches. Before joining Arc Health, Bonnie served as the sole Provider Recruitment Coordinator for North Country Healthcare in northern New Hampshire.
As a social medicine recruiter, Bonnie is actively involved in improving locum tenens staffing through collaborative solutions that promote high-quality, patient-centered care for rural, underserved, and tribal communities. She holds certifications as a Certified Provider Recruitment Professional (CPRP) from the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment and as a Certified Medical Staff Recruiter from the American Academy of Medical Management. Additionally, she has served on the board of the Northeast Physician Recruiter Association.
Bonnie is passionate about ensuring that the most vulnerable communities have access to top health professionals and is dedicated to making the best healthcare matches every day.
Candie joined the Pinnacle EMG team in 2020 and now serves as one of Arc Health’s most seasoned recruiters. Before joining Arc Health and Pinnacle, she gained over 15 years of experience in healthcare management and operations, working in diverse settings such as large urban community hospitals and trauma centers. Candie is passionately committed to empowering organizations through effective, collaborative, and impactful leadership. Born and raised in northern New Jersey, she now resides in Florida with her partner, two sons, and their dog.
Lynn Simons has been a Registered Nurse for over 31 years. She received her ADN degree in 1993, her BSN in 2006, and her MSN in 2012. Lynn has been working as a recruiter with Lux Nursing since 2021. Lynn has experience in both small and tertiary hospitals as well as Long Term Care. Prior to coming to Lux, she served as a Director of Nursing for over 24 years and was also a nursing clinical instructor, TNCC instructor, and a Program Mentor Manager for Western Governors University. Lynn enjoys working with travelers to help find the best possible position for them and their families and helping to serve the facilities we work with.
My name is Patrick and I am a Nurse Recruiter for Lux Nursing/ArcHealth. I graduated nursing school from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2014. In my nursing career I have worked mostly in school nursing and long-term care. I have worked in the role as a recruiter since August of 2021. I thoroughly enjoy the process of meeting new people whom are looking to explore the world of travel nursing and the fulfillment of finding those individuals contracts. Along with recruiting, I myself also continue to work fulltime as a registered nurse. This gives me a unique perspective to understand exactly what those individuals whom I am placing under contacts are going to endure.
I am a professional recruiter based in California. Over the past five years, I have specialized in Acute travel nursing all across the nation. In my tenure I have built strong relationships with healthcare professionals and Hospitals in order to help connect caregivers to careers that make an impact where it is needed most.
Renisha Smith is a healthcare and cybersecurity professional with a diverse background in both administrative and technical roles. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Strayer University and a diploma in Medical Assisting. Outside of work, Renisha enjoys traveling and spending time with her dog.
Jacqueline ensures seamless onboarding of new staff. In addition, she ensures that all travelers are up to date and compliant with certifications and continuing education requirements.
Before joining the team, she worked for 9 years, gaining broad experience with Lux Travel Nurse, Inc. Her work as a Payroll Clerk allowed her to develop personal connections with Lux nurses, recruiters, and facility administrators.
She is passionate about promoting a positive travel nurse experience and continues to maintain those relationships, working closely with the entire Lux Nursing team.
Julie Van Boerum is the owner and lead bookkeeper of VB Bookkeeping since its inception in 2016. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University and has bookkeeping experience across multiple industries, specializing in small businesses. She strongly believes that having accurate and timely financial information is essential to fueling business growth. Julie began working with Arc Health in 2018 and now works closely with both the CEO and Director of Operations.
Opportunities
Discover amazing opportunities at Arc Health
Meet Our Board
Dr. Le steers Arc Health’s vision and core values, drawing from decades of experience in rural and global clinical settings. He is dedicated to supporting the next generation of health equity practitioners.
Dr. Le is an internist and pediatrician, and Associate Professor at UCSF and UC Berkeley. He is currently the Vice Dean for Medical Education at VinUniversity College of Health Sciences in Hanoi, Vietnam. In addition, he is an adjunct professor of medicine and pediatrics at UCSF.
Dr. Le steers Arc Health’s vision and core values, drawing from decades of experience in rural and global clinical settings. He is dedicated to supporting the next generation of health equity practitioners.
