Leaders & Directors | Health Teams International

Learn about our Team and Culture

We are a team of dedicated professionals, ready to do what ever it takes to make your business grow

William Johanson, MD

President

Bill is a family doctor from North Carolina that has been on many HTI teams to Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Cameroon as well as missions for his church, Global Health Outreach and for Samaritan’s purse. Bill graduated valedictorian from his high school and went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree from Princeton in New Jersey. His medical degree was from Vanderbilt University. Bill is involved with many ministries within his church and community particularly with the disadvantaged including prison ministry, community pregnancy center and rescue missions. Bill is one of the most tireless workers on medical teams and is often the first to lead us in prayer, song and worship.

2078 East Winds Avenue
Morganton, NC 28655

Email: johanson5481@charter.net
Phone: 828-448-5199

Gary A. Moberg, DDS

Gary graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1976. He and his wife, Lyndell, currently live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area after retiring from his private dental practice in Upper Michigan. They have been making short term mission trips since 1989. Upon his completion of an MA degree from Bethel Seminary, they have been pursuing more opportunities overseas to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who have never heard, while bringing dental care to those in need. Gary and Lyndell have four children and eleven grandchildren.

Email: gamoberg@gmail.com
Phone: 651-492-1786

Dale & Mary Ann Louis

Dale Louis is a 1966 dental graduate of the University of Minnesota, Vietnam Veteran 1966-67, and was in private practice for 30 years in Boulder, CO. Since retirement Dale has been on over 50 dental overseas mission trips. Mary Ann is a retired high school German teacher and now serves as Dale’s all purpose dental assistant. She is currently enrolled in a distance Learning study course through Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA. Dale and Mary Ann have worked with 8 different Christian mission groups. Dale and Mary Ann split their time between homes in Bonita Springs, FL, Breckenridge, CO and dental missions.

Email: drdalelouis@msn.com

Jubilee Thanga

Associate Director

Associate Member of Health Team International. Jubilee is a graduate of B.A.(History), and B.Th., (Theology) in his Myanmar. He pursued M.Div., (Missiology) at Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary in the Philippines. Upon his completion, he returned back to his country and served as a senior pastor, church administrator, dean of Southeast Asia Nazarene Bible College, Myanmar.

He founded Hi Kidz Myanmar Foundation in 2009, and annually reaching 2 million kids through his children ministry network in partnership with over 3000 local churches.

He actively involves in Myanmar Evangelical Christian Alliance (MECA) and serving as a director of Evangelism and Mission Commission.

He has been a host and a national team leader for HTI mission trip since 2005 to present. Jubilee and his wife, Moe Moe, and their sons, Samuel and Joel, live in Yangon.

Web: www.hikidzmyanmar.org
Email: jubilee.t@hikidzmyanmar.org

James K. Okamoto, MD

Board certified in family medicine since 1995, and volunteering for medical service overseas since medical school, Dr. Okamoto has taught medical students and doctors in Uzbekistan, Morocco, and Afghanistan, and has done relief work in Sudan since 1999. Disaster relief includes leading teams in the Rwandan refugee camps, Kosovar refugee camps, and post tsunami relief in Sri Lanka. He also served on mercy ships in Guinea, West Africa and the Dominican Republic. In addition to his work at Ka Wai Ola Family Medical Clinic, he serves on the Board of Directors for Health Teams International (serving in Cameroon, Tibet, and Myanmar) and also on the Board of Medical Teams Worldwide (working in Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, and Kenya).

In 2005 he received special recognition for outstanding commitment to medical staff excellence at Evergreen Healthcare, and in 2006 he received The (U.S.) President’s Volunteer Service Award for his volunteer work with Medical Teams International.

Email: jimokamoto@mac.com
Phone: 808-677-8222

Renee Elmer, MS, APRN

Family Nurse Practitioner, Graduate of University of Illinois, Chicago ’91

Having recently retired as the medical director of a federally qualified health center in Illinois, Renee looks forward to applying her clinical and administrative experience in a volunteer capacity with Health Teams International.

Renee has had the privilege of serving on multiple medical mission teams in a variety of locations. She counts it a joy to see God at work in different cultures. Her motivation comes directly from Scripture, especially:

1 Samuel 12:24
" Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider, what great things he has done for you."

Married to Steven, with three grown children. Renee’s interests include reading, travel, and fiber arts.

16889 US Highway 6 
Geneseo IL 61254

E-mail: renelmer@gmail.com 
Phone: 309-945-3995

Olga Slusher, MD

Olga is a family medicine physician who lives in East TN with her husband Tom. She grew up in Siberia and owes her own salvation to faithfull work of missionaries who preached the love of God in her hometown when she was a teenager. Olga received her medical training at UC San Diego and is board certified in family, integrative and obesity medicine. She has worked in medical missions in Uganda and Mexico since medical school with a passion for the Lord, His people and especially children. Olga and Tom have five grown children and three grandchildren.

