I have spent my professional career as a Registered Nurse to improve the health of our community.  As a caregiver at the bedside, I learned to prioritize, respond to critical situations, and advocate for my patients. Later, as a Nurse Administrator was able to take healthcare services beyond the walls of the hospital and out into the community.  I opened clinics for low-income women and chilcren, developed programs for seniors and at-risk teens and expanded cancer and cardiac services for the community.

Over the past serveral years, as the Executive Director of the Hayward Area Recreation & Park District (H.A.R.D) Foundation, one of my priorities was providing health and wellness opportunities for the community.  This included the build out of Mia’s Dream Come True playground, a playground for children with special needs.  

In April 2020, I was unanimously appointed as a Director to the Eden Health District Board. With the COVID-19 pandemic at its peak, I facilitated partnerships to increase testing throughout the District, distributed PPE to essential and healthcare workers and provided COVID-19 education materials in multiple languages to our community.

These professional experiences and strong partnerships have allowed me to connect the community with vital health resources.  I know the importance of listening and engaging directly with residents to understand the health needs of the community. 

Born and raised in Hayward and a long-time resident of Castro Valley, the Eden Health District is my community.  It is my hope to continue to advocate for health services throughout the District, respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and work diligently for your better health. 

I am running for the Eden Township Health District Board to advocate for racial and gender equality and social justice to ensure policies and decisions are made in the best interest of those most impacted, to give them a voice and choice in the vision for health care in the District. 

My life and career have been spent caring for others. I immigrated to the US when I was ten years old. My family planted roots in Fremont, where I graduated from Irvington High School. 

In 1976 I became a US citizen. I have been a Hayward resident and married for 44 years. My husband and I raised three daughters while both working full-time. I worked the evening shift at Kaiser Hospital for more than 40 years, and he worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer for Alameda County for 37 years. Our daughters were educated in Hayward public schools, participated in local competitive sports, attended colleges in the Bay Area, and have chosen careers in public service. 

In 1970, I started my career at Kaiser Hayward first as a Unit Assistant, then a Licensed Vocational Nurse. In 1981 I obtained my Associate Degree in Nursing from Ohlone College and worked as a Registered Nurse in the inpatient Pediatric Unit caring for children and their families ensuring they had the highest quality of care. As a union activist for the California Nurses Association for 25 years, I was an appointed Bay Area delegate and a Nurse Representative advocating for patients’ safety and fair treatment for nurses in the workplace. When the Pediatric Unit closed in 2013, I became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and worked in the Pediatric Clinic at Kaiser San Leandro until I retired. 

If elected, I will advocate for residents who do not have a voice. I’ll share my story and life experiences as an immigrant, mom, wife, breast cancer survivor, nurse, union activist, and daughter who took care of her elderly parents while they were ill until they passed away. I believe it’s absolutely essential that everyone has access to high-quality health care services and education.