Advisory Committee

Advisory Committee

Sam Leask is the current Executive Director of the Dominican Hospital Foundation, which maintains Endowment and Restricted Funds established to perpetuate this community education series by underwriting the cost of the Nadherny / Calciano symposia. He joined the Foundation in 2010. A Santa Cruz native, he was educated as an economist, earned his MBA at Harvard Business School, and has enjoyed a varied career as a senior executive, management consultant, and non-profit fundraiser and manager.

Bob Semas was the Executive Director of the Dominican Hospital Foundation. Mr. Semas is pleased to have assisted the Nadherny / Calciano family in conceptualizing the symposia. He has participated in the planning and logistics of each symposium since inception. Under his direction, the Dominican Foundation maintains Endowment and Restricted Funds dedicated to perpetuating this community education series by underwriting the cost of the annual symposia.

George Jarrow, RN. received his nursing degree from the State University of New York at Alfred in 1979. He has worked in the Mental Health field since 1981, and has been at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz for the past 23 years. He is currently the Director of Dominican Hospital Behavioral Health Services. He is also the chairperson of the Jon E. Nadherny / Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium Advisory Committee. His passion for this cause is deeply rooted in his desire to collaboratively see human tragedy transformed into hope and opportunity.

Alicia Najera earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Stanford University and her Masters in Social Work from with a Concentration in Child Welfare from San José State University. She is a bilingual (Spanish/English) and bicultural (Latina) Clinical Social Worker licensed by the State of California. She has over twenty-five years of experience in the field and has worked in a variety of settings, including outpatient primary care and mental health clinics, residential treatment programs, and school based programs. She is presently a Program Manager for Santa Cruz County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Her interest in the Jon E. Nadherny / Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium reflects her desire to improve the lives of children and young adults, and her interest in providing educational forums for helping professionals.

Joshua Nadherny-Calciano is the younger brother of Jon Nadherny. He received his bachelors of science in Biochemistry and in Molecular Biology, from the University of California Santa Cruz in 2000. Since that time he has worked in the biotech industry. Recently he works in international business, land management and sales. Joshua finds his service on the Jon Nadherny / Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium advisory committee to be very therapeutic in dealing with the tragic loss of his brother. Recently, his passion for the symposium has made him want to persue a career in nursing. He is currently persuing his masters degree at the Unifersity of San Francisco in Clinical Nurse Lead.

Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D. is a licensed Psychologist, trainer of trainers for the American Psychological Assoc. Dr. Bridgeman serves on several national & local boards (i.e. the executive committee for the Calif. Psych Assoc. Colleague Assist. Program) and presents nationally & internationally. Dr. Bridgeman finds her service on the "Jon Nadherny / Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium" advisory committee to be an important community public education endeavor and the effort very rewarding as it's annual high-level presentation’s not only seeks to inform but also to contribute to preventing serious mental health concerns . The combination of nationally known presenters with local professional panelists have proven to be highly effective, all within a collaborative, interdisciplinary team of planning committee members.

Debbie Joy,D.D.S. is the aunt of Jon Nadherny. She received her masters chemistry from the University of California Santa Cruz. She then recieved her Doctorate in Dental Science from UCSF in 1989. She recently retired in 2003 and lives in Scotts Valley with her family. She finds her service on the Jon Nadherny / Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium advisory committee to be very therapeutic in dealing with the tragic loss of her nephew.

Linda Calciano, Ph.D. is the mother of Jon Nadherny. She received her doctorate from the University of California Santa Cruz in 1989. Her doctorate was in Physical Organic Chemistry and continued her post doctorate in Biochemistry at UC, Berkeley. With support from her family Linda along with Bob Semas, founded the Jon E. Nadherny / Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium in 1997. Throughout the ensuing years this symposium has grown to serve the greater Santa Cruz County Community. In addition to her devotion to this mission Linda actively participates in the Dominican Hospital Foundation Guild, which helps support this annual conference.

Kathy Gonzales has been with Dominican Hospital for over ten years. She is the Office Manager of Behavioral Health Services and joined the Symposium Planning Committee last year. Kathy finds her service on the Jon Nadherny / Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium advisory comes from her daily experiences in the field of mental health.

