Yolanda Whittington is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been providing behavioral health services to youth, adults, couples, and families for over 25 years.  She began her career in community and social activism within the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) community of Los Angeles as an advocate for LGBTQs of color.  She enjoyed a 25-year career with the County of Los Angeles Department of Mental Health serving in both clinical and administrative leadership roles with specialties in addiction, women’s, and Queer health.  She joined Kedren has the CEO on November 1, 2018.  Yolanda obtained her Masters’ in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work with a focus on Community Organization, Policy and Administration.  She is a Veteran of the United States Navy and devoted to health equity, social justice, racial, ethnic, gender, and economic equality.

Rahn Kennedy Bailey, MD, DFAPA, ACP, is the Chief Medical Officer of Kedren Health’s 72-bed acute inpatient psychiatric hospital and outpatient clinic services. Originally from Beaumont, Texas, he is 1990 graduate of University of Texas – Medical Branch (UTMB) Galveston School of Medicine, and a 1995 residency and fellowship graduate of Yale University. He has worked as a schizophrenia researcher at LSU, and was additionally the Medical Director of Bryce State Hospital Psychiatric Unit in Alabama. Currently, he is the Assistant Dean of Education at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, where he additionally serves at the Clerkship Director for Medical and Physician Assistant students. Dr. Bailey has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles including: Confidentiality in healthcare, the practice of medicine, treatment of clinical depression in African-American men, Climate change: Heightened risks of fatality in urban communities, and Pipeline changes: How to recruit, retain and graduate African-American physicians. Additionally, he has published three books:  A Physicians Prescription for Healthcare, Firearm Violence: A Psychiatric Perspective, and Interpersonal Domestic Violence.

“There is no health without mental health” – Vikram Patel

Krystle Herbert, LMFT, PsyD, has worked extensively within the behavioral health field for nearly two decades. In that time she has rendered direct-service for youth, adolescents, and adults, in individual, couples, family, and group modalities, and throughout various settings inclusive of community mental health centers, private practice, as well as medical and psychiatric hospitals such as LAC+USC Medical Center, Del Amo Hospital, UCLA Medical Center, and the Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Hospital. As such in the past, she has served as a clinician providing direct service in many of the same programs that are conducted at Kedren Health including Child and Adult Outpatient, Children’s Day Treatment, Child and Adult Inpatient, and Family Preservation. Further, she also has experience in the conducting of full psychological batteries regarding personality, behavioral, cognitive/neurological, achievement, educational/vocational, and diagnostic assessment. Her clinical specialty areas and research interests include trauma, substance abuse, depression/suicidality, cultural psychology, and couples therapy. Related to those areas, Dr. Herbert has become a Certified Traumatologist, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor, Certified Sexual Assault Crisis Counselor, and an AAMFT-Approved National Supervisor. She also has been trained in the delivery of various evidenced-based practices.

In regards to managerial and administrative roles, over the years Dr. Herbert has served as a supervisor, manager, senior administrator, and C-suite executive overseeing various aspects of the clinical, quality assurance, strategic planning, and programmatic development and implementation in behavioral health settings. She has experience working with federal, state, and local regulatory, accreditation, and licensing authorities inclusive of the Department of Child and Family Services, Department of Mental Health, and other Los Angeles County entities, as well as HRSA, Joint Commission, CARF, and the DEA.

Additionally, she has years of experience in providing training and education to behavioral health staff, and has also taught at the University-level for nearly 15 years, having taught psychology, social work, and related content areas at the Associate, Bachelor, and Masters for various universities including the University of Southern California (USC), California State University Dominguez Hills, Pepperdine University, and others.

Kristina was born and raised in South-East Los Angeles to two staunch activist parents dedicated to human and civil rights. She has worked in the non-profit world collectively for almost 30 years as volunteer, board member and in management. Ms. Davies transitioned into the private sector for almost 5 years as a Director of Human Resources. She has held three positions in Washington, DC in the area of policy: Women’s issues, people of color, and health care. She was most proud of designing and implementing the first ever, state-of-the-art, on-site full -service medical clinic, housed at in a Los Angeles Manufacturing plant for 5,000 employees, specifically sewing operators. According to Kristina “it was my proudest achievement to give direct access for medical care to an important segment of the manufacturing community.”

Kristina currently holds the position of Chief Administrative Officer for Kedren Community Health Center, Inc. and has brought her extensive knowledge of operations and management of Federally Qualified Health Centers to Primary Care. She is very familiar with social determinants to quality health care: substance abuse, behavioral health, food insecurity, housing, and violence. Has led a clinic in highly service oriented environments and successfully managed multiple sites in various geographic and demographic areas. At APLA, Ms. Davies assisted in starting an FQHC in Long Beach that provided medical, dental, and behavioral health services to the LGBTQ community. Ms. Davies is a firm believer that the client/patient is always first!

