In this episode, Dr. Jingyi Li shares how her clinical experiences and personal passion for culturally responsive care have shaped her work advancing health equity in dementia care. From research and teaching to community engagement, Dr. Li discusses the importance of seeing every person living with dementia beyond their diagnosis and creating care that honors their unique story.

In this episode, UW Tacoma alumnus Rafael Saucedo shares how his passion for community, advocacy, and relationship-building shaped his journey from Healthcare Leadership student to Philanthropy Program Manager at BECU. Rafael reflects on the experiences that guided his career, the importance of embracing uncertainty, and why meaningful leadership starts with showing up for your community. 

In this episode of the Meet & Greet podcast, Dr. Jamilia Sherls shares her journey into public health leadership and her work as Director of the Washington State Office of Immunization. She discusses vaccine equity, science-based policy, and how future nursing and healthcare leadership students can help strengthen public health in their communities.

In this episode, Dimity Prenger reflects on her transition into nursing and how her graduate studies are helping her serve her community. She discusses finding her path, embracing new opportunities, and growing into her leadership voice.

From his roots in Ghana to his nursing career in the U.S., David Antwi’s journey is driven by compassion and service. Through his work, studies, and YouTube channel Healthcare Beyond Scrubs, he’s redefining what it means to care—empowering nurses, uplifting communities, and inspiring others to make a difference. 

Dr. Lucas McIntyre, Medical Director of MultiCare’s Partial Hospitalization Program, is redefining how communities support adolescent mental health. Through compassion, innovation, and collaboration, he’s helping young people and families find stability, connection, and hope in the face of serious mental health challenges. 

Dr. Weichao Yuwen, Associate Professor at UW Tacoma, explores how technology and human connection intersect in caregiving and healthcare. Her podcast highlights stories of innovation, empathy, and the ways digital tools can support families and improve well-being.

Peter Mendy is a graduate of UW Tacoma’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Nursing (MN) programs. Originally considering teaching or medicine, he chose nursing after discovering its alignment with his values and desire to make a meaningful impact. Now Senior Director of Operations at Kaiser Permanente, Peter credits the MN program with sharpening his leadership, decision-making, and community-focused care skills. He praises nursing as a fulfilling, versatile career that empowers professionals to lead, advocate, and drive change across healthcare systems.

Holly Wetzel is a graduate of UW Tacoma’s Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Leadership (BAHCL) program and a two-term student body president. Inspired by her experience as a patient transporter during the pandemic, Holly shifted her focus from clinical care to systemic change. At UW Tacoma, she led major reforms in student government, launching data-driven Task Forces that addressed food insecurity, campus safety, and wellness. Holly credits the BAHCL program for helping her develop strategic leadership skills and plans to pursue a career in public and nonprofit sectors focused on health equity and systems change.

 Dr. Sharon Laing is a faculty member in UW Tacoma’s School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership, drawn to the campus by its mission and diverse student body. Trained as a health psychologist, she holds a Ph.D. from Howard University and completed postdoctoral work at Rutgers and the UW School of Public Health. Her research focuses on community health, healthcare worker well-being, and health disparities. Dr. Laing is deeply involved in student success through teaching, mentoring, and leading fieldwork and research opportunities in the Healthcare Leadership program.