Dr. Mia Kelly, BSN, PHN, MSN, Ed.D, Samuel Merritt University class of 82, is an Oakland native, with over 40 years of experience in nursing. She started her career as a new graduate in the Intensive and Cardiac Care Units at Kaiser Hospital, Oakland, later transitioning to teaching at Merritt Peralta College as the content expert for Gerontology, Pharmacology, Medical Surgical Nursing and Nutrition. Her Doctorate in Educational Leadership was action-based research on the Impact of Bridge Programs on the Retention of Nursing Students. In leadership, Dr. Kelly served as the College Accreditation Chair, instrumental in facilitating a team that successfully reaffirmed their accreditation status. During the COVID-19 pandemic as the Peralta District Health Director, she supervised the four student health clinics, prioritizing student safety through monitoring and introducing new policies. More recently, Dr. Kelly served as the President of the Eden Rose Chapter of the Links Incorporated, an international organization committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. While a member, she authored the curriculum for a mentorship, enrichment program for adolescent girls, Making a Positive Impact Together (MAP-IT) that notably received President Obama’s Volunteer Service Award. Dr. Kelly is a passionate public health advocate, determined to bridge health disparities and optimize wellness in underserved communities. She has presented educational seminars that address heart health, obesity, exercise and nutrition. Most recently, she has created curriculum for community ambassadors to educate the public on the importance of preventive care for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). In her spare time, as a certified yoga instructor, she guides seniors in restorative yoga to optimize health. 
 

Jeffrey R DeSantis, DPM, FACFAS has been practicing podiatric medicine and foot and ankle surgery in Orange County over the past 30 years. After graduating from the California College of Podiatric Medicine, he completed his surgical residency at Pacific Coast Hospital in San Francisco. Dr. DeSantis is a fellow of the American College of foot ankle surgeons and a diplomat of the American board of foot and ankle surgery, certified both in reconstructive rearfoot & ankle surgery and foot surgery.  Dr. DeSantis first learned of the value of  legislative advocacy on a statewide level and served as President of the California Podiatric Medical Association in 2004. He also served on the claims committee for Pica malpractice insurance helping to defend his colleagues across the United States for 12 years. Following this, he was elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Podiatric Medical Association rising to the position of president of the APMA in 2021.  Dr. DeSantis is currently on staff at Saint Joseph Hospital in Orange and Children’s Hospital of Orange County.  In 2019, Dr. DeSantis joined Upperline Health, an innovative comprehensive healthcare program that helps providers work together to coordinate care.  Dr. DeSantis has been married to his wife, Laurie for 32 years and has two daughters and a son-in-law. Their eldest, Alexa, an attorney who is married to Matt Dickman,  and they are expecting their first child this summer. Their youngest is Daniella, an interior designer.  Dr. DeSantis is one of the founders of Talar Medical, a Podiatric GPO founded to help his fellow DPM’s on the business side of medicine, which has also fully funded two scholarships to the APMA educational foundation.  In his personal life, Dr. DeSantis enjoys sailing, skiing and restoring classic cars. 

Alvin McLean, Jr., Ph.D. received his doctorate in Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology the University of Wisconsin and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. McLean was on the faculty of the University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine for 7 years and then joined Paradigm Health Corporation as Senior Vice President for Product Development for 20 years. After retiring from corporate healthcare, he joined the faculty of National University System where he now serves as Dean of the JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences.

Paulina Van, PhD, RN, CNE, FADLN, FAAN, is a nurse scientist and healthcare executive with a nearly 40-year association with Samuel Merritt University, where she is Professor Emeritus. As Principal Investigator for two HRSA-funded grants totaling more than $2 million, she strengthened the nursing workforce pipeline and elevated faculty and student performance in high-need communities. She established the Dr. Paulina Van Perinatal Endowed Scholarship to support future nurses committed to equitable perinatal care. Across the University, she advanced evidence-informed practices that promote resilience, enhance well-being, and reduce burnout among students and colleagues, and championed the use of AI in nursing education to prepare students for a dynamic healthcare environment. Van is internationally recognized for developing the Model of Coping After Pregnancy Loss for Diverse Women, a framework used by more than 30 interdisciplinary research teams worldwide and cited extensively in perinatal health literature. Her research integrates science, reflective practice, and humanistic care to improve outcomes for mothers, families, students, and clinicians. She brings more than two decades of nonprofit healthcare and professional-association governance experience. Van serves as a board director for Hospice East Bay and as an Advisor to the Chapters Health West Region Advisory Council. She earned a PhD in Nursing from the University of California, San Francisco and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the Academy of Diversity Nursing Leaders.

Dr. Lemuel “Pete” Haynes is a clinician and educator whose work spans patient care, healthcare leadership, academia, and community impact. He serves as a Primary Care Provider with Sutter Health, delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care to diverse and underserved populations. Previously, as Director of Quality Improvement at Welbe Health, he led data-driven initiatives that improved compliance, optimized workflows, and advanced patient outcomes across multiple programs. In addition, he serves as an Adjunct Professor in SMU’s College of Nursing, teaching a graduate-level course integrating pathophysiology and pharmacology. Dr. Haynes began his Doctor of Nursing Practice journey while enrolled in the ELMSN-FNP program at SMU, reflecting an early commitment to clinical excellence and systems-level innovation. During his second year, he was part of a student duo that presented research to the College of Nursing advocating for ELMSN students to begin DNP coursework earlier and for expanded specialty and degree options. In addition, he participated in SMU’s Nursing Faculty of Tomorrow program and was frequently tasked by SMU leadership to support peers who had not passed medication calculation exams or the NCLEX boards, providing individualized guidance and mentorship to help them succeed. He earned his DNP from SMU, focusing on translating evidence into primary care practice to improve diabetes management, and is currently pursuing his third degree, a Master of Healthcare Administration. A dedicated advocate for workforce equity, Dr. Haynes remains deeply engaged in SMU’s community engagement programs, mentoring students and creating exposure opportunities for underserved youth to explore diverse healthcare careers. As an alum, he has also served multiple times as a panelist for programs aimed at new students or prospective applicants, helping guide and inspire the next generation of nursing professionals. Through these efforts, he continues to cultivate a more inclusive and representative healthcare workforce and serves as an ambassador for SMU’s mission and values.

