Healthcare Businesswomen's Association

Letter from HBA Orange County President

 

A New Chapter for HBA Orange County


As we begin a new year, I am honored and excited to step into the role of President of the 
Orange County Chapter. Having previously served as Vice President, it is a privilege to build 
upon the strong foundation established by my predecessor, Dr. Shawn Andrews, along with our 
Board, advisors, partners, volunteers, and most importantly our engaged members.


Our Orange County chapter continues to grow in both size and impact, driven by a shared 
commitment to advancing and accelerating women’s leadership in the business of healthcare. I 
am deeply grateful for the leadership and dedication of our prior Board officers and committee 
leads, whose vision, creativity, and persistence have shaped a chapter known for meaningful 
programming, innovative events, and authentic connection. We are also fortunate to work with 
an esteemed Advisory Board of executive women and men across Orange County.
 

Our 2026 Board includes:

  • President – Sandra O’Donald (SVP, Business Operations at iMDx)
  • Vice President – Annum Zhara, MSc. (Senior Management, Clinical Affairs, iMDx)
  • Director of Operations – Trina Schneider, Director of Business Development at TLS 
    Consulting)
  • Director of Programming and Events – Meredith Kolasa (Director, Compliance at 
    Glaukos Corporation)
  • Director of Membership and Engagement – Ayesha Small, PharmD (Associate Director, Regulatory Strategy at Genentech/Roche)
  • Director of Marketing and Communications - Cristhian Guzman (Founder & Principal, 
    CaseCrafted)


Our accomplishments in 2025 include:

  • 235 members
  • Total event attendance of 300 (average of 20 attendees per event)
  • Three Corporate Partners: Sumitomo, AbbVie, and Tarsus
  • One mentoring circle (2 mentors, 4 mentees)
  • 20 educational and Membership & Engagement events, including five first-of-their-kind 
    programs.
  • Our first event with Edwards Lifesciences focused on AI in healthcare.
  • An Advisory Board of 10 executive-level members with quarterly joint meetings


Looking ahead to 2026, my focus as President is on deepening engagement, expanding 
access, and continuing to foster a strong sense of community and belonging. We aim to create 
meaningful opportunities for members to connect, learn, and lead. This year, we will continue to 
offer a thoughtful mix of educational and networking programs that reflect the real needs of 
women and men in healthcare across career stages, functions, and organizations.


Orange County is home to a vibrant and diverse healthcare ecosystem, and HBA OC is 
uniquely positioned to bring together professionals from biopharma, medical devices, 
diagnostics, research, hospitals, academia, and consulting. Whether you are new to HBA or a 
long-standing member, I encourage you to join us at an upcoming event, participate in a 
mentoring circle, or explore opportunities to volunteer and contribute. Your involvement is what 
makes this chapter thrive.


We welcome women and men at all stages of their careers to engage with our local HBA OC 
chapter. If you are interested in volunteering or contributing, please do not hesitate to reach out 
based on your area of interest.


Thank you for being part of our HBA OC community. I look forward to connecting with you, 
learning alongside you, and working together to make this a year of growth, impact, and 
engagement.

 

Sandra O'Donald

Sandra O’Donald
HBA Orange County President

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