OCT 2026
October Virtual Member Meet and Greet
Time: 5:30PM - 6:30PM
Location: Virtual (Zoom link provided upon registration)
Join fellow WHCE members for an interactive conversation about the WHCE community, upcoming opportunities, and ways to get more involved.
During This Session You Will:
✓ Connect with fellow WHCE members
✓ Learn more about WHCE programs and member benefits
✓ Hear about upcoming events and initiatives
✓ Explore opportunities to engage and lead within the organization
Hosted by the WHCE Membership Committee: Jodi Thirtyacre, Cynthia Stewart & Sarah Abdolcader
Wednesday
13
October 2026
Beyond The Table: Latina Women Redefining Leadership
Time: 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Location:
Stanford Health Care Center for Education, Research and Professional Development
1850 Embarcadero Road,
Room 114
Palo Alto CA 94303
In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, join Women Health Care Executives (WHCE) and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN – San Francisco Bay Area Chapter) for Beyond The Table: Latina Women Redefining Leadership.
This dynamic panel conversation will highlight extraordinary Latina leaders who are breaking barriers, building bridges, and creating a lasting impact across healthcare, corporate strategy, and our local communities. Whether you're looking to gain insights from seasoned executives or network with fellow professionals, join us for an empowering evening of connection and community.
Speakers:
Amelia Bernal-Valencia – Vice President, Strategic Accounts at Robert Half
Pati Carrera, MPA, SPHR – National Director at Kaiser Permanente
Claudia Uribe, MSN, RN, PHN – ANM at Kaiser SF & NAHN President
Berta Alica Bejarano, MA, MBA, CI, CDE – Moderator
Thursday
17
SEP 2026
SEPTEMBER 2026
At Women Health Care Executives (WHCE), we design events that cater to the professional development and networking needs of our members, empowering women in healthcare leadership. Our events offer valuable insights from industry experts, skill-building opportunities, and meaningful connections that inspire growth and innovation.
WHCE hosts a variety of evening programs featuring renowned speakers who share their expertise on vital healthcare topics. Our past events have covered a broad spectrum, including healthcare reform, advancements in healthcare technology, patient-centered care, reproductive health futures, and emergency preparedness for healthcare executives. These events keep our members informed and prepared for the evolving challenges in healthcare.
April 17, 2027*
The Four Seasons
757 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103
*Early Bird Tickets Now Available
Our most anticipated event of the year is the Woman of the Year (WOTY) Dinner Gala, where we honor exceptional women in healthcare leadership. This celebration includes recognition of our new Woman of the Year, scholarship winners, and the invaluable contributions of women in healthcare. It’s an unforgettable evening of celebration, inspiration, and connection.
Katrina Ascencio-Holmes
RN, CNOR, BSN, MHA
Katrina Ascencio-Holmes is a nationally recognized nurse executive and a bold advocate for healthcare excellence. As the System Chief Nursing Officer at Sutter Health, she leads enterprise-wide strategy with a focus on clinical excellence and workforce well-being. Beyond her executive role, Katrina serves as a National Champion for Women’s Health with the American Heart Association, where she is a "Woman of Impact" dedicated to advancing cardiovascular equity and health outcomes for women.
A courageous change agent, Katrina is celebrated for challenging the status quo and fostering inclusive, high-performing teams. She is a dedicated mentor who balances visionary leadership with a profound investment in the people and communities she serves. By translating purpose into action, Katrina exemplifies the spirit of the Woman of the Year award, serving as a powerful role model for the next generation of healthcare leaders.
Dr. Carla Wicks, MD
Dr. Carla Wicks is a distinguished physician leader recognized for her unwavering commitment to advancing health equity and inclusive excellence. As the Regional Medical Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EID) for Kaiser Permanente and The Permanente Medical Group, Inc., Dr. Wicks translates core equity principles into measurable clinical practice. Her leadership ensures that diversity is not just a priority, but a foundational element of workforce engagement and patient care.
A trusted voice in Health Equity Excellence, Dr. Wicks leads region-wide initiatives that drive meaningful, solutions-focused engagement across complex healthcare landscapes. By championing culturally responsive care, she has been instrumental in improving healthcare access and building lasting trust within diverse communities. Her sustained leadership continues to set the standard for regional impact and organizational integrity in Northern California.
dEBORAH mURO, bsn, mn, chcio
Deborah (Deb) Muro is a visionary executive dedicated to redefining how technology advances patient care. With over 25 years of experience bridging clinical nursing, operations, and IT, Deb brings a unique perspective to digital strategy. As a Chief Information Officer for over 12 years, she has guided enterprise-wide digital transformations across leading Northern California health systems, prioritizing both operational excellence and the patient experience.
