FACES at St. Rose Hospital, Hayward
History
St. Rose Hospital is an independent, non-profit community hospital serving the communities of Central and Southern Alameda County. Governed by a local Board of Trustees who is cognizant of the specific needs of the diverse population we serve, St. Rose is dedicated to ensuring equal access and preventative health care for all residents. St. Rose has maintained its mission to provide high-quality health care to medically vulnerable, low-income and underserved communities.
In 2007, St. Rose Hospital made a commitment to address these urgent and unmet needs in Hayward by establishing the FACES for the Future program. The FACES program at St. Rose Hospital is a two-year program which motivates and prepares underrepresented youth for entry into careers in all areas of the health professions. Partnering with the Eden Area Regional Occupations Program in Hayward, FACES provides high school students with unique opportunities to learn from healthcare professionals in various hospital settings and explore career options in the health professions. Additionally, students benefit from academic enrichment opportunities, including individualized tutoring and college preparation activities, leadership training, and multi-faceted psychosocial support services, including one-on-one case management. The program also provides support to alumni by assisting them with job/internship placements, academic/career guidance and ongoing life coaching.
Hayward Team
Tomás A. Magaña, MD, MA, FAAP
Program Founding Director
Tomás A. Magaña, M.D., M.A., F.A.A.P. is Founder and Director of the FACES for the Future program at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, CA. Dr. Magaña is a member of the pediatric medical staff at St. Rose Hospital, where he formerly served as Medical Director of St. Rose’s Silva Pediatric Clinic and Mobile Van.
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Pamela Russo
Executive Director, Foundation & Marketing
Ms. Russo, age 55, began her career at St. Rose Hospital as a Registered Nurse in 1977. Working in all clinical areas of the hospital, Ms. Russo’s primary role was working as the Administrative Nursing Supervisor. Her duties included oversight of all clinical and administrative responsibilities for the hospital in the absence of administrative staff. Ms. Russo assumed the role of Education Specialist in 1993, coordinating all education programs for employees, including specialty training for health care professionals. In 2000 Ms Russo was appointed Director of Marketing, managing communications, public relations, hospital promotions and physician relations. Ms. Russo was appointed Executive Director of the Foundation & Marketing in November 2004. In addition to the hospital’s marketing initiatives, her responsibilities include fund development, grant oversight, special events, and planned gifts. Ms. Russo is a member of the Hayward Rotary Club and serves on the Hayward Rotary Foundation Board and Hayward Rotary Club Board of Directors. Ms Russo is a member of the Latino Business Roundtable through the Hayward Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Russo is involved in a variety of community organizations and was named Woman of the Year by Assembly member Mary Hayashi in 2009. Ms. Russo received her Associates of Arts Degree in Nursing from Chabot College in Hayward.
Vecepia Robinson
Program Manager
Vecepia Robinson, MHC, is the Program Manager for FACES for the Future at St. Rose Hospital (FFSRH). Vecepia has played an important role in FFSRH as one of the mentors for the program. As the Manager of Guest Relations for St. Rose hospital for almost 4 years, students completed rotations in her department understanding patient satisfaction, patient complaint process and the dynamics between patient and staff. She took on the additional role of Program Manager of FFSRH in October 2011. Vecepia attended Troy State University in Alabama during her career in the United States Air Force receiving a B.S. in Human Services and minors in Sociology and Psychology. She also earned her M.S. in Health Communication from Boston University in 2011.
In addition to her role as Manager of Guest Relations and Program Manager for FFSRH, Vecepia also oversees the SHINE (Student Helping in the Needs of Everyone) student volunteer program at St. Rose Hospital. She has extensive knowledge and expertise working with young adults. While in the Air Force, Vecepia was the Crime Prevention manager for the base and managed the D.A.R.E. program. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Vecepia works with the Delta Academy and Delta Gems (youth program for girls ages 6- 18) to ensure young ladies benefit from solid mentors, academic opportunities and personal development.
In 2002, Vecepia was the 1 million dollar winner of the CBS hit reality show, “Survivor: Marquesas.” Since her time on the show, she has hosted and produced two local cable shows called “Survivor Chasers” and “Bay Area News” which she co-anchored. She also began a summer competition named, “Summer School Survivor” where high school juniors and seniors competed for cash prizes and summer jobs in both Fremont and Newark, California. Vecepia enjoys the opportunity to work with the youth. Her motto is “Always strive to be your best.”