Board of Directors
ABDALLAH S. FARRUKH, MD, SECRETARY
Abdallah S. Farrukh, MD is a board certified neurosurgeon based in Lancaster, California. He is serving a second, consecutive four-year term on the board of directors for Antelope Valley Hospital, where he is also a member of the medical staff.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Dr. Farrukh is an American citizen who performed a residency in general surgery at Union Memorial Hospital, and a neurosurgery residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, both in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. Farrukh served as Chief of Staff at Palmdale Medical Center from 1983-1984 and as Chief of Surgery at AVH in 1995. He was Chief of Staff at AVH from 1996-1999.
Consistently active in the local medical community and within his medical field, Dr. Farrukh has presented numerous lectures on a variety of neurosurgery topics at conferences around the U.S.
JOHN J. MANNING, MD, FIRST VICE CHAIR
A plastic surgeon who is also board certified in otolaryngology, John J. Manning, MD is currently serving a second, non-consecutive term on the AVH board of directors. He previously sat on the board from 1996-1998, serving as its chairman in 1998. He has been in private practice in Lancaster since 1973.
Dr. Manning received his medical degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Vietnam War, during which time he earned a Bronze Star, Air Medal and Commendation for Valor. Upon returning to the U.S. he performed a residency in ear, nose and throat/head & neck surgery at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Oakland. After practicing otolaryngology for three years, he performed another residency in plastic & reconstructive surgery at George Washington University/National Children's Hospital.
Dr. Manning has practiced plastic and reconstructive surgery in the Lancaster area since 1980. In 1994, he earned another degree: a master's in administrative medicine from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He has been affiliated with High Desert Medical Group since 2003.
BERNA LEE MAYER, RN, MSN, CFNP, SECOND VICE CHAIR
Berna Lee Mayer is a licensed nurse practitioner and experienced health care administrator.
From 1985 - 1995, Mayer was employed with AVH; first as an R.N. in various hospital units, and later as a nurse practitioner. From 1987 - 1995 she served as the hospital's nurse practitioner director. She subsequently held positions in managed health care and practice management, including Clinical Director of Physician Practice Management for Scripps IPA in San Diego.
Mayer affiliated with Heritage Provider Network - which includes Lancaster's High Desert Medical Group - in 1995. Within the organization she has held positions including director of clinical services for High Desert Medical Group, Vice President of Clinical Services for Heritage Southwest Medical Group in Dallas, and Executive Director of Hospital Services for High Desert Medical Group, the position she currently holds.
Mayer holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from California State University, and a master's degree in nursing (nurse practitioner degree) from UCLA.
DON PARAZO, MD, CHAIR
Don Parazo, MD is a board certified physician specializing in family medicine, with a special interest in geriatrics.
Dr. Parazo earned his medical degree from Texas Tech University School of Medicine, and performed his family practice residency at R.E. Thomason General Hospital. His military service includes a position as Chief of Family Practice Development at El Toro MCAS in Santa Ana, California.
Dr. Parazo has served as medical director for the Heritage Clinic in Palmdale and for California Desert IPA. He has served as a clinical instructor for the Glendale Aventist Family Practice Residency Program, and as Chief of Family Practice for High Desert Medical Group, with whom he is currently affiliated.
MUKUND G. SHAH, MD, TREASURER
Mukund Shah, MD is a board certified physician specializing in oncology and internal medicine. He has practiced for over 33 years in the Antelope Valley and is on active medical staff at Antelope Valley Hospital and other hospitals.
Dr. Shah previously served as Chief of Staff at Antelope Valley Hospital and has served on many hospital committees. He is very active in the community, speaking on topics ranging from cancer prevention to cancer treatment options. He is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Dr. Shah’s clinical experience is in lung, colon, breast, lymphoma, prostate and gynecological cancers. He is a Principal Investigator in his office for many clinical trials in association with Translational Oncology Research International (TORI) Network through UCLA.