Corina Aguilar, RN, MSN, is a graduate of the ELMSN Case Management program at Samuel Merritt University. Raised in San Francisco’s Mission District among generations of passionate community advocates and organizers, she cultivated a deep-rooted commitment to service and collective wellbeing. Her upbringing continues to guide her dedication to strengthening health outcomes in the communities that shaped her. Corina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Latina/o Studies from San Francisco State University, where she developed a strong foundation in social justice and the structural determinants that shape health outcomes. Throughout her time at SMU, she served as Co-President of ACORNH (Advocating for Childbirth, Obstetric, Reproductive, and Neonatal Health) and was a charter member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., helping establish the SMU Beta chapter and with it the legacy of service, scholarship, and professional excellence. Becoming a nurse was a calling she stepped into lovingly and strives to pay it forward by mentoring the next generation of nurses as she works towards becoming a nurse midwife in the future.

In 2019, Julia graduated Cum Laude at Holy Names University and was a scholar athlete in Tennis. In 2025, she started a “Why Choose OT” (Occupational Therapy) campaign (from NBCOT) which is about promoting OT and making it a well-known career for students. She has been leading OT workshops on her own and reached out to more than 20 high schools in her area. Additionally, she visited Colleges, health fairs and community centers to speak with people about careers in OT. She wants to make her workshop fun and interactive while students learn about OT. She’s brought in adaptive equipment and shown them how an OT can use it to help people be independent. She created playdough activities that show students how an OT uses it to help children to improve their hand strength and creativity. She made a PowerPoint presentation which includes more information about what OT is, where they work, how they help people and provide students with a list of OT volunteer places. She enjoys sharing her passion for OT with students in hopes that it will motivate them in wanting to pursue this career. Not only does she want to promote OT, but she would like to be their mentor and do what she can to support student’s career and academic journey.

Madeleine Nagle, DPM ‘28, is a passionate advocate of bridging language barriers to provide quality health care to all who need it. After teaching English abroad and experiencing the difficulty of communicating with medical professionals, she founded (and serves as president of) the Medical Languages club at SMU with the goal of educating future healthcare providers not just in other languages, but in the medical terminology and cultural nuances needed for effective understanding and treatment. In addition, Ms. Nagle has a strong drive towards education, working with classmates to create exam review sessions in first year and board review sessions currently. She is very involved in serving both her classmates and the community, helping organize Suitcase clinic as co-Director elect to bring podiatric services to the homeless and underserved in the Berkeley area while providing a place for students to practice and improve their skills. Even while preparing for her National Board Exam Part 1, Ms. Nagle is steadfast in her conviction that mitigating cultural differences and educating others is a path to effective clinical care.

Oakland native Marshawn Lynch is widely celebrated as one of the most dynamic running backs of his generation and a Super Bowl champion whose powerful playing style earned him five Pro Bowl selections and a place on the NFL All-Decade Team. Known to fans as “Beast Mode,” Lynch helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl victory and produced one of the most iconic runs in NFL history, the unforgettable “Beast Quake.” Beyond his extraordinary NFL career, Lynch has remained deeply committed to the Oakland community that shaped him. Through his Fam 1st Family Foundation, he has dedicated years to mentoring underserved youth, hosting free football camps, providing scholarships, and creating opportunities for young people facing limited resources. His hands-on approach and consistent presence in the community have made him a trusted role model for young athletes navigating adversity. Lynch has also been an important voice encouraging athletes to prioritize their mental and emotional wellbeing, helping shift the culture toward more open conversations about holistic health and resilience. His community impact has been nationally recognized, including receipt of the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic contributions. In recent years, Lynch has expanded his platform into film, television, and media, appearing in major productions and serving as an executive producer on new sports storytelling projects. Through these ventures, he continues to elevate authentic stories while maintaining strong ties to the communities he represents.

Julia Liou, MPH, the Chief Executive Officer of Asian Health Services (AHS) is an accomplished, mission-driven executive leader with 20+ years of experience in the healthcare industry. AHS is a community health center with 600 staff providing medical, dental, and behavioral health services to 50,000 patients in 14 languages. As a systems change leader, Ms. Liou has led strategic fund development initiatives, pioneered patient and community advocacy campaigns, spearheaded statewide coalitions on health equity and worker health, as well as regional and local initiatives; including the Revive Chinatown Campaign, California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, and California AA&NHPI Health Equity Coalition. She has led the charge in strategic planning, fund development, communications, advocacy, and public/private partnerships. By building coalitions, advancing advocacy, and elevating patient voices, Ms. Liou continues to champion health equity for vulnerable communities locally, statewide, and nationally. During her tenure with Asian Health Services, Ms. Liou led state policy initiatives that resulted in the passage of city ordinances and state legislation. She also catapulted AHS’ fund development successes in donor gifts and capital campaign fundraising that led to the expansion of AHS’ medical and dental services, community programming, and the establishment of AHS’ Innovation Center.  Ms. Liou earned her Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley, and Masters in Public Health from UCLA. She currently sits on the Oakland Thrives Council executive board, serves as Chair of the Alameda Health Consortium, Co-chair of NACHC’s Innovation Council and is a board member of the California Primary Care Association and Community Care Cooperative.