Leadership & Staff
Dr. Sean Daneshmand
President & Founder
Sean is an obstetrician and gynecologist (OB-GYN) who specializes in maternal and fetal medicine at Scripps Clinic. He is recognized as one of the San Diego regions top specialists for high-risk pregnancies. He was named a Top Doctor in San Diego by San Diego Magazine six years in a row, and was recognized as a CNN Hero in 2010.
Sean graduated from New York Medical College in 1995, completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UCLA in 1999, and went on to pursue a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at UCSD.
Tamara Lafarga
Vice President
Tamara has a personal connection with Miracle Babies as she nearly lost her grandson, Max, when he was born 15 weeks premature and was compelled to help when she discovered Miracle Babies. Tamara has been a missionary in Central America, a fitness coach to the stars, a real estate developer, film producer, geriatric counselor, author, artist and philanthropist. In 2019, Tamara was recognized for her community service and leadership honored at the 54th annual Salvation Army Women of Dedication Luncheon.
Marjan Daneshmand
Treasurer & Co-Founder
Marjan is the managing partner of Bankruptcy Legal Group, a professional law corporation specializing in bankruptcy law and debt negotiation, where she has been partner for the past twelve years. In 2005, she and her husband established a medical spa, where she assists with the management of the business, interacting with clients, and managing day-to-day marketing and business operations.
Marjan graduated from UCSD in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and a minor in Philosophy. She obtained her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from California Western School of Law in 1997.
Jose Honold, M.D.
Board Member
Dr. Honold is the Medical Director of the Neonatal Transport Team, Medical Co-Director of the Neuro-NICU, and Medical Director of the International Program at Rady Children’s Medical Center in San Diego. He is also a professor in pediatrics at UCSD. He has experience working in the medical practice industry, clinical research, neonatal critical care, and pediatrics.
Dr. Honold graduated in Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Dallas and completed a Neonatology Fellowship at UCLA.
Lance Stern
Board Member
Lance is Managing Director of DigMEE Partners Inc, which is a boutique Ecommerce and Digital Marketing consulting firm. Before that, Lance was an operating executive who ran Ecommerce and Digital Marketing businesses for large brands and retailers such as Nike, Quiksilver, SWELL, and Annas Linens. Lance and his wife, Morgan, founded the Orange County chapter of Miracle Babies in 2015 after their triplets were born prematurely and they experienced first-hand the importance of parents spending as much time as possible in the NICU with their newborns. Lance received his bachelors degree from Duke University and MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Micaiah Kenney
Secretary
Micaiah is a Director with Becton Dickinson (BD), a global medical technology company that is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. Micaiah has a very personal connection with Miracle Babies as she is a Miracle baby. Born almost 4 months premature, she spent the first 68 days of her life in the NICU using a pediatric respirator developed by Dr. Forrest M. Bird. This respirator, nicknamed the “Baby Bird” respirator, was developed specifically for premature infants and small children. Micaiah was the first baby to use the respirator at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances hospital located in Tyler, TX. This device saved her life and is credited with reducing the rate of breathing-related infant mortality from 70 percent to 10 percent worldwide.
Meet Our Team
Marianela's management and leadership experience in both for profit and not for profit organizations qualify her to be an effective leader in overseeing Miracle Babies administrative and programming initiatives. As a co-operator of three McDonalds restaurants she became proficient in a broad range of financial and operational best practices. Most recently, working at Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego she oversaw family care services and Ronald McDonald House operations.
Marianela has dedicated the last decade assisting families with critically ill children and she has been affiliated with Miracle Babies in various capacities since its founding in 2009. In 2015, Marianela came on board as program director working directly with hospitals, and patient families. Under her tenure Miracle Babies' outreach to NICU families has increased triple fold. Marianela created and implemented the MB Care Package Program and Miracle Hours at local hospitals.
Marianela is committed to the belief that as individuals we have a responsibility to give back to our communities. She is a graduate of California State University, San Marcos and Hamburger University. Marianela is a native San Diegan, where she currently lives with her husband, and two children.
Marianela strives to ensure that San Diego NICU families receive the unique support they need.
Heather joined the Miracle Babies team after several years of staying home caring for her young children. Heather is a results driven individual who thrives on making a difference through charitable work. Heather has had many roles in the non-profit sector over her years as a stay-at-home mom. She was on the executive board of the MOMS Club International chapter in Mira Mesa for three years and served on the Board of Directors for a local organization that gives grants to individuals pursuing a career in the arts.
After graduating from the University of California, San Diego with a B.A. in Human Development, Heather knew working with children was her calling. She knew her most important role was going to be raising her children. However, everything changed for Heather when she had her youngest son, Miracle Baby Kaelan, at twenty-five weeks. He weighed one pound and fourteen ounces at birth. Heather spent over one hundred days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with Kaelan and discovered a shortage of emotional support for NICU families.
As a past program recipient, Heather has a very personal connection to Miracle Babies. Heather has a passion for the support Miracle Babies provides to families going through one of the most difficult times in their life. She is dedicated to helping this organization grow to its fullest potential.