Ms. Davies has been fortunate to live an adventure by living outside California, first in Washington, DC, and then in Trinidad and Tobago, and a few years ago, in Northern France. She is also a published author who chronicled her experiences as the one of the only Mexican-American women in rural France to navigate her way around a farming community. Kristina speaks fluent Spanish and is eager to practice her broken French. She enjoys reading, cooking, eating, traveling, and spending time with her three grown sons and three beautiful granddaughters!

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it” – King Salomon

Merced brings to Kedren experience from both the For-Profit and Non-Profit sector.

She served 5 years as Accounting Manager for the largest and most successful gang intervention program in the world, Homeboy Industries, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA, and has served as Assistant and Interim Controller in the manufacturing and distribution sectors for 11 years.

Merced currently serves as Corporate Accountant for Navidad En El Barrio, Inc. a non-profit organization who’s focus is providing Christmas dinners to thousands of families in Southern California every year, and is part of the leadership of Children’s Ministry at her local church.

Merced received a Minor in Spanish, BA in Accounting, and Master’s Degree in Business and Organizational Leadership from Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, CA. She grew up in Southeast Los Angeles, where she still resides with her family who all work together to give back to their community.

Ms. Amelia Huckabee brings a level of administrative excellence in delivery of HR services and expertise  in managing all disciplines of HR including: staffing, compensation, benefits, employee  relations, executive coaching, training  and development and state/federal employment law compliance. She is a Human Resources Executive with over 25 years of experience in a variety of industries including; pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, transportation, and now healthcare. She holds a Master’s degree in Education, Counseling from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a Bachelor’s degree from University of California, Los Angeles.

"Make a career out of humanity…You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Shani Byard, Ed.D. is a South Los Angeles native, engaged community leader, professor, and Director of Education, Training and Workforce Development for Kedren Health. Dr. Byard has a combined 17 years experience in program design and professional development in education and healthcare fields. She has spent the last 9 years facilitating interdisciplinary in-services, organizational change, federal apprenticeships and strengthening learning cultures throughout public and private healthcare systems across California.  Dr. Byard is an Adjunct Professor for the School of Cultural Family Psychology at Pacific Oaks College, Co-Chair of the Education Committee and Leadership Council member for LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’ historic Empowerment Congress. She received a B.A. in TV Production and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University, and a M.S. in Human Services, specializing in Organizational Management and Leadership, from Springfield College.

“Quality healthcare delivery occurs when provider and patient are both sharing in the delivery of care.”

A native Belizean, Margaret fell in love with nonprofits when she immigrated to the United State.  Inspired by her family’s capacity for working within their community to improve lives, Margaret quickly developed a deep passion for charitable work. This resolve stuck with her through college, leading her to get her MS in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.   Over 30 years later, Margaret provides support to our Integrated Forensic Services Department and is happy spending her days keeping Kedren Health, an amazing place for physical and mental healthcare services.

Sheila Duckworth leads the planning, development and implementation of all Information Technology needs at Kedren Health. Her innovative experience spans 40 years of offering design and infrastructure services to non-profit organizations, corporations and startups, in healthcare and energy industries.  Sheila brings a wealth of experience in a variety of business software, electronic health records systems, user navigation and troubleshooting. Sheila honors the patients we serve and believes vulnerability is very brave and courageous.

Dr. Kelly Jones is the Chief Medical Officer at Kedren Health Primary Care, a Federally Qualified Health Center in South Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Georgetown University/Providence Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program in Washington DC, and attended college and medical school at the University of Kansas. Following residency, she worked at Community Health Care Delivery System in Tacoma WA. She completed a Maternity Fellowship in Los Angeles at University of Southern California/California Hospital Residency Program in 2002, and stayed on as faculty where she eventually was named as Program Director of the Residency Program.She has been CMO at Kedren Health since August 2018, and is an Associate Professor of Clinical Family Medicine at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Sciences. Since moving to Los Angeles she has been involved in Healthcare Advocacy and has held leadership positions with LAAFP, CAFP, AAFP and STFM. Her interests include women’s health, healthcare advocacy, behavioral health and forensic medicine.

Amabel Santelices is a compassionate registered nurse with an extensive nursing experience in skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. She is a strong leader who believes in servant leadership and well-regarded nurse executive with an in-depth knowledge of nursing administration. She advocates nursing advancement by bridging the gap between nursing practice and business concepts and leveraging health care organization growth opportunities while improving quality nursing practice and quality patient care.

Amabel Santelices earned a degree in Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in Leadership in Health Care Systems at Grand Canyon University in 2017. She has also completed a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) post-graduate certificate program at National University in 2019. She is a currently pursuing a degree in Doctor of Nursing Practice at Grand Canyon University.

Amabel Santelices is an active member of American Association of Director of Nursing Services, American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination, American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and Philippine Nurses Association of America.