Tom and Nancy founded MMI in 1998 after seeing firsthand the vast need for health care and supplies globally. Tom is a retired Naval Captain and a registered nurse since 1975 with extensive medical experience as the Department Head of Level One Trauma Center Emergency Department for 13 years. He has Master’s Degrees in Radiation Physics and Counseling Psychology and has been an Ordained Minister since 2008 from the Berean school of the Bible.

Nancy has a Master’s Degree in Science and is a Family Nurse Practitioner. She began her career in 1991 as a Public Health Nurse and received her Master’s Degree in 1999. She continues to work as a Family Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Women’s Health and Urgent Care medicine. Nancy was also an Officer in the US Navy and served for eight years as a practitioner.

Together, Tom and Nancy combine their extensive education and experience with a love for Christ and a passion for reaching and caring for others, mentoring and teaching, especially the under-served around the world.

Dr. Ralph Handly is an Optometrist retired after 45 years of practice. His practice venues have included the military, solo private practice and a group eye care practice. He is a retired US Army Colonel and recently retired as a partner at Eye-Q Vision Care in Fresno where he served 10 years as Board President. Since he joined the board of MMI, Ralph has volunteered countless hours in our warehouse building our supply of prescription glasses and working on donated equipment. Ralph has been married to Barbara, a retired nurse administrator, for 48 years and they have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. They share a love of travel and a passion for the vision and ministry of MMI.

Louie is the President of PARC Environmental. He took his first mission trip 21 years ago, and a love for God’s people throughout the world was birthed in him. Since then, he has traveled to many different countries and worked to grow God’s Kingdom. In addition to Board Chairman, Louie heads up the MMI international construction teams. He and his wife Marguery have four grown children and four grandchildren.

With a heart to serve and a passion for the mission of MMI, Brooke has been MMI’s Travel Team Coordinator for our trips to both the Solomon Islands and Fiji. The Lord called Brooke into medical missions at a national mission conference in 2003. After meeting Tom and Nancy at a missions fair in 2011, Brooke began volunteering at MMI. In 2012, she joined the medical mission in The Solomon Islands. It was there that the Lord graciously showed her that by providing basic healthcare to the people of The Solomon Islands, their hearts were opened to the Good News.

Brooke has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Nutrition from Fresno State and has been a registered dietitian since 2006. She specialized in nutrition for kidney disease, geriatrics and developmental disabilities. For fun, Brooke enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, cheering on the San Francisco Giants, and lattes from Two Cities Coffee in Clovis.

Gary has been involved in ministry most of his life. Growing up in a pastor’s home, he felt the call to ministry at a young age. He attended Vanguard University and through the years he has served as Youth Pastor, Assistant and Associate Pastor, as well as, a musician on worship teams. He and his wife, Lana, currently are the Senior Pastors at Calvary Worship Center in Fresno, California.

Gary has also worked professionally in the computer field for over 30 years. During that time he has worked as a programmer, consultant, and trainer for various companies and organizations, including the City of Fresno and California State University, Fresno. Although officially retired from this field he continues to use those skills to help businesses and organizations whenever possible. It was through this skill and his heart for missions that Gary came to be involved with MMI.

Jacob ‘Jay’ Khushigian, BSEL, MD, is our Physician Liaison and Quality Assurance Director. He holds a BS in Electronic Engineering and a Medical Degree. Dr. Khushigian works with our licensed Biomedical Technician, Mr. Ronald E. Wilson and formally oversees and certifies all the used medical equipment for proper functioning and safety before shipping.

Dr. Jay seeks to follow and serve Christ. He has been married to the “bride of his youth” Susan (Sue) for 36 years, and they have two adult children, Daniel and Arminé. He is Board Certified in Family Practice since 1990 and has practiced emergency medicine for over 30 years in California’s San Joaquin Valley. He has a heart for Christ-centered missions and has participated in short-term missions in Haiti, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Armenia. He has been blessed to share Christ during a halftime devotional, twice a week for 25+ years, as part of a basketball outreach ministry. Recently, Jay and Sue were blessed to participate in reconciliation between Turkish and Armenian Christian leaders.

