Board Member Spotlight – Dr. Erica Jacquez

“It comes down to trust. When we empower our own community to lead, that’s when real change happens.” — Dr. Erica Jacquez

Rooted in service: Carrying her community forward 

Born at Montebello Beverly Hospital, now part of Adventist Health White Memorial, Dr. Erica Jacquez smiles when she says, “That’s where it all started.” A daughter of a disabled veteran and a first-generation college graduate, Erica carries a legacy shaped by sacrifice, resilience and an unwavering belief in community.

“Even as a young girl,” she reflects, “the importance of serving our country and serving our community — that vocation of service was always instilled in me.”

Today, as Executive Director of Government and External Affairs for Verizon overseeing Los Angeles County, Erica stands at the intersection of technology, healthcare and civic engagement. But her heart has long been with White Memorial.

Her first deep connection came through a diabetes collaborative in the 30th Senate District, where she worked alongside Dr. Hector Flores to confront a crisis: children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes by age 12, families without insurance, emergency rooms as primary care.

“By the time they went to see care, it was too late,” she says. “You’re looking at renal failure or amputations.”

Through culturally rooted education and promotoras (trusted community health workers), they empowered families to make healthier choices without abandoning tradition. “It comes down to trust,” Erica says. “When you learn peer-to-peer, that’s how you’re able to take action.”

Trust. Education. Access. These are the pillars she continues to champion.

When the pandemic hit, she witnessed how deeply connectivity affects survival. “Connectivity is a lifeline,” she says. “You can’t function anymore without it.” From providing tablets to seniors for telehealth visits to helping students bridge the digital divide, she saw technology become healthcare, education, and hope.

Service is action that starts with us

But leadership, for Erica, is also personal.

When a high school counselor once told her she wouldn’t get into college, she went home in tears. Her mother’s response changed her life: “I’m mad because you believed her.”

That moment became fuel.

“I always felt my generation had to be 10 times more qualified,” Erica says. “And now I tell young women: you’re worthy now. Don’t get in your own way. We don’t have the luxury of fear.”

As a new mother, her motivation has deepened. “I’m looking at everything now through her eyes,” she says of her daughter. “We’ve come a long way, but we haven’t come far enough.”

That’s why she serves on the board of Adventist Health White Memorial Charitable Foundation, an institution she calls “phenomenal” and “incredibly commendable” for meeting patients at their most vulnerable moments.

“Start simple. Do a diaper drive. Give a few hours of your time. Read to a patient,” Erica says. “Time is everything. If you can just make someone’s day a little better, that’s what life’s about.”

Join Erica in strengthening healthcare access, education, food security and compassionate care for our neighbors. Your gift of time or treasure can change a life. Because leadership begins with service and service begins with us.

Give today to Adventist Health White Memorial.