Thanh H. Neville, MD

Thanh H. Neville, MD

Medical Director and co-founder

Dr. Thanh Neville obtained her medical degree, completed her Internal Medicine Residency, Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship, and her Masters of Science in Health Services all at UCLA. She joined the faculty in the UCLA Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care in 2012 and is both a clinician and a researcher. In 2017, she co-founded the 3 Wishes Program and is currently its Medical Director.

Danielle Bear

Danielle Bear

Project Manager

Danielle Bear is the project manager for the 3 Wishes Program. While the program is nurse-sustained, Danielle helps to expand the program to new units, train nurses and assist with wishes whenever she can.

Danielle believes that the 3 Wishes Program exemplifies how small acts of kindness can go a long way. She has seen first hand the impact that this project has on the way loved ones perceive the end of life and the greiving process.

Sherry Xu, MSN, RN

Sherry Xu, MSN, RN

4ICU (MICU)

Sherry has been a critical care nurse in the Medical ICU (MICU) for over 15 years and she finds it most rewarding to be able to help others. Sherry received her Master of Science Degree in Nursing with a focus on Gerontology from California State University Dominguez Hills in 2013. Sherry is currently serving as the nursing unit director for MICU. She is proud of her amazing team of staff and appreciates the collaboration with others at UCLA

Yuhan

Yuhan Kao, MSN, RN, CNS, CCRN

4ICU (MICU)

Yuhan Kao obtained her MSN from Loma Linda University and is currently working as the Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Medical Intensive Care Unit in Ronald Regan Medical Center.

The 3 Wishes Program provides dignity to the patient at the end of life and provides closure to the family and to the health care staff as well. 

Kristen Hjelmhaug, RN, BSN, CCRN

Kristen Hjelmhaug, RN, BSN, CCRN

4ICU (MICU)

Kristen is a bedside and relief charge nurse in the Medical ICU for over 6 years. She strives to create an environment that fosters the privileged bond between patient/family and nurse. The 3 Wishes Program means the world to Kristen because it provides a special opportunity for her to support and comfort those who are grieving beyond what is considered normal. 

 

Allegra Bell, RN

Allegra Bell, RN

4SW

Allegra Bell is an oncology nurse at UCLA Santa Monica and a 3WP Nurse Champion on her unit.

The 3WP has brought forth an opportunity to give back to our patients, many of whom we have established relationships with spanning years. Allegra's favorite 3WP memory is creating a spa day for a patient, with a facial performed in the room. The patient was glowing, inside and out!

Natalie Sanaee, RN

Natalie Sanaee, RN

4CWICU

Natalie Sanaee is an ICU RN at UCLA Santa Monica ICU, she started working there as a student since 2014, and has been dedicated to helping patients and their families through their most difficult moments. Natalie was also the president of the UCLA chapter for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses from 2016-2018 which focused on assisting the community, mentoring new nurses and helping further the nursing profession.

Melanie Donovan, RN, BS

Melanie Donovan, RN, BS

8ICU

Melanie has been at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center for 24 years. She is currently the Assistant Unit Director of the Transplant Surgical ICU. The 3 wishes Program has meant so much not only to the staff, but also the multidisciplinary team such as Social Workers and physicians. Melanie believes that the project has provided an opportunity for everyone to give that extra support and comfort during a very difficult time to our patients and their families. 

 

Also part of the team:
Rayna Ewer, RN, 4SW
Elyse Nickell, RN, 4CWICU
Jocelyn R Rodriguez, RN, L&D
Cristina Castillo Tuano-Verayo, RN, L&D
Abby Lockhart, RN, 8ICU
Leora Shachat, RN, 7ICU
Lindsay Brant, RN, 7ICU
Dawn Gottula, RN, 5NW
Erin Castle, RN, 5NW