Dave is a social entrepreneur who believes in the true value of each individual. Building on his management and accounting education from Purdue University and his CPA certification, he has spent the last 20 years leading and growing social enterprises that serve individuals who traditionally are left behind.
Dave is a social entrepreneur who believes in the true value of each individual. Building on his management and accounting education from Purdue University and his CPA certification, he has spent the last 20 years leading and growing social enterprises that serve individuals who traditionally are left behind. His core belief that with appropriate focus and alignment, healthy businesses should play an important role in the overall ecosystem.Prior to Arc Health, Dave led two not-for-profit employment agencies. First Step Staffing focused on employment for persons experiencing homelessness and before that DePaul Industries which served those with disabilities. Prior to DePaul, Dave Co-Founded and led Moonstruck Chocolatier, a successful high end chocolate company. Dave has won numerous awards during his career, among those the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year accolade in 2012.
Sriram Shamasunder graduated from University of California, Berkeley and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. He obtained his Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene in 2013. Throughout the last decade he has spent several months out of every year in underserved settings around the world including South Los Angeles, rural Liberia, Haiti, Burundi, and rural India.
Sri is a Professor of Medicine at UCSF, and co-founder and faculty director of the HEAL Initiative, a health workforce strengthening fellowship working in Navajo Nation and 9 countries around the world. HEAL currently has over 200 fellows, over the last nine years, half of whom are Native American and from low and middle income countries(LMIC).
He was awarded the Young Physician of the Year in 2010, by the Northern California Chapter of the American College of Physicians and was named an Asia21 fellow by the Asia Foundation in 2012, a Fulbright-Nehru scholar to India in 2012 and a Draper Richards Kaplan entrepreneur in 2016. He was an Emerson Dial Fellow in 2021, and received the UCSF Chancellor's Edison T. Uno Award for Public Service in 2023.
Dr. Shamasunder led the HEAL UCSF response during the ongong COVID surge in Navajo Nation spending several weeks with HEAL's partner site hospital taking care of COVID patients and supporting UCSF nursing and doctor volunteers. Over 40 nurses and doctors In April, May and June 2020 from UCSF joined the over 50 HEAL fellows(Native and non-Native) in Navajo Nation. Navajo Area Indian Health Service Awarded HEAL Volunteer of the Year for 2020 for this effort.
Sri is a published poet and studied and taught with June Jordan’s Poetry for the People while at UC Berkeley. He is interested in a solidarity that draws untold stories to the surface as well as health equity. In 2016, he gave a Berkeley Ted X talk entitled "Whose Suffering Matters Less, and Why"?
During her 40-year career in healthcare including 18 years as CEO of Indian Health Service and other Tribal programs, Vida has learned that medicine is ultimately all about people. Patients always come first. Every patient, every encounter, deserves exceptional care and respect: this is the foundation of her work. As CEO at the Winslow Indian Health Center, Vida established the first Native Traditional Medicine Program within IHS and successfully integrated complementary medicine. She also acquired the first mobile medical van for community service in the Navajo IHS. This work won her the prestigious 1999 American Hospital Association Federal Sector Special Achievement Award for Innovative Leadership. Vida is an expert in women's workplace dynamics, organizational transitions, and visionary leadership, and has addressed conferences, associations, and government agencies across the country. Being a successful Navajo woman, she naturally combines the wisdom of her native roots with her vast administrative leadership and experience.
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Jennifer Kawar is Vice President of Investor Relations and Impact Investing Services at Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF)
Jennifer Kawar is Vice President of Investor Relations and Impact Investing Services at Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), a national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with more than $400 million in assets under management.
Jennifer leads the development of impact-first funds that create affordable housing, support economic and workforce development, and expand community-based programs in underserved communities. She offers insights and approaches from almost 30 years of financial markets experience to raise & deliver capital that is flexible for developers and social innovators, and safe for investors.
Prior to joining NFF in 2009, Ms. Kawar spent 15 years in the financial services mainstream, managing the business development, underwriting and credit administration functions for financial institutions including Bank of America and GE Capital. Jennifer began her career as a securities analyst at TIAA in New York. She has an MBA from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and dual undergraduate degrees from the University of California, Berkeley.