A cancer patient is twice as likely to suffer with mental and emotional distress than the average American. This distress can continue from diagnosis through treatment, and well into the survivorship stage. Mental stress and anxiety can affect and prevent the body from fighting disease, and recovering from surgeries and treatment. At Michelle’s Place Cancer…
Every October, Alison Garza’s children participate in their school’s annual “Pink Out” event, a fundraiser designed to raise money for Michelle’s Place. So, she was familiar with the organization, but she never imagined she’d turn to Michelle’s Place during her own treatment journey. A young mom of three daughters ages 5, 10 and 12, Alison…
In the summer of 2020, when Veronica Dornic was 47, her annual mammogram revealed a couple of bright spots. But the radiologist didn’t sound any alarm bells. Instead, the doctor told Veronica to schedule another mammogram in a few months so he could track any changes. Several weeks after her mammogram, Veronica rolled over in…
In the fall of 2019, when Teresa Basin was 48 years old, she felt a lump in her breast. At first, she didn’t think much of it. She had no family history of cancer. She ate well, exercised regularly, and managed to maintain her ideal weight — and her last mammogram, less than a year before,…
Dina Duran is Michelle’s Place Patient Navigator.
Dina started at Michelle’s Place in 2010 as a volunteer. In 2011 Dina was hired as a Patient Navigator. She has furthered her education in several patient navigation educational training courses over the years. She completed her certification from George Washington University in 2019. She is our CRM (client database) Guru and oversees the transportation program, Breast Health Assistance, October Awareness, Look Good Feel Better, and navigates clients on a daily basis. Dina makes it her personal mission to serve our clients with a compassionate heart.
Dina has been a Wish Granter for Make-A-Wish OCIE since 2010. She enjoys meeting the families and surprising them when their wish is granted. Dina loves all things that SPARKLE. She is a HUGE fan of the San Francisco 49ers and a season ticket holder for the San Diego Padres. She is a competitive bowler, avid runner, loves snowboarding, traveling, hiking, going to the beach, country music and spending time with family and friends.
Maria Mertzel is Michelle’s Place Patient Navigator.
Maria found Michelle’s Place after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. She volunteered for a year at the front desk as well as one of our encouragement callers. The volunteers welcomed her with open arms and gave her a wig even though she didn’t lose all her hair as a result of cold capping. She is very grateful to be a survivor. No one ever wants to hear the word cancer, but she had close family and friends who were her strength and healing support. She feels fortunate to be a light in other people’s journeys. She thinks it’s important to stay positive in challenging situations which molds you into who you are today. Each day is a gift and if she can make a difference in people’s lives we touch, she feels purpose.
She is a San Diego native and moved here to Temecula 25 years ago to raise her family. She graduated from San Diego State University with a Psychology degree. Where she met the love of her life and life partner Scott, who are celebrating 30 years together. She has four grown children and one of her daughters is in the process of becoming an oncology nurse. In her spare time she enjoys long walks with her golden retriever, Finn, traveling to new places and sharing quality time with family and friends.
Self-care Sessions
Self-care sessions help you look and feel your best, and remind you to focus on your needs. Self-care is important to maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself and your self-image. Doing so enhances our ability to live fully, vibrantly, and effectively. These sessions range from Reiki, to haircuts, to sound bath, to makeup classes, and much more.
Creative Workshops
Creative Workshops provides an outlet Creative therapy using art forms such as drawing or music. It does not require you to have any artistic ability, but rather a longing to connect to others and learn different skills that can be therapeutic no matter where you are in your journey. You will find multiple offerings monthly such as card class, expressive art, and journaling.
Educational Seminars
Educational seminars are created to help answer the many questions you may have that a diagnosis may bring. We lean on the support of our community to bring in professionals to shed light on important topics relevant to your journey. From nutrition to panel discussions with our local doctors, we are here to educate and empower you through learning.
Support Group
Support Groups are a safe place for you to find support with those who are facing cancer. Through sharing of experiences, you are able to offer support, encouragement, and comfort to the other group members, and receive the same in return. You will find many groups that meet monthly such as First Steps for the newly diagnosed, Survivorship, Metastatic, and Husband’s Hangout.
Guided Movement Classes
Guided movement classes are offered to ensure we place focus on your physical health by increasing strength, improving flexibility, decreasing muscle tension, and boosting coordination. These classes may include Tai Chi, Gentle Yoga, Present Movement Therapy, walking groups, and more.
Michele Brewer is Michelle’s Place Director of Operations.
Michele Brewer joined the Michelle’s Place team in July of 2015. She came from a background in marketing, event management, and office management. Through her work on nonprofit events over the years, she developed a passion for philanthropy and wanted to be a part of that world. She wanted to be a part of making a difference and change for the better. Michelle’s Place was the place she wanted to be.
Michele is our Director of Operations. She oversees the daily operations of the building including implementing systems, processes, policies, and procedures to ensure the work environment is adequate and safe and that each department is reaching its goals set by departmental and company leadership.
Michele is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and serves on the board as the Diversity/Inclusion Chair for the Inland Empire Chapter. She also is a Fellow of the (CCPL) Center for Civic Policy & Leadership, Healing Communities through Racial Justice Initiative. Michele believes in our Core Values and one of the values is to provide a place of safety, comfort, and hope. It is important that everyone who enters our building feels that.
Michele truly enjoys learning from her peers in the nonprofit community and enhancing her knowledge. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, trying out new food, and exploring all that southern California has to offer.
Kim Gerrish is Michelle’s Place Executive Director.
She was Michelle’s Place first employee 18 years ago. Leading the Michelle’s Place team is one her proudest accomplishments. The expansion from breast cancer to serve all cancers, raising funds to purchase their forever home and complete construction of the 10,000 sq. ft. cancer center was the most difficult and most rewarding work of her career.
