The people behind the mission

Dr. Ken Thai, PharmD, is a pharmacy entrepreneur, educator, and national policy leader.

As CEO of 986 Degrees Corporation, he oversees a growing pharmacy franchise network across Southern California and Nevada, with expertise spanning retail, long-term care, compounding, infusion, and specialty pharmacy.

A USC-trained pharmacist and adjunct professor at USC and Western University, he is a past president of the California Pharmacists Association, an NCPA Executive Board member, and the 2022 recipient of NCPA's Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year Award — the organization's highest honor for independent pharmacists.

Dr. Lilia Xu is Chief Operating Officer of 986 Degrees Corporation and an independent pharmacy owner based in the San Gabriel Valley and greater Los Angeles. She was drawn to pharmacy by a desire to give back, and as she learned more about the impact a pharmacist can have on their community, she knew it was the career for her — one she has since worked to make as well-rounded as possible, balancing her business with service to her local community, the profession, and pharmacy schools.

As a member of the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) Board of Trustees, Lilia takes a hands-on approach to advancing the profession alongside her fellow board members and colleagues, believing there is a great need for pharmacists' voices to be heard. A central focus of her work is driving interest in the profession through behavior modeling, mentorship, and sharing opportunities with both practicing pharmacists and the next generation of pharmacy professionals.

During her term, Lilia is especially focused on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform — encouraged by the headway other states have made, she is confident the profession can take meaningful steps in the right direction. She encourages colleagues to step out of their shell, get involved, and make the most of their profession.

JR Dzubak is the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside, a role he has held since 2013, and a prominent community leader across Southern California.

Under his leadership, the organization has launched major community initiatives — including the national character-building program "Kindness is Free," which he co-founded with Lori Milgard and which was featured in the Wall Street Journal. His chapter has also partnered with local cities to host Pride marches and to build safe, supportive environments for youth throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

A Commissioner on the Beverly Hills Recreation and Parks Commission since 2023 and a past president of the Rotary Club of Beverly Hills, JR is widely recognized for his decades of service, fundraising, and civic engagement. In 2025, the Rotary Club of Beverly Hills honored him with the Stanley Black Philanthropy & Inspiration Award for his ongoing commitment to community service and youth development.

Duane Saikami, PharmD, MBA, is an entrepreneur and healthcare business executive with deep roots in community pharmacy.

He was a partner and co-founder of PharMedQuest Pharmacy Services, which owned and operated 26 community clinic pharmacies throughout California. PharMedQuest is now part of Avita Pharmacy, one of the nation's largest HIV and 340B pharmacy program administrators.

Earlier in his career, he was the CEO and founder of Pharmedex, a business-to-business e-commerce company designed to improve pharmaceutical distribution in Japan. A recipient of his alma mater's Distinguished Alumni Award, he brings decades of experience building organizations that expand access to care.

Da Phakousonh is a serial founder, tech educator, and strategic advisor with over a decade of experience bridging innovation, philanthropy, and digital equity. As the founder of Free Nonprofit Marketing, he has helped numerous nonprofits amplify their mission through scalable, zero-cost marketing strategies — empowering organizations that traditionally lack the budget or technical expertise to compete online.

A passionate advocate for youth empowerment through technology, Da co-founded CoderDojo OC, a free coding academy that taught kids in Irvine and surrounding communities how to build websites, apps, games, and more. Through hands-on mentorship and an open-source philosophy, he created a safe, creative environment for young minds to explore software development and self-expression.

Da also served as a team member at PeopleSpaceOC, a 15,000 sq ft innovation lab and coworking hub that hosted 30+ startups and over 20 technical workshops, meetups, and hackathons monthly — where he helped facilitate community-driven learning, user testing, and internship opportunities for aspiring developers and entrepreneurs.

In parallel, Da has served as an Advisory Board Member at I'm Possible for over a decade, supporting efforts to bring motivational speakers and mental health education to underserved middle and high schools. He also serves as a Board Advisor to the Southeast Asian American Alliance (SAAA), advocating for equity, representation, and leadership pipelines within underserved AAPI communities.

Jarred Scott is a marketing innovator, nonprofit founder, and mental health advocate with a deep commitment to empowering young athletes and community leaders. As the founder of MAD Management and MAD Peer Voices Sports, Jarred leads initiatives that merge digital media, youth development, and social impact through storytelling and strategic branding.

