Marylynne Kelts

Marylynne has devoted her life’s work toward improving healthcare. Beginning with her in clinical research in inborn errors of metabolism at University California San Diego, Marylynne has over 35 years of experience in Healthcare leadership, research, teaching and performance improvement leading Executive Leadership Teams across the country on operational excellence.   Marylynne completed her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Science, a M.S. degree in Nutrition/Biochemistry and doctoral studies in Epidemiology. Marylynne is a Senior Malcolm Baldrige Examiner having served both at the State and National levels for 10 years. Marylynne Joined the San Diego Kaiser Permanente Executive Leadership team in 2010 leading the Baldrige Excellence Journey for San Diego and the Care Experience for KFH. Through her leadership San Diego was awarded both the Silver and Gold level recognition for California Award for Performance Excellence (CAPE) and subsequently was a finalist at the National Baldrige level for two years, including recognition of high achievement in the category of Leadership. Marylynne began collaborating with Dr. Sachs and Annie Russel in 2017 to develop their vision of creating a framework for excellence in MOB operations – the Garfield Distinction. She transitioned to SCPMG in January 2018 to lead the Garfield Distinction body-of-work drawing on the expertise and contribution of leaders throughout Southern California. Marylynne’s passion - - her mission - - is grounded in the continuous pursuit of excellence and assisting others in their excellence journey - - all in service to our members.

 

 

Mary C. Meyer, MD, MPH   

Mary has worked for Kaiser Permanente Northern California since 2003. She is an emergency medicine physician and the Regional Medical Director of Emergency Management for Kaiser Permanente NCAL. She holds an MD from Tulane University Medicine School and an MPH and a Certificate in Global Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

Mary is a veteran of multiple disaster scenarios, including California wildfires, Ebola patients-underinvestigation, IT disruptions, international and domestic disaster relief operations, power outages, measles investigations, and patient-initiated violence. She participated in the evacuation of Kaiser Santa Rosa during the KP NCAL response to the North Bay Fires and a multi-agency disaster relief response during the Camp Fire of Butte County. Mary believes that disaster preparedness is an issue that affects health care organizations and communities alike; she endorses collaboration and training towards a goal of readiness.

In her spare time, Mary loves spending time with her husband and two children. She is an avid gardener     and global travel enthusiast.      

 

 

Kim Richards, RN, NC-BC

Kim combines her passion for nursing, holistic health and coaching to create the components of Self-Care Academy. Her extensive research on the science of self-care and resiliency has been widely published. Kim offers professional workshops as well as and a sustainable program to improve resiliency, engagement and improve patient satisfaction which has been successfully implemented by thousands across the US and UK. She is a healthy nurse evangelist and was honored to write the ANA book, Self-Care and YOU, which describes the elements of burning brightly without burning out.

 

 

Cindy Simental, LMFT

Cindy has a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from California State University of Fresno in which she received in 1999. She has nearly twenty years in the field of mental health working with those affected by trauma as a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist in County Mental Health. Seven years of that time was providing clinical oversight to services and developing or implementing programs to address the needs of the community.  Over the last nine years she has been employed with Kaiser Permanente Behavioral Health.  Her most recent crisis response work was with those affected directly and indirectly from the Las Vegas Shooting in October of 2017.  She currently spends two days a week in crisis response or urgent needs for the department of Behavioral Health Kaiser Ventura.  She considers the work she does as an honor to provide and that where there is light there is hope.

 

 

Dorcas Walton RN, MSN

Dorcas has worked as a nurse for over 40 years. She started her career at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti. After working at several tertiary teaching medical centers across the USA, she joined Kaiser Permanente as a Critical Care Manager opening the new Santa Rosa Medical Center. Dorcas worked at Kaiser Permanente Northern California for 29 years in both KFH and TPMG. She was the CNE in Oakland and Richmond Medical Centers. Currently, she is the NCAL Regional Director of Nursing and Clinical Practice for TPMG and KFH.

 

Dorcas has volunteered many hours for American Red Cross in local, State, and National Disasters. She also participated in Haiti’s recovery following their earthquake.

 

In her spare time, she enjoys Ikebana flower design, traveling and spending time with her young grandchildren.

 

 

Lauren M. Walton, MD

A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Lauren is an Addiction Psychiatrist currently in practice with Southern California Permanente Medical Group. She has been a Kaiser Permanente Physician for 19 years.  A 1996 graduate of the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, she subsequently completed a Psychiatric Residency Program at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, PA, and served as Chief Resident from 1999-2000. Dr. Walton is Board Certified by both the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

A dedicated professional with a commitment to excellence and quality in mental health care, Dr. Walton is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2005 Physicians’ Choice Award for excellence in service from her peers at Kaiser Permanente. She was named one of “America’s Top Psychiatrists” from the Consumers’ Research Council of America in 2002-2003 and again in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2012, she was the recipient of the Physicians' Exceptional Contribution Award, the highest award bestowed upon Kaiser Permanente Physicians.

Her professional memberships include the American Psychiatric Association, Southern California Psychiatric Society, American Society of Addiction Medicine, California Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Medical Association.

An active member of the community, Dr. Walton is a proud charter member of the Board of Directors for Forgiving for Living, Inc. and is the Board President for the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

 

 

Traute Winters

Traute Winters is the Greater Los Angeles and Central Coast Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention overseeing from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles County. As Area Director she works with communities on educational programs, advocates for public policy, and provides programs and resources that support those affected by suicide. She has over 15 years of non-profit experience working with large national non-profits in education and outreach, advocacy, events and fundraising.