Administrative Staff
Tafa Jefferson, CEO
Tafa began his career as a professional athlete playing for the Chicago Bears in the NFL. An ankle and shoulder injury forced him to retire early and embark on a new career path. Tafa’s mother was a caregiver and encouraged her son to consider the home care industry. Tafa remembered clearly the joy and satisfaction she gained from looking after her patients, despite the hard work that was also involved, and so in 1998, he started his first in-home senior care company. Determined that he would never ask a caregiver to do anything he wouldn’t do himself, Tafa became a Certified Nursing Aide, taking care of patients with varying stages of Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. Tafa was soon employing over 200 caregivers and he realized that this was the right path for him where he could make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. He and his partner, Chad, have now expanded beyond home care givers, adding skilled nursing to the home health care program that is Amada Home Health. Tafa is a big-hearted, expansive visionary, at the forefront of identifying solutions in the home care industry. He applies all the skills he learned on the pro football field to life and business – teamwork, integrity, and passionate commitment. Tafa is a dedicated family man who married his childhood sweetheart and is the father of four young children.
Chad Fotheringham, Vice-President
Before starting his career, Chad spent two years in Ecuador where he became fluent in Spanish and discovered a deep satisfaction from helping others. Upon return to the U.S., Chad joined the pharmaceutical industry, which he chose because of its reputation for outstanding sales training. He started with Eli Lilly in 1996 and then moved to Pfizer where he stayed for the next ten years. Working first as a specialty sales representative in pediatrics and allergy, Chad then moved into Managed Care Consulting, which involved helping healthcare companies improve their plans and educating the public to take active steps to maintain wellness. When Chad reconnected with Tafa, he was attracted to the service aspects of the home care industry and could foresee the huge future demand created by a booming senior population. Chad is passionate about helping patients and their families, and he has a skill for breaking down complex information so it can be easily understood. Chad is married to his wife Nicole. They have seven children and live in San Clemente, Ca.
Ghalib Wahidi, MD
CEO at Summit Medical Group, Inc. Ladera Ranch, CA
Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer at AMADA Home Health. San Clemente, CA
Associate Professor of Medicine. Western University of Health Sciences. Pamona, CA.
Dr. Wahidi received his Bachelor of Science degree in Neurobiology and Physiology at the University of California, Davis, and his Master’s Degree in Physiology at Finch University of Health Sciences in Chicago. He attended Chicago Medical School and finished his residency in Internal Medicine at UC Irvine Medical Center in Irvine, California.
His family moved to the United States when he was a young man to assure that their children would have opportunities that they would not have had in their home country. He has never forgotten the generosity of the great people of his new country and wanted a career that would allow him to give back. He derives great joy in serving others and by pursuing a career in medicine he now enjoys the daily opportunity to serve and care for many individuals in need.
“Throughout my years in hospital based practice of medicine, I realized that my patients wanted and deserved more personalized care than what they have in any institution. While hospitals provide great acute care, patients yearn for the comfort, quiet and independence of their own home environment to continue their healing and I personally feel that they heal faster in that setting. When I met Tafa Jefferson and Chad Fotheringham and learned about their concept of providing concierge home nursing care, I knew it was the alternative way for me to better care for my patients.”
Dr. Wahidi’s forward thinking medical model fit perfectly with the home health concept of Amada and he joined the team as the Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer.
Michelle Armstrong-Mejia, R.N.
Director of Clinical Services
Michelle grew up in Orange County, CA, in a family full of medical professionals. Although medicine was always an interest, she pursued a degree in Elementary Education during her college years. Michelle quickly realized that this was not where her passion lay. After encouragement from her mother (a retired Registered Nurse) and her father (a Firefighter/Paramedic), she enrolled in Nursing school.
Michelle started her Nursing career working Med-Surg/Telemetry while picking up shifts in both the ICU and Emergency Department. She made a permanent switch to the Emergency Department, where she worked for nine years, both as a floor nurse and a charge nurse. Michelle was fortunate to be part of a team that helped open a new hospital in Barstow, CA. During her years in the Emergency Department, she has worked at Trauma centers, STEMI centers, and Stroke centers.
Michelle began working part-time for AMADA when she relocated back to Orange County to supplement her income. “I had never previously considered working in the Home Health industry. Once I began working with the clients, I found I really enjoyed the extra time that I got to spend with them. You form some amazing bonds with the clients and their families. And the team at AMADA is incredible! We take a lot of pride in our staff; the caring and compassion exhibited by our LVNs and Nurses are top-notch. I am continually impressed by the education, working knowledge, and skill sets of our team.”
Michelle took over the role of Director of Clinical Services in September of 2019. She also works as a Registered Nurse for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Michelle currently resides in Orange, CA.
Lynn Bustami, Office Manager
Lynn started her career as a professional tennis player and was ranked 462 in the world. Due to an injury, Lynn had to end her tennis career and choose a new path. Originally from France, Lynn moved to the United States in 2012. She previously earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After moving to the US, she decided to complete a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at UC Irvine, in which she graduated Magna Cum Laude (top 4%).
Combining her love for helping others and her management skills, Lynn joined Amada Concierge Care in 2018. Lynn is Amada’s Office Manager and more! She manages over 80 nurses and therapists. From recruiting and hiring to scheduling and billing, Lynn loves to wear different hats! She creates new systems to maximize efficiency in the company’s operations. Her goal is to help families by ensuring they receive the best quality of care from Amada nurses and therapists.
Lynn is married and currently resides in Irvine, CA.