Our Lake Forest / Irvine Care Team

Compassion, integrity, family, excellence, trustworthiness, accountability, and diversity
At BrightStar, we know selecting a caregiver for your loved one is a serious and personal decision That is why we have an industry leading screening process to ensure the caregiver or nurse we provide is not only skilled, but compatible with you and your home environment. Here are just a few of the steps in our long process:

• Federal, State, and County background checks to include Live Scan fingerprinting

• In office drug screen administered by our staff both initially and ongoing

• State medical certification checks

• Tuberculosis checks

• Reference checks

• Current CPR certification

• Alzheimer’s and Dementia Training

Mark E. Woodsum, President & Chief Executive Officer

Mark E. Woodsum was born and raised in southern Maine and has lived in southern California for the past eight years. After graduating from Bowdoin College, class of 1980, he served time in the military (Army Rangers) and worked in different fields within various government agencies, from counter-terrorism to the Army Rangers, to the Secret Service, and more, wrapping up as a diplomat in Mumbai, India. Following his time working in the government sector, Woodsum co-founded the Foreside Company, an international wholesale distributor of home accents and furnishings, with his wife, Claire. Since then, he has received his MBA from Dartmouth and has been ordained as an Episcopalian Priest and Chaplain. In 2014, Woodsum became the owner and President of four BrightStar Care territories, which are all managed out of Lake Forest, CA.

Claire H. Woodsum, Care Coordinator

Claire’s professional background includes teaching, counseling, marketing, and business. Prior to coming on board with BrightStar, she graduated from Bowdoin College and has since served as the VP of Marketing & Design for several home décor wholesale companies, including the Foreside Company, which she co-founded with her husband, Mark. Claire chose BrightStar because she wanted to do something more meaningful, and appreciates the difference BrightStar can make in people's lives.

Cindy Gross, RN, MN PHN CEN NEA-BC, Director of Patient Care Services

Cindy Gross has long been recognized in the healthcare industry as a passionate health care professional dedicated to patient advocacy and quality patient care. With over 35 years as a licensed registered nurse, her experience has allowed her roles in nursing administration, performance improvement, education and clinical care. Ms. Gross has an established reputation as a leader in the health care community, along with a strong background in California State regulations and Joint Commission standards. Moreover, she serves as a nursing professor for nursing programs in Southern California, developing and fostering the growth of future compassionate and competent licensed nurses. In addition to an expansive health management background, Ms. Gross is pursuing a Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree from Gonzaga University with a scholarly focus on the community based older adult population. In conjunction with professional disciplines, she has developed an assisted home-based exercise program for high to moderate fall risk older adults aimed at reducing fall risk and fear of falling. The benefits of this program will serve to enhance the quality of life for the rapidly expanding older adult population in the United States.


Aneliese Burrell, Director of Nursing
Born and raised in Long Beach, CA, Aneliese Burrell has been with BrightStar in Lake Forest, CA since 2014. After graduating in 2010 with her ADN from El Camino Community College in Torrance, CA, she obtained her BSN in 2013 fro Western Governors University. With vast experience in patient care, beginning in the Operating Room, she has since worked in Home Health, Medica-Surgical, Telemetry, Chemotherapy, Infusion and Emergency Room nursing. Aneliese now lives in South Los Angeles County with her husband and three children.


Angela Boyd, Client Care Manager
Born and raised in Orange County, Angela Boyd always knew she would become a nurse; and from her first semester of nursing school at Stanbridge College, she immediately realized she wanted to work with seniors. After graduating Magna Cum Laude, she received additional education in gerontology and infection control, additional training in wound care, assault behavior management, memory rehabilitation, dementia certification, and is now a certified American Heart Association Basic Life Support instructor for BrightStar Care team members. As Client Care Manager, Angela interacts directly with clients to ensure they receive quality nursing care in the comfort of their own homes.


Babli Duttasarma, Operations Manager
Babli Duttasarma started her career in banking, eventually transitioning into a career in home health care in 1995 with All Care Services. She then worked for ResCare, moving up to a position as Branch Manager. Babli has been working with BrightStar Care since 2015 as our operations manager, in which she engages with clients and providers. When not working, Babli spends time with her two daughters, Mithia and Katja, and three granddaughters, Annika, Sophia, and Maya. In her rare free time, she frequents the Zumba and Pilates studio and volunteers at a local vineyard.

Questions about our care team?
Please contact us online or call our Orange County offices at (949) 837-7000 and we'll be happy to answer them.