Speakers

Pam Arevalo is a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Director of Staff Development (DSD), and Clinical Instructor with extensive experience in healthcare education and clinical training. She is dedicated to preparing students and healthcare staff for successful careers in patient care by combining strong clinical knowledge with practical, hands-on instruction. Through her work in staff development and clinical education, Pam focuses on building competency, confidence, and compassionate care among future healthcare professionals. 

Dr. Krysten Bailey is a dedicated nursing educator and Program Director for the Nurse Aide for Healthcare program at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas. With extensive experience in classroom instruction, clinical education, and program leadership, she is committed to preparing students for successful careers in healthcare through high-quality, compliant, and student-centered training. Dr. Bailey leads curriculum development, accreditation efforts, and workforce initiatives, including securing major grant funding to expand access and strengthen outcomes. Passionate about mentorship and professional growth, she also champions dual-credit pathways and student leadership opportunities that empower the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Lakshmi is the Coordinating Teacher of Career Advancement at FUHSD Adult School, where she supports students and instructors across several workforce training programs, including Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Interpreter, Office Assistant, and In-Home Support Services. She plays an important role in guiding students as they explore career pathways and develop the practical skills needed to enter the workforce. Lakshmi is passionate about helping learners achieve their professional goals while supporting teachers in delivering high-quality career and technical education. 

Vicky Castillo, MSNed, RN, CNE, is the Founder and CEO of FACETS Healthcare Training and the Council for Nurse Assistant Education and Certification (CNAE). With more than 39 years in nursing and nearly 20 years in nurse aide education and certification, she has served as a nurse assistant instructor, program director, consultant, and competency evaluator for both Headmaster and Prometric. In this session, Vicky will review the April 2026 CMS guidelines for nurse aide training and certification, discuss CNA workforce trends, and share state-specific nurse aide test preparation resources, including a platform demonstration. Attendees will gain practical insights, key CMS takeaways, and educational tools designed to support nurse aide educators, training programs, and student success.

Abbey has been interested in health careers since high school and graduated from a nurse aide training program her senior year and passed both the state certification knowledge and skill exam. She then went on to attend pre-nursing courses in college where she worked as a CNA at an assisted living memory care unit during the summers. After taking some time off and exploring other possible career options Abbey found herself back in the healthcare field- this time with the testing vendor she tested with in high school. 

With multiple friends and family members having received care from CNA's Abbey is deeply passionate about the path to certification for aspiring nurse aides. Her goal is to ensure that all candidates are taking an exam that is as true to life as possible, and sets candidates up for success to help ensure minimum competency for our aspiring Nurse Aides.

Wendy Deras is a regional healthcare workforce development leader, nurse educator, author, and consultant with over 32 years of experience advancing safe, future-ready patient care. Her work spans clinical practice, higher education, curriculum design, and workforce system development across California.

She holds a BSN from Franklin University and two master’s degrees—an MSN in Nursing Education and an MS in Psychiatric/Mental Health Therapy—from Wright State University and Duquesne University. She is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) through the National League for Nursing.

Wendy has educated learners across the nursing and allied health continuum and led curriculum development, accreditation support, and faculty advancement in both private and public institutions. She authored two textbooks supporting Home Health Aide and Acute Care Nursing Assistant training nationwide.

She is the founder and CEO of Envision Education, LLC, providing healthcare program development, compliance support, faculty training, and workforce consulting. As Director of Regional Health Initiatives for the Inland Empire, she partners with education and industry leaders to strengthen healthcare pipelines, expand clinical training capacity, and align education with workforce demand.

Her mission is to design education that transforms professionals, organizations, and communities.

Yuko Kawasaki

Liby Nair, RN, brings a dynamic blend of clinical expertise, teaching experience, and innovation in healthcare education. A graduate of Mission College, where she completed both her LVN and RN training, Liby has remained deeply connected to the academic and clinical communities that shaped her career.

She currently manages the intern program at the West Valley-Mission Community College District Health Services Clinic, where she mentors and supports the next generation of healthcare professionals. Her passion for education extends into the classroom, having previously taught in the Vocational Nursing (VN) program, where she was known for her engaging and practical approach to instruction.

In addition to her formal roles, Liby plays a unique and impactful part in student success as a patient actor for nursing assistant students preparing for their CNA certification exams. This hands-on involvement reflects her commitment to creating meaningful, real-world learning experiences.

Lynnea Palazzolo is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with over a decade of experience in the mental health field. Since 2013, she has been dedicated to helping individuals of all ages improve their mental and emotional well-being, working across multiple settings including non-profits, hospitals, autism clinics, and schools. Lynnea holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and is passionate about integrating a compassionate, client-centered approach in her work. Specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Lynnea is also currently undergoing training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to further enhance her therapeutic skills. Lynnea is the Mental Health Supervisor at West Valley College and the owner of Empathic Empowerment Therapy Services, a group practice based in San Jose. In her supervisory roles, she provides guidance and support to mental health professionals, fostering an environment of growth and learning.

Outside of her professional life, Lynnea enjoys pickleball, traveling, spending time with her family, and riding her motorcycle, finding joy in both adventure and connection.

Dr. Roe is principal of The Roe Group Enterprises, LLC, and Senior Consultant of Holistic Nursing Exploration Hub, LLC. Emphasis includes workforce development, leadership, holistic practice, and competency-based learning. Dr. Roe speaks locally and nationally and develops and facilitates many education and training programs. She has and currently holds leadership positions with several associations. Dr. Roe is author of The Nursing Assistant: Foundations of Holistic Caregiving, co-author of Health Sciences Concepts and Skills and is currently co-authoring, Holistic Caregiving: What it Takes to Make a Difference! She earned her BSN and MS in nursing at the University of Arizona and her Doctorate in Administration and Health Policy at Arizona State University. She has also completed graduate-level work in educational administration and instructional development and is currently in the Andrew Weil Fellowship in Integrative Medicine Program. Dr. Roe has received recognition and awards for her professional leadership and accomplishments and is considered a community leader, skillful facilitator, an accomplished administrator, and change agent.

Mark serves as Adjunct Faculty in Health Occupations at Mission College. In addition to his adjunct role, he provides program support across multiple healthcare pathways, including Nursing Assistant, Vocational Nursing, and the LVN-to-RN Bridge program, by supporting both its operations and students. He plays a role in coordinating student progression and is known for keeping things on track—earning him the nickname “Nursing Air Traffic Control.”

In his community education role as Coordinator/ Instructor-Trainer of the EH+S Training Center, Mark prepares students for careers in health and safety and supports their continued employment by integrating field knowledge with practical, hands-on instruction.

Mark lives in the Greater Bay Area with his children and enjoys being part of the local community.