Suzanne Nicholas, Ph.D. is a licensed Psychologist who maintains a private practice in Santa Cruz working primarily with adolescents and young adults. She is also on the staff of U.C. Santa Cruz providing services to the Residential Crisis Program. In addition to her work as a psychologist, Dr. Nicholas is also a counselor with Santa Cruz City Schools working with at-risk youth in Costanoa and The Ark High Schools. Being on the Advisory Board of the Calciano Youth Symposium allows Dr. Nicholas to be a part of a valuable and dynamic organization that helps to bring important and timely education and training about our youth to the community of Santa Cruz.

Freddie Weinstein, M.D. was born in New York, and raised in California. He did his undergraduate work at U. C. Davis, and went on to UCSF school of medicine where he earned his MD degree. His residency in psychiatry was at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. He has been in practice at Dominican Santa Cruz Hospital since 1995, and the medical Director of Dominican Behavioral Health Unit since 2000. He also is currently the chief medical officer for Dominican Hospital.

Carol F.Berman, L.C.S.W received her B.A. degree in 1967 from UCLA in Presocial Welfare and Psychology and her Masters Degree from the University of Southern California in Social Work in 1970 where she had interned at the Department of Juvenile Probation in Los Angeles and at the Thalian Clinic of Child Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital. She continued her interest in working with adolescents while working towards her state licensure at the Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center and Youth Services in Watsonville. She has been in private practice in Santa Cruz County since 1984 and continues her work with youth and young adults and also has an extensive practice working with adults as well as senior citizens; Ms. Berman does mostly individual psychotherapy. She has been a consult with the Calciano/Nadherny steering committee for approximately six years, contributing her knowledge of adolescent depression and mental health in general , and has a personal interest in supporting their endeavor because of her friendship with the Calciano/Nadherny family and her acquaintance with Jon when he was an adolescent. She is honored to serve on this committee.

Patricia Schroeder has received both the 'Community Hero Award' from United Way and 'The Spirit of Mentoring and Caring Award.' Both awards acknowledge individuals in the community that support and encourage our children and youth. Encouraging and supporting our children and youth is what it is all about for Patricia. In 1976 Patricia coordinated International Year of the Child activities in Santa Cruz County. Today she feels extremely privileged to be the District School Social Worker for Santa Cruz City Schools, and to serve in partnership on the Calciano-Nadherny Foundation Advisory Board. The Calicano Memorial Youth Symposium provides vital information and research that help schools better serve the mental health needs of students and families. Patricia has her Masters in Social Work with a specialization in Mental Health, and a Pupil Personal Service Credential in Child Welfare and Attendance from the State Department of Education.

Paul Bellina received his bachelors of arts in 1968 from the University of California Santa Barbara. He received his masters in counseling from San Francisco State University in 1974. Retired after 25 years as the Acute Services Program manager for Santa Cruz County Mental Health. His responsibilities included management of all transitional youth and older adult services to the Santa Cruz County Jail Psychiatric Services and county contracted impatient Behavioral Health Services at Dominican Hospital.

Alida Canale, R.N. has been involved in coordination and planning of the Jon Nadherny- Calciano Youth Symposium since its inception in 1997. What began, as “part of the job” in the Education Department is now a commitment supporting the family’s dedication toward professional and community educational growth for those involved in youth behavioral counseling or care. Alida is the liaison for the continuing education regulations and requirements for the professionals who attend the symposiums.

Karen Anderson-gray received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz as well as a master’s degree in Social Work from San Jose state. She has been licensed as an LCSW since 1984. Mrs. Anderson-gray has worked in a variety of residential programs for youth who are seriously emotionally disturbed and has been a program manager at Santa Cruz County children’s mental health for the past 16 years. Karen finds her service on the Jon Nadherny / Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium advisory comes from her commitment to the mental health of the youth in our community and wants to educate a wide range of professionals so that they have the tools to provide excellent service to our youth who are experiencing mental health issues.