meet yOur Team

Dr. Natalie Marshall

Dr. Natalie Marshall is a board-certified Medical Oncologist and Breast Cancer specialist. She was voted a Top Doc for San Francisco Bay Area and elected by her peers to Leading Physicians of the World. Dr. Marshall in intensely interested in the effect of lifestyle modifications on quality of life and recurrence risk reduction in cancer patients and in the prevention of cancer in unaffected individuals. It motivated her to approach Dave Spitz to design a strength training program for risk reduction and prevention. She trains at California Strength for Olympic weightlifting in the master’s division and has seen firsthand the excellent coaching and programming that is offered to athletes of all types and ages. Survivor Strong is that skill translated for patients so access to this important treatment is available to anyone regardless of place of residence, financial resources, or fitness level.

Education and Training

  • Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

  • Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine:  University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

  • Fellowship in Medical Oncology:  Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut

  • Faculty Scholar in the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at UCSF.

Coach David Spitz

Dave Spitz is the owner and head coach of California Strength, a facility in San Ramon, CA that specializes in human performance. He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and holds the distinction of a USA Weightlifting Senior International Coach. Since 2008, California Strength has produced numerous NFL Athletes, world class Olympic weightlifters and helped people around the world achieve their goals through various online programs. His experience and knowledge in human performance has helped guide the development of the Survivor Strong program.

Education and Training

  • University of Southern, California

  • Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist

  • USA Weightlifting Senior International Coach

Scott Esparza, CSCS

Scott was born and raised in Northern California. He attended the University of California, Berkeley where he earned his undergraduate degree in Negotiation & Conflict Resolution while throwing for the UC Berkeley Track & Field team. In addition to Survivor Strong, Scott manages operations and marketing for California Strength. He brings his expertise as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach and his passion for helping others achieve their potential to the Survivor Strong platform as a coach in our online community.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

  • University of California, Berkeley

  • Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Pamela Behrsin

Pamela is an award-winning editorial director and senior-level communications professional experienced in using a wide range of strategies across multiple platforms to inform and engage broad networks of stakeholders, ultimately changing behavior and impacting policy decisions for the public good. She is experienced in analyzing large datasets of information to help inform organizational decision-making. She works alongside academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations and investigative reporters to foster transparency and accountability. Pamela has been coaching Special Olympics basketball and soccer for Team Oakland for nearly eight years and has coached high school and college basketball in the San Francisco Bay Area for three decades.

Education and Training

  • University of California, Berkeley

  • University of California, Berkeley, Haas Business School, High Impact Leadership Program

  • Special Olympics basketball and soccer coach