Deb is a pioneer in AI-enabled care and robotics, notably supporting advanced surgical programs utilizing the da Vinci® platform. Her leadership spans technology strategy, clinical engineering, and cybersecurity. A nationally recognized leader, Deb has been honored by Becker’s Healthcare and is a recipient of the HMG Strategy Global Leadership Institute Award.
Katrina Ascencio-Holmes
RN, CNOR, BSN, MHA
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Woman of the Year
Katrina Ascencio-Holmes is a nationally recognized nurse executive and a bold advocate for healthcare excellence. As the System Chief Nursing Officer at Sutter Health, she leads enterprise-wide strategy with a focus on clinical excellence and workforce well-being. Beyond her executive role, Katrina serves as a National Champion for Women’s Health with the American Heart Association, where she is a "Woman of Impact" dedicated to advancing cardiovascular equity and health outcomes for women.
A courageous change agent, Katrina is celebrated for challenging the status quo and fostering inclusive, high-performing teams. She is a dedicated mentor who balances visionary leadership with a profound investment in the people and communities she serves. By translating purpose into action, Katrina exemplifies the spirit of the Woman of the Year award, serving as a powerful role model for the next generation of healthcare leaders.
dEBORAH mURo
bsn, mn, chcio
Deborah (Deb) Muro is a visionary executive dedicated to redefining how technology advances patient care. With over 25 years of experience bridging clinical nursing, operations, and IT, Deb brings a unique perspective to digital strategy. As a Chief Information Officer for over 12 years, she has guided enterprise-wide digital transformations across leading Northern California health systems, prioritizing both operational excellence and the patient experience.
Deb is a pioneer in AI-enabled care and robotics, notably supporting advanced surgical programs utilizing the da Vinci® platform. Her leadership spans technology strategy, clinical engineering, and cybersecurity. A nationally recognized leader, Deb has been honored by Becker’s Healthcare and is a recipient of the HMG Strategy Global Leadership Institute Award.
Dr. Carla Wicks, MD
Chief Strategic Officer,
tHE cALIFORNIA eNDOWMENT
Dr. Carla Wicks is a distinguished physician leader recognized for her unwavering commitment to advancing health equity and inclusive excellence. As the Regional Medical Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EID) for Kaiser Permanente and The Permanente Medical Group, Inc., Dr. Wicks translates core equity principles into measurable clinical practice. Her leadership ensures that diversity is not just a priority, but a foundational element of workforce engagement and patient care.
A trusted voice in Health Equity Excellence, Dr. Wicks leads region-wide initiatives that drive meaningful, solutions-focused engagement across complex healthcare landscapes. By championing culturally responsive care, she has been instrumental in improving healthcare access and building lasting trust within diverse communities. Her sustained leadership continues to set the standard for regional impact and organizational integrity in Northern California.
Our most anticipated event of the year is the Woman of the Year (WOTY) Dinner Gala, where we honor exceptional women in healthcare leadership. This celebration includes recognition of our new Woman of the Year, scholarship winners, and the invaluable contributions of women in healthcare. It’s an unforgettable evening of celebration, inspiration, and connection.
April 25, 2026
6:00PM - 12:00AM
The Four Seasons
757 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103
We’re excited to welcome you into the WHCE community and support your journey as a leader in healthcare.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Effective Date: October 1st, 2016
This Event Cancellation and Refund Policy (the “Policy”) applies to all Women Health Care Executives (“WHCE”) event registrations unless otherwise noted in the corresponding event materials. Please read all individual event information thoroughly.
WHCE reserves the right to cancel an event in its sole discretion for any reason, including low enrollment, inclement weather, other circumstances that would make the event non-viable or for the convenience of WHCE. If WHCE does cancel an event, and the event is not rescheduled, registrants will be offered a full refund. Should circumstances arise that result in the postponement of an event, registrants will have the option to either receive a full refund or transfer registration to the same event at the new, future date. All refund requests must be made by the registrant. To request a refund please send an e-mail to contact@whcesfbayarea.org no later than 10 days after the scheduled date of the event. Requests received after that time will not be honored.
No refunds are available for a registrant for an event who fails to attend the event for any reason. One (1) day prior to an event for which you are registered, you may transfer your event registration to a future WHCE event and pay the difference in price, if any. WHCE will not pay a refund if the cost of the event is less than the cost of the earlier event. You may also transfer your event registration to another individual for the same event at no charge. To request a transfer please send an e-mail to info@whcesfbay.org.
WHCE reserves the right to modify this Policy at any time without notice to you. We include the effective date at the top of this statement. We encourage you to check this website to see the current Policy in effect and any changes that may have been made to it. By registering for a WHCE event following any modifications to this Policy, you agree to be bound by such modifications.