MDA Team
Board of Directors
Mission Doctors Association is led by a dedicated Board of Directors, many of whom have served themselves in mission.
Guiding the efforts of MDA, the Board of Directors works to ensure that Catholic Doctors and their families will have the support necessary to provide care for our sisters and brothers around the world.
President
Thomas Liautaud
Vice President
Lynn Powe, RN, JD
Treasurer
Martin Casaus, CPA
Executive Secretary
Timothy Cavanagh, MD
Auxiliary President
Bonnie Flaherty
Chaplain
Rev. Ed Benioff
Board of Directors
Eli Ayoub, MD
Martha Franz de Leon, MD
Br. John Kiesler OFM
Margaret Liautaud
MaryLou Malphus
Ashley Martabano, JD
John Nguyen
Anne Marie Raffo, MD
Henoc Rodriquez, MD
Patrick Ryan, MD
Jennifer Thoene, MD
Mission Doctors Staff
Under the direction of the Board of Directors, the staff of Mission Doctors Association sees to the day to day efforts to recruit, train, send and support Catholic Doctors and their families.
Elise Frederick, Executive Director
Elise and her husband Tom and their young family served as in Thailand as lay missionaries from 1978 to 1981, and she left her heart in the missions. Since returning, she has worked for Mission Doctors, working with the doctors who serve long and short term, with the Auxiliary and all the friends of MDA. She has visited the Bishops and Religious, as well as the Mission Doctors in Africa and Latin America. She is often quoted saying that “The best part of my job is working with all the amazing doctors, the dedicated Board of Directors, and all of MDA’s friends and supporters.” In addition to being married to always helpful, husband Tom for 40 years, she is the mother of four adult children. If you are around her very long (more than 5 minutes), know she will find a way to get you involved in the work of Mission Doctors too! In her free time, you can find Elise playing with her grandkids, watercolor painting, and cooking.
Jessica Franks, Communications Director
Jessica was born a “mission baby” when her parents were serving with Lay Mission-Helpers (Mission Doctors’ sister organization) in Thailand. Continuing the family tradition, Jessica fell in love with nonprofit work at a young age and started adopting animals, attending demonstrations and sending advocacy letters to elected officials. Jessica did a volunteer year at the White Violet Center at St. Mary of the Woods in Indiana after finishing college. In 2008, Jessica began her work with Mission Doctors. She oversees the website development, and the design of all print material and ensures that MDA is well represented on Social Networking! She and her husband Kevin have two amazing kids. When she is not taking them to the library or park, she is gardening and working on your next email newsletter and marketing plans to move Mission Doctors forward.
Amie Garcia, Program Coordinator
Amie Garcia began her career working at a student-run youth shelter throughout college. She knew that upon graduating she wanted to pursue a career in international service and development, so in 2019 Amie left to serve as a Youth Development Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic. After ending her service a year early due to COVID-19, and travelling back to get her dog to the United States, Amie began working for the Catholic Charities of Los Angeles at the Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children as a Case Manager for their Recovery Rehousing Program. Amie has now happily joined Mission Doctors Association as Program Coordinator. In her free time, Amie is usually outdoors hiking with her dog, playing beach volleyball, or currently, learning how to rollerblade.
Maria Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant
Maria serves as Mission Doctors Association’s Administrative Assistant, supporting the office with dedication and care. She brings nearly twenty years of experience with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, where she worked as Office Manager in the Media Relations department. Maria has also served with AmeriCorps LAPD, contributing to community life by organizing Christmas baskets, helping with neighborhood beautification projects, and assisting with community meetings to improve the quality of life for local residents. Her parish experience includes both office support and coordinating parish-wide projects, such as organizing Christmas wish lists in partnership with a sister parish. In her free time, Maria enjoys gardening—a passion passed down from her grandfather and mother.
Loreto S. Melo, Bookkeeper
Loreto Melo assists Mission Doctors with bookkeeping and financial record keeping. She recently retired from a UCLA affiliated non-profit community health center after 32 years. Loreto is an active parishioner of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Atwater Village, Los Angeles.