Kim is a proud member of the Temecula Rotary Club where she enjoys volunteering for the international, senior and holiday programs. Kim also serves on the Association of Fundraising Professionals Board of Directors. She lives in Temecula with her husband and two dogs. She moved to Temecula from San Diego 21 years ago where she graduated from San Diego State University with a Journalism degree. She has three grown daughters and loves camping and hanging out with her family and friends.
Kris Berggren is Michelle’s Place Patient Navigator.
Kris Berggren, joined the Michelle’s Place team of patient navigators in 2021. As a breast cancer survivor, she knows firsthand many of the challenges cancer brings into the lives of our clients. Michelle’s Place provided Kris with resources and support as a cancer patient and as soon as she finished her treatments, she joined the army of Michelle’s Place volunteers so she could share that same hope, love and support to others facing cancer. Kris, her husband Richard, and their two children have made the Temecula Valley their home the past 26 years.
She loves the outdoors and fancies herself an amateur photographer so, in her free time, you will find Kris in nature taking pictures of flowers, trees, mountains and waves. Whenever possible, she heads to the San Diego beaches to catch some waves but most of all, she loves spending time with family and friends.
Regina Casini is Michelle’s Place Volunteer Coordinator.
Regina Casini found Michelle’s Place in 2017 at a health fair. She was so touched by the amazing things that they did for their clients that she made a donation and took a free pen. Just 4 months later Regina was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily, she knew exactly where to go. As a client, she attended a support group and art classes. Every time she was at the center, she saw how truly special this place is.
After Regina completed treatment, she decided she wanted to give back, so she became a volunteer. A year later the Volunteer Coordinator position was announced, and she knew it was what she was meant to do. It was her “Why?” Regina’s journey through cancer was tough but Michelle’s Place and the friends she found here was her silver lining. She feels so lucky to be able to work with over 120 caring and dedicated volunteers every day.
Laura Cuevas Lawrence is Michelle’s Place Patient Navigator.
Laura Lawrence’s first encounter with Michelle’s Place came after her own diagnosis of stage 3b breast cancer back in 2007 at the age of 40. She was diagnosed 11 months after suddenly losing her beloved Rich on the Christmas Eve, so she came to us needing support. She found that, and so much more. After she was done with treatment, feeling the need to give back what was given to her, she started volunteering immediately. With only a tiny hiatus she volunteered for 8 years before FINALLY joining as a staff member. She was known as the Health Fair Queen because her favorite thing to do was tell others about Michelle’s Place.
As a Spanish speaking patient navigator Laura has developed her own style in how she cares for her clients. This includes telling her story so others can feel Hope! She provides resources and guides them through their journey. She now has the title of Resource Queen, if there is a resource, she has it. By giving people hope through her hugs and healing crystals she is able to relieve stress with calls of encouragement and invitations to come by whenever they need some MP lovin’!
Laura also started and runs the Survivorship Support Circle for those that are done with treatment but realize they are still on some kind of journey. They support each other by telling their stories so others know they are not alone. Learning to thrive after cancer is a struggle but when one has others around that are going through it and can relate, that makes SSC the best way to learn to accept and move forward. Per Laura, she isn’t even close to returning the love and support she received back then, because it never stopped.
Amber Berkey is Michelle’s Place Fundraising and Development Officer.
Amber joins Michelle’s Place with over a decade of nonprofit fundraising and operations experience. She shares, “Fundraising and Development is the best role because every day I come to work and highlight our heroes- our donors, our clients, and our staff. It is an honor to share the impact that these three groups have on each other!”
Amber lives in Fallbrook with her husband, Jeff, and her three children, James, Ava, and Amaya. She loves to explore the world with her family, near and far!
Amber graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University with a degree in Communications, Public Address, and a minor in Public Relations. She also earned both her Fundraising and Development Certificate and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate from UCSD. She currently serves as Secretary to the Board of Directors for the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce and co-chairs the Fallbrook Christmas Parade committee.
Mercedes Ruiz is Michelle’s Place Patient Navigator.
Mercedes Ruiz is a Spanish-speaking Patient Navigator. She joined Michelle’s Place in 2016 as an office volunteer and 2 years later became a member of the Team. She oversees the Purple Ribbon Assistance Program and is a facilitator for the Esperanza Para la Familia support group.
She has an extensive background in Business & Operations and retired from the Banking industry after 33 years.
Mercedes values hard work, integrity, and compassion. She has a passion for helping others and strives to provide emotional support, encouragement, and guidance to all her clients and their families.
When not working she enjoys baking, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Jennifer Evans is Michelle’s Place Programs Manager.
Jennifer Evans joined our team in April of 2021, and as legend has it, she filled out her application on the golf course while attending our annual golf tournament, as she knew that she had to be a part of the Michelle’s Place family. She had recently lost her mother to pancreatic cancer, and she needed a way to honor her mom.
Jennifer is in charge of our programs that service our clients that include navigation, classes, support groups and educational seminars. It is important that we focus on our clients’ wellbeing in all areas. As the physicians attend to the physical needs, our programs are designed to attend to the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of our clients.
Jennifer has a passion to serve and implement new and creative ways to serve our clients and educate our community. In her spare time you will find her serving with her Rotary Club or traveling with her family to National Parks and checking items off her “must see” bucket list.
Priscilla Poveda is Michelle’s Place Community Health Worker.
Priscilla Poveda joined Michelle’s Place in October of 2021 and is our Community Health Worker and has enjoyed being able to help our clients navigate the healthcare system. She has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and has experience working in the non-profit world for 7 years. In her free time Priscilla enjoys volunteering at her church, reading, quilting, hiking, and continuing her healthy weight loss journey.