Email: olga.v.slusher@gmail.com
Phone: 415-572-7557

Patricia Bothwick, DO

Patricia Borthwick is an obstetrician/gynecologist residing in Portland, Oregon. Recently, retired as a physician emeritus, she volunteers locally to assist wherever our Lord Jesus directs her.

21590 SW Stafford Rd.
Tualatin, OR 97062

E-mail: pborthwick1972@gmail.com
Phone: 503-341-8496

Elizabeth Martens

Elizabeth is the mother of two grown children and a California native currently living in Southern California. A graduate of West Los Angeles College in Culver City California with an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene, Elizabeth practices as a Registered Dental Hygienist in multiple offices with a special emphasis in Pediatric and Holistic Dentistry. With a passion for Christ and serving the most needy people groups in the world Elizabeth has served with Heath Teams International since 2006 and has joined teams on short term missions to Benin, Uganda, Columbia, and Myanmar.

Tom Harle, DDS

President of HTI Canada

Obtained his BSc (1976), DDS (1980), Specialty training in prosthetic dentistry (1989) and a masters degree (1990). He taught at the University of Toronto Dental Faculty, served at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Hospital and worked with the Canadian Forces Health Services Branch as a clinical Prosthodontist. In addition to operating a full-time referral-based specialty dental practice he and his wife run a weekly inner city “no-cost” denture clinic for the poor and homeless in Ottawa, Ontario. He has been President of HTI (Canada) since 2001 having participated in or led several HTI mission teams to South East Asia – including Nepal, Vietnam, Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Burma, China and North Korea.

414-1335 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1Z 8N8

Email: tape.harle@sympatico.ca
Phone: 613-591-9902

Dr. Richard Charlick, DDS

Emeritus President

Dick is the past president of HTI. Born and raised in Michigan, he attended Michigan State University for 3 years and University of Michigan for 7 years and received a D.D.S. and M.S. in Restorative Dentistry. He taught 1/2 time at U of M Dental School for 30 years while having a private practice 1/2 time in Brighton, Michigan. Dick accepted Christ as a young child and has been active and growing since. He started leading dental mission trips in the early 1980‘s and joined HTI in the early 90’s becoming president in 2000. He has led over 57 health mission trips seeing several thousands of unreached people come to Christ. He enjoys serving in all areas of the world opening up new areas among the over 2 billion people who have never heard of Jesus.

10056 Applegate Lane
Brighton, MI 48114 

Email: ddchar@earthlink.net
Phone: 810-229-9247
Cell: 810-923-2223

Dan Wiklund MD

Dan lives in the Puget Sound area of the Northwest and is board certified in internal medicine and dermatology and has a diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (London). He has received awards as Teacher of the Year (University of Washington Medical School) and Alumnus of the Year (Pacific Lutheran University). He has been on multiple mission outreaches with HTI and currently is leading teams into West Africa. He has also been on missions to Tibet, China, Mongolia, Philippines and India. Dan currently is in private practice in Puyallup, WA. and is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington Medical School. Dr. Wiklund believes that the Great Commission is a command and sharing our love and skills with a world in hurt is a personal obligation.

219 N Tacoma Ave, #103
Tacoma, WA 98403

Email: skin1706@aol.com
Phone: 253-350-8769

Lee Wiggins, DDS

Secretary

Lee resides with his wife, Susan, in Gold River, California where he is a general dentist. He has been involved with short-term foreign missions since 1985. He trained at the University of California in San Francisco and did a General Practice residency at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi. He retired from private practice after 41 years and has been on missions to the Philippines, Mexico, Colombia, Cameroon, Ghana, China, India, and Cambodia. Lee has been on the Board of Directors of HTI since the early 1990s, and loves to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ being spread throughout the world alongside the physical healing of medical and dental clinics. HTI has been a perfect match for Lee.

11310 Mother Lode Circle
Gold River, CA 95670

Email: FMLYDDS@aol.com 
Phone: 916-631-8337

James H Khoe, DDS

Education:

1976 –1980
Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with emphasis in:
• Microbiology
• University of Southern California
• Los Angeles, California

1981-1985
Doctorate in Dental Surgery
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California

Medical/Dental mission trips primarily with Health Teams International but also have gone with CMDA, and Samaritan Purse.