With a background in NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) marketing and athlete mentorship, Jarred helps student-athletes navigate branding, sponsorships, and personal development both on and off the field. His programs offer guidance in media literacy, emotional intelligence, and financial responsibility — preparing young leaders for success beyond sports.

Through MAD Peer Voices, Jarred integrates mental health education into the athletic journey, building safe spaces for youth to talk about trauma, stress, and self-worth. His leadership empowers teens to become ambassadors of mental wellness within their teams, schools, and communities — equipping them with the language and resources to lead by example.

A dynamic speaker and strategist, Jarred has developed grassroots media campaigns that highlight social justice, youth empowerment, and community resilience. His work brings together artists, athletes, and activists to create movements rooted in authenticity, purpose, and positive disruption.

Jarred's mission is to shift culture by showing young people that marketing can be a tool for self-discovery, healing, and generational change. Whether working with emerging talent or underserved youth, he leads with heart, creativity, and a relentless belief in the power of lived experience.

Cathy Mac is a partner owner of Kyoto Pharmacy, a community pharmacy that has served the Skid Row population for the past 14 years. She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Western University of Health Sciences and has spent her career committed to expanding access to care for underserved communities.

Over the years, Cathy has focused her work on the mental health population, building lasting relationships and partnerships with diversion and re-entry programs, substance use disorder and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs, and forensic treatment programs.

Cathy also serves as Strategic Advisor for Community Clinics and Outreach at 986 Degrees Corporation, where she is helping reimagine what a pharmacy can be — growing programs like a Community Health Worker initiative at 986 Pharmacy that create trusted, lasting relationships between patients and the resources they need. This work reflects her belief that improving health, access, and equity for underserved communities takes more than clinical care alone — it takes trusted community leaders working together as catalysts for change, a vision she shares with her partners at Future Hope Outreach Foundation.

Dr. Huynh Wynn Tran, MD, FACP, FACR, is board certified in Internal Medicine and has completed fellowships in Rheumatology and Medical Legal studies, along with Master's and Diploma qualifications in Dermatology from the United Kingdom. He serves as an associate professor at Western University and California Northstate University and as a preceptor for PharmD residents from the University of Southern California, with research focused on medical education, pharmacy education, and autoimmune skin disorders — areas in which he has authored, co-authored, and reviewed publications in both English and Vietnamese.

He founded the Wynn Medical Center Clinics in Los Angeles and Orange County, a network of multi-specialty clinics spanning internal medicine, rheumatology, dermatology, pediatrics, and nephrology. He also established VietMD.net, a nonprofit that provides medical education worldwide — in Medical English, Medical Vietnamese, and USMLE preparation — and operates a free medical clinic and pharmacy in Detroit, Michigan. His work has been recognized with "Preceptor of the Year 2023" from the USC College of Pharmacy and election to the Dean's Advisory Council at Western University College of Pharmacy.

A Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Tran holds memberships across organizations including the American Medical Association, American College of Rheumatology, and the British Society for Rheumatology. Beyond his clinical work, he is a widely followed health educator, reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers through his YouTube channel and social media — a passion for sharing medical knowledge that has taken him to more than 20 countries.

Over years in community pharmacy, Elaine Wong has seen firsthand how difficult managing daily medications can be for patients. After graduating from the USC School of Pharmacy, she built a diverse foundation across multiple pharmacy settings — gaining hands-on experience in medication therapy management (MTM), compounding, and retail pharmacy.

This varied experience has sharpened her focus on personalized, patient-centered care. She is passionate about helping individuals navigate their health challenges with tailored solutions that make managing medications simpler and more effective.

Danny Bui is a dedicated public health professional committed to advancing health equity for underserved communities across Los Angeles County. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Health Science, Danny began his career as a Community Health Worker, contracted through the Department of Public Health, where he led outreach initiatives designed to bridge critical gaps in healthcare access.

Throughout his tenure, Danny and his team engaged directly with diverse communities to deliver culturally responsive health education, guide residents through complex resource navigation, and connect individuals with essential services and referrals. This hands-on, relationship-driven approach reflects Danny's core belief that meaningful public health work happens at the community level — built on trust, accessibility, and sustained engagement.

Danny's experience underscores a proven track record of translating public health knowledge into real-world impact, particularly for populations who face systemic barriers to care. His work exemplifies the kind of grassroots, community-centered strategy that drives lasting, measurable change in public health outcomes.