2026 honorees
Honoring the Felsenthal family with the Judy Briskin Spirit of Community Award, and Medical Leaders Board founders Drs. Finke, Gerson, Kurtz, and Raanan with the Visionary Award.
The Felsenthal Family
Erica Felsenthal, Ph.D., Leland Felsenthal, Judy Felsenthal, and, in loving memory of Jerry Felsenthal
The Felsenthals’ dedication to service spans generations. Jerry Felsenthal, of blessed memory, served Beverly Hills as a commissioner for nine years and played an instrumental role in helping Maple Counseling secure its home on LLa Cienega Boulevard.
Judy’s decades of community leadership include JVS, The Blue Ribbon, The Diadames, Cedars-Sinai, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and numerous charitable organizations.
Leland has continued this tradition through nonprofit and philanthropic leadership, including three years on Maple’s Board and involvement with organizations focused on workforce development and healthcare.
Erica, a clinical neuropsychologist, dedicates a significant portion of her time to community service and the greater good, educating about social media and mental health and teaching science-based tools that promote well-being. During six years as a Beverly Hills commissioner, she brought Maple before the Commission numerous times and later taught continuing education for Maple trainees. She serves on the Board of the Organization for Social Media Safety and has testified before both the California State Assembly and Senate advocating for stronger social media protections for children.
Together, the Felsenthals embody a multigenerational commitment to service and community.
Medical Leaders Board founders
David Finke, M.D., James Gerson, M.D., Lyle Kurtz, M.D., Justin Raanan, DDS, MMSc
The founders of Maple Counseling's Medical Leaders Board share a conviction that physical health and mental health are inseparable. Together, they created the board to serve as a bridge between the frontline healthcare community and the mental health and community support services Maple provides.
David Finke, M.D., a leading obstetrician-gynecologist serving women across Beverly Hills and beyond, has been named a "Super Doctor" by Los Angeles Magazine every year since 2012. He places patient education at the center of his practice, pairing each patient's expectations with holistic care outcomes.
Jim Gerson, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric hematologist/oncologist, has devoted his career to healthcare access and quality, from senior research roles at the NIH to co-founding a rural practice in underserved Pennsylvania to executive positions with managed care health plans, where he championed programs addressing healthcare disparities. A longtime advocate for mental health access, he serves on Maple Counseling's Board of Directors.
Lyle Kurtz, M.D., a board-certified internist, served as Clinical Chief of the Department of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and has been recognized as a SuperDoctor of Southern California since 2014. He remains dedicated to medical education as a Clinical Instructor at USC and Cedars-Sinai.
Justin Raanan, DDS, MMSc, a Beverly Hills periodontist born and raised in the community he serves, trained at UCLA, USC, and Harvard. His practice reflects his belief that oral health is deeply connected to the wellbeing of the whole body.
Together, these four physicians and clinicians embody the vision behind the Medical Leaders Board: that caring for the whole person means connecting medicine to mental health.
David Finke, M.D.
Serving women in Beverly Hills and surrounding areas, Dr. Finke is celebrated by his peers and patients as a leading physician in Southern California. He has been named a Beverly Hills "Super Doctor" by Los Angeles Magazine every year since 2012. Dr. Finke values patient education above all else—assessing a patient's expectations alongside holistic care outcomes. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology as Administrative Chief at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and received his undergraduate and Medical Doctor degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
James Gerson, M.D.
Dr. Gerson’s medical career was driven by the goal of making a difference in healthcare access and quality outcomes for patients as a clinician, teacher, researcher and administrator.
He is a board-certified Pediatrician and Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist with extensive clinical and research training at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the National Institutes of Health. His career spans diverse roles having served as Lieutenant Commander at the Philadelphia Regional Medical Center; Senior Investigator at NIH; as Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; and then as a cofounder and primary care provider for a general practice in a rural underserved area in Pennsylvania until he was recruited by Blue Cross of NE Penna as a medical director for utilization and informatics.
Dr. Gerson moved to Los Angeles in 2000 where he continued to hold executive medical administrative positions with Managed Care Health Plans and was able to launch programs on clinical affordability, utilization and addressing healthcare disparities and social determinants of care. He excelled in mentoring healthcare teams to work at the dop of their license and has always been a strong advocate for mental health access.
He had served on the BOD for the Los Angeles Jewish Health Geriatric and Pace Boards, and recently became a BOD member for Maple Counseling.
Lyle Kurtz, M.D.
Dr. Lyle Kurtz, M.D. Dr. Lyle D. Kurtz is a board-certifi ed internist in Beverly Hills, California, known for his comprehensive medical care. He served as Clinical Chief of the Department of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and has been recognized as a SuperDoctor of Southern California since 2014. Dr. Kurtz earned his BA from Emory University and his MD from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1988. He completed his residency at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center and obtained his California medical license in 1991. Dr. Kurtz provides top-quality medical care in a traditional solo practice setting, utilizing the latest technologies to promote wellness and disease prevention. He is passionate about medicine and delivers care in a compassionate, private setting.
His career includes roles as an Attending Physician at Cedars-Sinai and leadership as Clinical Chief in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Kurtz is also dedicated to medical education, serving as a Clinical Instructor at both USC and Cedars-Sinai. He is an active member of several professional committees and the American College of Physicians.
Dr. Justin Raanan
Dr. Justin Raanan is a Beverly Hills periodontist who was born and raised in the community he now serves. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCLA with degrees in Anthropology and Biological Science before earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors. He went on to complete advanced specialty training in Periodontology at Harvard University, earning a Master of Medical Sciences in Oral Biology.
Dr. Raanan’s passion for periodontics is rooted in his belief that the mouth is deeply connected to the health and well-being of the entire body. He takes a holistic, comprehensive approach to oral health, recognizing that healthy gums, teeth, and supporting structures are an essential part of overall wellness.
Through personalized prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, Dr. Raanan looks beyond individual symptoms to understand each patient as a whole. His expertise includes periodontal therapy, dental implants, tooth extractions, wisdom tooth removal, gum grafting, and the treatment of complex gum and bone conditions.
Whether restoring a missing tooth with a dental implant, preserving and rebuilding gum tissue, or addressing infection and periodontal disease, Dr. Raanan focuses on both the immediate needs of his patients and their long-term oral and overall health. His patient-centered philosophy combines advanced periodontal expertise with compassionate, individualized care to help patients achieve a healthier mouth, greater confidence, and a better quality of life.