Home Address
979 Marlin Ave.
Foster City, CA 94404
Phone: 415-309-9589
Email: tooth4hire@aol.com

Timothy S. Hiura, MD

Timothy Hiura is a graduate of University California, San Diego for his undergraduate degree and graduated from University of California, Davis School of Medicine. He then completed his three year residency at University of Hawaii, family medicine residency program. He was practicing at Haleiwa Family Health Center since 2006 and is now transitioning to Ka Wai Ola Family Medical Clinic. He has a heart for people and creating a comfortable environment for his patients. He also looks forward to volunteering a portion of his time to helping the poor and needy people around the world. Tim and his wife Tara, a registered nurse, have been on medical missions to Africa, Nepal and Haiti.

Email: timhiura@gmail.com

John Ngoh

Associate Director for HTI Africa

Associate Director for Africa at Health Teams International, Inc., volunteer at Victory Christian Center and Founder and President at Missions for Christ International Ministries. Studied Theology/Missions at Oral Roberts University, Wichita State University, and Cameroon College of Arts Science and Technology.

Email: missionsfcvbi@yahoo.com

Ben Cuvelier, PA

Ben graduate from Carroll University PA program in 2022. He currently lives in New Hartford, IA practicing family medicine at a local FQHC clinic. He has traveled to Uganda and Mexico through HTI.

Email: 14cuvebenj@gmail.com

Betty Evans

Treasurer

Betty Evans is a RHEMA Bible School graduate with emphasis on mission’s and children’s programs. Betty spent 8 years in China working with orphans, children and the elderly. She adopted a Chinese baby girl who just turned 21. Betty currently resides in Southern California.

Email: bjehesed@hotmail.com

Erin Phillips

Erin Phillips received her doctorate of pharmacy from the University of Toledo. After which she completed a general residency with Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. She is board certified in ambulatory care practice. Erin currently resides in the greater Los Angeles area with her husband and daughter where she has worked as a clinical pharmacist in hematology/oncology for 10 years.

27344 Weathersfield Dr
Valencia, CA 91354

Phone: (330) 329-8675

Caroline L Chesnutt, RN

Caroline Chesnutt is an ICU trained registered nurse, missionary, and author who has been serving the Lord in medical missions for 20 years and has been serving with HTI for the past 10 years. She currently lives near Nashville, TN with her husband Ethan Erguven, a pastor and missionary church planter.”

PO Box 44
Rockvale TN 37153

Phone: 615-477-4372

Carolyn Chesnutt

Carolyn Chesnutt, mother of our new President Caroline Chesnutt, is a retired lawyer who enjoys good relationships with her one son, three daughters and seven grandchildren.

She currently lives in Missouri with her youngest daughter, her excellent son-in-law, and four of her grandchildren.

475 South Perkins Road No. 911
Memphis, TN 38117

Email: carolynchesnutt@gmail.com
Phone: 972-740-4727

Gerald Roussie

Executive Director of HTI Canada

Gerald became involved with Health Teams International in the summer of 2000 through Dr. Tom Harle, President of the Canadian office of Health Teams International. Formerly a life-long educator at the secondary, community college, and university levels, he gained an interest in missions work through World Hope International, the missions branch of the Wesleyan Church. Working with a team to Bogota, Columbia he helped the local administration increase their computer expertise through the building, installation, and training in computer application. In Petit Guave, Haiti, he worked with World Hope in an assessment of a computer school that was set up under their auspices. As he became more involved in Health Teams International, he developed an expertise in doing eye refractions on the mission field. His training at the School of Optometry at the University of Houston not only provided him with the professional skills he needed to become a more valuable team member, but it also piqued his interest in the field of optometry. Since that time, he has helped team leaders provide optometric services in Sri Lanka, India, Benin, and Myanmar. In the summer of 2006, he will accompany a team to China and North Korea to serve as the Vision Station leader. Gerry has assumed the position of Executive Director of both the Canadian and American operations of Health Teams International. Psalms 137:4: How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?

15 Stonepath Cr.
Stittsville, ON K2S 1S4

Email: roussie@sympatico.ca
Phone: 613-836-6654

Cody Adkinson, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at University of Miami SOM
Director of Interventional Pulmonology at Jackson Memorial Hospital

Schooling:
Medical School: Wright State University SOM
Residency: Internal Medicine @ University of Miami
Externship: Tropical Medicine @ Hospital Universitario del Valle, Colombia
Fellowship: Pulmonology & Critical Care @ University of Miami
Fellowship: Interventional Pulmonology @ Johns Hopkins Hospital
Humanitarian Healthcare Provider Program: Humanitarian U @ Université Laval, Quebec

Missions Experience:
Myanmar x3 with HTI
Honduras x2 with HTI
Other: El Salvador, India

Email: brian.cody.adkinson@gmail.com