Our Staff
David Strumpf, MD, FACEP
CEO
South Coast Emergency Medical Group
Dr. Strumpf is a 27 year veteran of emergency medicine. He is the CEO of a 25 physician group staffing 2 ED’s. He has been very active in ACEP, having served on the Board of Directors of Cal/ACEP. He is very active politically in the service of his fellow physicians, and in addition to being the champion of state and local legislation his activity includes service as the Santa Barbara County Medical Society's delegate to the California Medical Association. He has also been involved in academic emergency medicine, having served as Clinical Instructor at LAC/USC Medical Center and as Medical Director of the Central Coast Emergency Medicine Lecture Series. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
Robert Gayou, MD
Assistant Medical Director
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Department
A 28 year veteran of emergency medicine and lifelong ACEP member, Dr. Gayou is the primary founder of the scribe program at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He is an important facet of the medical staff at SBCH, where he has been voted Physician of the Year. Under Dr. Gayou’s leadershift the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital ED achieved the number one ranking in the country in the Press Ganey customer service survey. He is a member of Aeromedicos, a medical volunteer group active in Baja de California, Mexico and has also been active with the American Heart Association, for which he was awarded the distinction of Volunteer of the Year in 2002. He received is medical degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
Mark Richmond, MD, FACEP
Medical Director
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Department
Dr. Richmond has a strong academic background. He is former Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center where he was Director of Resident Education and received the honor of Teacher of the Year in 2001. He has numerous publications in both emergency medicine textbooks and peer reviewed journals. His residency training was also at Loma Linda and he is a graduate of UC Davis School of Medicine. Dr Richmond is currently serving as Emergency Department Medical Director.
John Vowels, MD
Scribe Program Director
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Department
The current head of our own scribe program, Dr. Vowels has been instrumental in many of the training and recruiting innovations that have resulted in its overwhelming success. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He also has experience as a physician in the United States Air Force and is a graduate of USC School of Medicine.
Christine McBeth
Christine McBeth is a recent graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara, majoring in biology. Christine plans on attending medical school, as she has always had a passion for medicine. From planning and organizing a "Women in Medicine" conference, to working as an assistant medical events coordinator, to conducting laboratory research at UCSD Medical Center, to attending classroom and cadaver medical workshops, she has shown she has the passion and motivation it takes to succeed in the medical field. Christine has excelled as a senior scribe trainer and plans to apply to medical school next year to pursue her interest in emergency medicine or orthopedics.
Karen West
Karen has actively been pursuing a career in medicine starting at a very young age. Her exposure to the medical field includes: volunteering at Harbor UCLA Medical Center and Santa Barbara Cottage hospital, as well as working along side a physician in the Emergency Department as a senior scribe trainer. She has directed the implementation of multiple, highly successful EMSS projects: Not only does Karen have a passion for medicine, but she is equally passionate about the Los Angeles Lakers, salsa dancing and her lovable dog Kobe.
Christopher Flora-Tostado, BS, MEd
Chris graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2004 with a Bachelor's of Science in Biopsychology and completed his M.Ed. along with his California Teaching Credential the following year. Prior to joining EMSS, he worked for four years in the clinical complaints department of Allergan Medical in Santa Barbara as both a complaints analyst and as the department trainer. In his spare time he enjoys disc golfing and attends tournaments across California.
Ellen Zapalac
Ellen graduated from the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Agricultural and Business Economics. She began her work experience with Marriott Corporation briefly before joining Pfizer, Inc. as a Professional Sales Representative, Institutional Specialty Representative, and eventually Neurology and Psychiatry Regional Sales Specialist. For the past several years her passions have been her growing family, participating on various foundations and boards in her community, watching her children's many sporting endeavors, and traveling and hiking whenever possible.
Carla Stack
Carla graduated from UCSB in 2006 with a B.S. in Biopsychology. During her time there, she completed the Leadership Certificate Program, was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, and was active in her sorority. She helped raise over $100,000 for the UCSB Foundation and also volunteered for several years as a medical assistant at a local community clinic. Carla began as a scribe at Cottage Hospital in 2005 and has been working with EMSS since 2007. She plans to attend medical school in the near future and has a special interest in Emergency Medicine.
Elizabeth Lewis
Elizabeth graduated from Columbia University, NY with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She began her work experience at small mutual fund company before joining Wells Fargo Bank of San Francisco. As a Product Manager she was responsible for marketing the bank's annuity products, which included development, writing, advertising, training and client relations. For the past several years she has been focused on education in her community and has served on many boards supporting children and families. In her spare time she enjoys tennis, swimming, gardening and cooking.