Dr. Jay brings a unique mixture of vocational, engineering, medical and life experiences that make him well suited to be our Physician Liaison and address the needs of mission doctors and hospitals worldwide.

Joyce is a missionary kid, born in Liberia and lived in Nigeria until coming to the United States to attend nursing school. Repurposing is part of her DNA and her greatest joy is being able to serve mind, body, and soul. MMI is a natural fit for these values. She has been a friend of MMI for several years, connecting others to its services. She considers it a privilege to go on individual mission trips and to partner with Gerry, her husband , when time permits. Her health care experience and Gerry’s “jack of all trades” talents has provided great adventures stateside and overseas. Joyce has served in several roles at Northpark Community Church, in the professional nursing community, and on the board of the West Fresno Family Resource Center.

Myra Smith is our Program Coordinator at MMI that just joined us this past August 2018. Myra grew up in Santa Maria, California and learned to serve the Lord through her parents loving example. She volunteered in Africa for two years prior to marrying her husband Jeff. She worked in Togo and Ghana for a year each with the Assemblies of God Church. They have two daughters and now two grandchildren. Myra has a passion for the Lord and missions and is excited to continue that work at MMI. She worked as a administrative assistant in several ministries her whole adult life and most recently with Pastor Terry Townsend at Peoples Church for 18 years. When you call MMI, Myra will be answering your phone calls.

Introducing: Daniel Leitch. In July of 2019, Daniel began volunteering at the Cedar warehouse, learning how it was being managed and helping out in various tasks. The staff appreciated his help, taught him how to work the forklift, and helped him get the driving certification. He came on board as a part-time employee in February of 2020 and is happy to help MMI carry out its mission. He looks forward to the future where MMI plans to expand and grow its operations and the role he will provide as we set up a new warehouse and storing system.

Ronald Wilson, a California native, was a pre-med major in college when he became part of the Vietnam action. He joined the US Army and trained in the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a Sky Soldier, serving three extended tours in Vietnam. His passion for medicine evolved into medical repair in MASH units in battle areas.

Upon returning to civilian life, his experience was an asset to burgeoning Biomed companies developing pulmonary, anesthesia, and surgical equipment.

Ronald wanted to improve Veterans’ lives, especially his fellow Brothers and Sisters who served in Vietnam. He became an essential Biomedical Equipment Service Specialist in the Veterans Hospital System, first in San Diego and later at the VA Wilshire Hospital in Los Angeles.

Ronald was awarded numerous awards and recognitions for his professional service and career of more than twenty years. Even in his retirement, he still searched for meaningful and effective use of his profession and skills.

Ron and his wife, Ester Rouse Wilson, enjoy living on their ranch in Caliente/Twin Oaks, surrounded by the Sierra mountains. Their children and grandchildren bring them much joy and are great travel, fishing, and camping companions.

Bio coming soon!

In the spring of 2012, before she entered the nursing program at Fresno State, Rachel had the opportunity of going to an orphanage in Haiti, where God continued transforming her heart and shifting her passion to serve and love His people across the world. Rachel first encountered MMI in the fall following that trip to Haiti. She began volunteering at the MMI Clovis warehouse then joined the medical teams going to Fiji and the Solomon Islands in 2013. After this life-changing experience, God opened the door for her to become a part of the MMI team as one of the overseas clinic leaders. Currently Rachel graduated from nursing school this past December 2015. Rachel says, “I am excited to continue pursuing the Lord’s calling of medical missions as I become and RN!”

Photo and bio coming soon!

Michael Partnoff, IT Consultant, is one of our newest volunteers at MMI. As a MMI Board and Staff, we have been praying for someone to come alongside us and help us with our IT problems. Myra Smith, MMI Staff member, met Michael this summer at the Grizzlies Game when MMI was asked to host a table advertising what we do for the Fresno/Clovis community. Little did we know that God would answer our prayers that night!!