The SAMGI team is comprised of a diverse group of surgeons, administrators and physician extenders committed to providing the highest quality patient care. Here are a few of us:
Leon J. Owens, M.D.
President/CEO
Dr. Leon Owens has been a respected surgeon in Northern California for over 25 years. He is co-founder and medical director of the Level II Mercy San Juan Trauma Program in Carmichael, and is also co-founder, president and CEO of Surgical Affiliates Medical Group, Inc.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Owens attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he received his doctorate in 1976. He served his internship and residency at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, eventually becoming chief resident in general surgery. He has also completed a surgical critical care fellowship at the medical center, and serves as clinical professor of surgery for the UC Davis School of Medicine. He maintains board certification in both general surgery and in critical care and trauma.
Dr. Owens began a private practice of general surgery in 1981, in conjunction with his brother, Dr. Mark Owens. He is currently appointed to five different Sacramento-area hospitals, and is a member of several surgical associations including the Sacramento Surgical Society, The Earl F. Wolfman, Jr. Surgical Society, and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma.
The UC Davis Department of Surgery has twice made Dr. Owens its Outstanding Teaching Resident Award winner. Additionally, he was awarded the university’s Outstanding Teaching Award in Resident Surgery Staff in 1981. In 1995, UC Davis awarded him with their Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award. Also recognizing Dr. Owens’ work was Sacramento County, who honored him in 2006 with the Sacramento County Office of the County Executives Rose Award.
Michael S. O’Mara, M.D.
Medical Director
Dr. O’Mara is originally from Iowa, and received his bachelor’s degree and his doctorate from the University of Iowa. He served his residency at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital/Temple University School of Medicine in Pittsburgh.
In 2003, Dr. O’Mara relocated to Sacramento, where he completed a fellowship in critical care and trauma at the University of California, Davis Medical Center and a fellowship in burn surgery through Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California. He subsequently served as an assistant professor of surgery at UCDMC.
He is board certified in general surgery and critical care, and maintains an academic appointment through UCDMC. Dr. O’Mara is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is currently completing a Masters of Business Administration through Auburn University. He maintains active interest in outcomes and cost efficacy research and is a reviewer for several surgical journals.
Mark P. Owens, M.D.
Medical Director
Dr. Owens, a Michigan native, received his degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Medical School in 1963. He served his internship and residency at Detroit’s Sinai Hospital, where he rose to chief resident in general surgery.
In 1968, Dr. Owens was named chief of general surgery for the U.S. Army Medical Department’s 93rd Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam. For his outstanding service, he was awarded the Bronze Star.
After relocating to California, Dr. Owens joined the teaching staff of the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. In 1998 he was named clinical professor of the school’s Department of Surgery.
Currently, Dr. Owens is appointed to eight different Sacramento-area hospitals. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery, holds certification in Advanced Trauma Life Support, and is a member of fifteen professional medical associations.
Cynthia Leathers, MBA, MPH, Director of Finance
Director of Finance
Cynthia Leathers brings 25 years of health care operational and financial experience to Surgical Affiliates Medical Group. As a former Assistant Administrator at a large acute-care hospital in Oakland, California,
Cynthia’s experience includes in depth knowledge of hospital finance and daily operations. Previous work experience for Amherst Associates and Ernst and Young as a Senior Associate in the Consulting group brings extensive understanding of hospital strategic planning and development.
Ms. Leathers attended Stanford University and received her BA in Human Biology. She also received her MPH in Hospital Administration from the University of California at Berkeley. In addition, Ms. Leathers also holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California in Berkeley.
Anna Pavao Zinn
Director of Operations
Anna came to Surgical Affiliates Medical Group, Inc. with BA from the University of California, Davis and a background in small business management in diverse industries: she has been General Manager of Clarksburg Air Repair, Director of Operations at Fleet Feet Sports, San Francisco and Aptos, Franchise Support Coordinator for Fleet Feet, Incorporated and is Co-Owner of design firm BlankBlank with her husband. Having seen opportunity to lend her varied experience to healthcare and the new field of surgical hospitalists, she brings a focus on efficiency, best-practices and offering the highest levels of client service.
