The California Telemedicine & eHealth Center (CTEC) is a leading source of expertise and comprehensive knowledge in the development and operation of telemedicine and telehealth programs. CTEC is nationally recognized as one of six federally designated Telehealth Resource Centers around the country. CTEC offers extensive hands-on experience in telemedicine development. CTEC understands the larger healthcare delivery system and works with policy makers, corporate, and industry leaders, and community based organizations to develop an environment that will support the optimal use of telemedicine and telehealth.

Over the past 12 years, CTEC has worked with hundreds of programs, providers, universities, government agencies, and equipment developers to identify best program practices, newly emerging technologies and trends, and studies that identify the impact of telemedicine services.

CTEC is housed within the California Health Foundation and Trust, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation affiliated with the California Hospital Association.

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Leadership • Expertise • Support

CTEC has a long history of leadership in telehealth. In 1996 CTEC produced the first strategic plan for California's telemedicine adoption, and in 2005 CTEC was instrumental in initiating efforts to expand broadband availability throughout rural California. CTEC funded the development of California's two Telemedicine Learning Centers at UC Davis and UC San Diego.

CTEC aided in the development of new and innovative telemedicine programs for medical specialty services, behavioral health, school dental screenings, diabetic retinopathy screenings, patient education programs, support groups, continuing medical education, provider site development, and on-line telemedicine training. In 2008 CTEC convened a collaborative of programs, payers, and providers to develop reimbursement and other policy incentives to support full optimization of telehealth.

CTEC is uniquely positioned to provide organizations with a variety of services to directly support telemedicine program development efforts. CTEC's Program Developer™ supports new and expanding programs using a seven step approach based on telemedicine best practices and sound business development principles. CTEC works with large and small organizations providing customized assistance that meets individual needs.

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Mission & Vision

CTEC's mission is to provide leadership and direction in the development and application of innovative telemedicine and telehealth systems to improve the delivery and availability of health programs.

CTEC's vision is for the optimal use of telemedicine and telehealth systems to positively impact the health and the quality of life in our society.

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CTEC Staff

Christine Martin, MBA, PMP

Executive Director

Christine works with a variety of organizations, locally and nationally, toward the development and expansion of telemedicine networks and increased access to healthcare services. Christine has extensive experience in telemedicine and telehealth. She is the founder of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's (CDCR) Telemedicine Services Program, which began providing services in 1997. Serving as the managing director for the program for 11 years, Christine directed the development and expansion of the program, which has become one of the country's largest telemedicine programs providing more than 75,000 patient services since the program's inception. She is one of the nation's leaders in developing high volume multi-site telemedicine programs, having developed the third largest telemedicine program in the country. She has significant experience in all aspects of planning, developing, operating, and evaluating telemedicine programs.

Christine has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare management and administration, including broad experience in healthcare policy and program development with CDCR and the then-California Department of Health Services (CDHS). She served as the deputy director for strategic development for the CDCR Health Care Services Division and, in her 15 years with CDCR, was responsible for a variety of critical program developments, including development of the annual inmate tuberculosis testing program. She also served as chief of policy planning for CDHS and the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program. She previously served as deputy director of program operations for the South Carolina Health and Human Services Finance Commission. Outside of government service, Christine has directed a number of healthcare research projects and served as the administrator of a local community clinic.

Christine holds a Masters of Business Administration in Health Services Management and a Bachelors of Science in Clinical Laboratory Technology. She is also a certified Project Management Professional.

Irene Alvarez, MPH

Program Director

Irene works primarily with the CTEC Executive Director in the development and management of CTEC program initiatives. As the program director, Irene is primarily responsible for supervising program activities, managing CTEC's annual plans, monitoring CTEC's strategic plan, and providing programmatic and operational support to new telemedicine programs. Prior to joining CTEC in 2004, Irene served as a health educator at two Northern California Kaiser Permanente locations. As a health educator at Kaiser she assisted with resource development and assessment, technical assistance, capacity building, and implementation and evaluation of health education initiatives.

Irene brings with her extensive experience and great interest in bridging the public health principals of program planning and evaluation, community organizing, and multicultural communication, with the delivery of clinical services and education using innovative telehealth technologies.

Irene received her Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Community Health Education from San Jose State University and her Bachelor of Science in Health Science from California State University, Sacramento.

Megan Shull

Program Coordinator

As Program Coordinator, Megan provides highly responsible program support to the executive director and other members of the CTEC staff. Some of her duties include updating and maintaining CTEC’s Telehealth Inventory, managing CTEC’s website and developing content, assisting with research and reporting, and providing general administrative support for the department.

Prior to joining CTEC, Megan worked as the program manager for the California Society for Healthcare Attorneys. She was responsible for managing an attorney member group with over 450 members. Prior to that she worked for CPS Human Resource Services where she worked a Test Program Technician, administered a start-up reimbursement grant program for small water districts throughout the state. Megan received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Whitworth University.