The Board

Dr. Griffin's work focuses on social determinates of health; trauma- informed systems; integrated healthcare; neurological development as a result of complex trauma and chronic stress; developmental traumatology with emphasis on social ecology

Jackie is an experienced tax consultant with over 30 years of practice in tax preparation and consulting. Committed to providing the best care to clients through transparent communication and timely preparation of tax returns. Results oriented, organized and an effective communicator. Hard-working, compassionate, responsible and motivated.

Preneka Burnham is a life-long learner and nationwide educator of over 33 years.  Her extensive background ranges from early childhood education, k-12 instruction and curriculum design, adult andragogy, and nationwide educational advocacy and policy reform. Her cross-systems body of work and service to children, youth, families and professional communities includes: nurturing and attuned childcare at the UCSD Early Childhood Education Center, while she simultaneously earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Spanish Literature with a minor in Women’s Studies; delivery of academic instruction at MAAC Community Charter School, where she was a founding teaching member of the Charter and designed the Early Childhood Education department, partnering with MAAC HeadStart and Southwestern College; and developing and delivering young adult/adult instruction at SDSU’s Upward Bound Limited-English Speakers Program and Grossmont College’s Early Childhood Education Department. 

Preneka currently serves a variety of populations in her current position as an Education Liaison for foster youth, including: children with disabilities, families of color including migrant families and families of tribal nations, and persons of varying socio-economic status, gender identity and orientation, and lived experience of childhood and adult trauma.  Additionally, she provides technical assistance, trainings, and policy reform and implementation for school systems throughout the United States. Her approach is healing-informed, strengths-based, and rests on the pillars of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and reverence for family and community networks.

Preneka is a published author, animal and nature lover, gardener, spiritual coach, mother of an adult son who serves in the United States Navy and an adult daughter who is a Physical Education Teacher, a wife, sister, friend to many, and life-long learner. Her academic achievements are many, highlighted by certification to Teach English as a Second Language through UCSD, an Administrative Services Credential and a Full-Time Vocational Education Designated Subjects Credential-Child Care, certification in the NueroSequential Model of Therapeutics and the NueroSequential Model of Education through the ChildTrauma Academy, and is currently enrolled with the Horticultural Therapy Institute for certification in Horticultural Therapy.

Hilary M. Bowers, MD, FAAP 

Dr. Bowers is the founding Director of Behavioral and Mental Health Services at Children’s Primary Care Medical Group (CPCMG). She is spearheading the CPCMG Mental Health Initiative to create Centers of Excellence to improve the delivery of behavioral and mental health care to children and adolescents. CPCMG provides health care at 28 offices across San Diego and Riverside counties and serves the needs of 280,000 children. 

Dr. Bowers graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, and received her medical degree from the University of Washington. While there, she performed early research on the efficacy of telemedicine to serve rural populations. She completed her internship and residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, with additional training at Boston Medical Center, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, and is a Board Certified Pediatrician. Dr. Bowers has served in a number of capacities within CPCMG including CPCMG’s Board of Directors, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Telemedicine Taskforce and several others. Outside of CPCMG, she has been a member of the RCHSD (Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego) Pediatric Mental Health Integration Committee and the Epic Optimization Build Team. She has also been active with Children’s Physicians Medical Group (CPMG) as a member of the Quality of Care Committee. Currently, she is the Lead Pediatrician of the Primary Care Mental Health Integration program as part of the Transforming Mental Health Initiative at RCHSD. 

Dr. Bowers, with her husband of 25 years, are the proud parents of five children. She has been active in numerous ways in their schools - chairing Gala Fundraisers, room parent, Treasurer of the PTO and Board Member. In addition, she has always been an active member of their synagogue. 

Dr. Bowers has been an invited speaker to a number of multidisciplinary conferences addressing the delivery of behavioral and mental health care. In addition, she regularly interacts with Southern California’s Pediatric communities in a number of capacities. She is committed to bringing mental health care into the primary care home, and is a passionate advocate for improved and timely access to quality pediatric behavioral and mental health care.

Lynn Sharpe Underwood moved from journalism to working with non profits because she wanted to support organizations who were changing the community’s response to issues. She  has been  teaching at Alliant for six years. She has  a variety of criminal justice and journalism related experiences.  She came to San Diego after  a career in New York City as a journalist and college professor. She states: My life was impacted by two amazing journalists. Ida Lewis, founder of Encore Magazine the first Black news monthly” Lewis  hired Sharpe-Underwood to be a writer and editor at Encore. Ed Bradley, an award winning journalist and the first Black White House television correspondent , introduced Sharpe Underwood to the news room in New York City at WCBS radio and encouraged her journalism career. She met her husband in NYC fell in love and followed him (he owned a jewelry store) to San Diego.. After a successful career in San Diego as a radio  reporter, Sharpe Underwood would go on to politics  (outreach for Mayor O’Connor)  and non-profit organizations which included Episcopal Community Services, the County’s Behavioral Health Advisory Board,  the San Diego Gang Commission  and San Diego Job Corps.

The Clinical Director position is currently accepting applicants 

The Functional Physician position is currently accepting applicants 

The Herbalist position is currently accepting applicants 

Susan Halliday, you remain at the heart and soul of HOPE Grounds.  Your lasting impacts will travel with us always.