Spotlight & Recognition
Spotlight: Celebrating Laura Arance — Manager of the Month
Please join us in congratulating Laura Arance, one of our incredible Care Coordination leaders, on being named Manager of the Month at UCLA West Valley Medical Center!
Laura was recognized at the Hospital Operations Collaborative, where COO Dave Morgan presented her with the award and shared moving feedback from colleagues across the hospital. It was no surprise to anyone because Laura has been a source of steady guidance, encouragement and support for her team for decades.
For Laura, the recognition is deeply meaningful. “Receiving the Manager of the Month award is an acknowledgement of respect and appreciation from my ‘work family,’” she shared. And it truly is a family. Laura’s journey with West Hills Hospital and UCLA West Valley Medical Center spans an inspiring 34 years : “The culture at UCLA West Valley is inviting and friendly — it’s what has had me coming into work every day for 34 years!”
Her team couldn’t agree more. They describe her as someone who led with reassurance and compassion during the transition into UCLA Health, making sure staff felt confident and supported every step of the way. She is known for rolling up her sleeves, working right alongside her staff, and leading by example with positivity and grace.
As one colleague put it: “Laura is a genuinely good person. We all respect her, which makes us want to do our very best. When she says she’s going to do something, she does it.” Another added: “She creates an environment where we can all be open and honest. She listens, she adapts, and she always makes sure we feel heard.”
Outside of work, Laura recharges with novels, the beach, cooking and most recently, a relaxing new hobby — paint-by-numbers. And while she may be the picture of calm leadership at work, she has her adventurous side too: she once went bungie jumping in the rain forest of Australia. “It was beautiful and scary, and I never want to do it again!”
Looking ahead, Laura is proud to be part of UCLA Health’s strong tradition of nursing leadership: “UCLA Health has a strong foundation of nurse leadership that I am glad to be a part of.”
Laura’s recognition is not only a reflection of her leadership, but also a celebration of the values, compassion and culture she brings to UCLA West Valley Medical Center every single day. Congratulations, Laura — this honor is so well deserved!
In the Spotlight
Please join the leadership team in congratulating Zealouie Hey De Guzman, DNP, MSNed, RN, PCCN, CV-BC, MEDSURG-BC, CMGT-BC, NPD-BC, on his promotion to RN Clinical Educator — Case Management.
Dr. De Guzman’s professional journey is a true reflection of dedication, passion and service to both patients and colleagues. His nursing career demonstrates remarkable versatility, blending clinical expertise, academic contributions and leadership in case management practice.
He has served as an adjunct clinical instructor at Mount Saint Mary’s University, where he helped shape the next generation of nurses, all while practicing as a full-time case manager at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center and as a per diem case manager at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. His teaching background also includes serving as a full-time didactic instructor at National University in Los Angeles and at West Coast University, where he brought his real-world clinical knowledge into the classroom to inspire and prepare students for nursing practice.
Clinically, Dr. De Guzman has a broad range of experience across multiple specialties. He has provided bedside care at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the progressive care unit, orthopedics and pulmonary telemetry, and at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where he floated to the emergency department, oncology and acute rehabilitation unit. He also served as an RN supervisor in a skilled nursing facility and as a charge nurse in the sub-acute unit at Encino Hospital. This breadth of experience has given him a deep understanding of patient care across the continuum, from acute care to post-acute settings.
Dr. De Guzman’s advanced certifications — including Progressive Care Nursing (PCCN), Cardiovascular Nursing (CV-BC), Medical-Surgical Nursing (MEDSURG-BC), Case Management (CMGT-BC), and Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC) — reflect his ongoing commitment to excellence, lifelong learning and specialized practice. Combined with his academic preparation (Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Science in Nursing Education), these credentials highlight his dual focus on both advancing nursing practice and educating future and current clinicians.
With this promotion, Dr. De Guzman brings his breadth of clinical knowledge, extensive teaching background and passion for professional development to support case management practice across all our campuses. His leadership will strengthen both clinician education and patient care, ensuring that our teams are empowered, supported and prepared to deliver the highest standards of excellence.
Dr. De Guzman will begin orientation on April 14. We are thrilled to welcome him in this new role and look forward to the impact he will have in advancing nurse case management education and practice.
Congratulations, Dr. De Guzman — we are so proud of you and can’t wait to see the many amazing things you will accomplish in this role and beyond!