Length of Service: 13 years
Employee
Spotlight
Jean Koketsu
On Lok PACE East San Jose Center
How did you come to work at On Lok: I am an Occupational Therapist (OT). I always enjoyed working with older adults, and I had known about On Lok for a long time. I had an OT friend who already worked at On Lok, and he told me about an opening for an OT job, so I applied for it.
What do you like most about your job: I enjoy working in teams and working at On Lok gives me the opportunity to do that. Working with my colleagues who come from different backgrounds, cultures, generations and languages is also a lot of fun. I learn something new every day. I also have a chance to work with older adults who are diverse in background and languages, which I enjoy. In my role as an OT, I am privileged to hear participants' stories, see how they live, go into their homes, and make recommendations that may improve their lives.
Please share a little about you:
I like: to work in teams, try different foods, learn new languages, and learn about sleep.
I know: that I am fortunate to work as an OT at On Lok where we strive to help people remain in the communities and homes that they love. Every time I come to work, I don’t know what my day will look like, which I don’t mind! In one moment, I’m contributing to the big-picture decisions that impact our participants; in the next, I’m on the ground providing direct, personalized care.
I could not do without: my faith, my family and friends.
In my free time: I enjoy watching K-dramas, trying out new recipes, and crocheting.
My superpower is: is possibly learning new languages, but I don’t have time to take classes and learn them!
By: Manuel Raneda, 30th Street Senior Center Program Manager
Honoring Over 40 Years of Volunteer Dedication at 30th Street
On Lok 30th Street Senior Center volunteers have been an essential part of our center for over 40 years, and they deserve to be celebrated and honored. We are a center for seniors, by seniors. More than 90% of our volunteers are seniors themselves, staying active, making new friends, and finding real connection through their involvement at the center. Volunteering at 30th Street Senior Center isn’t just about helping out — it’s about being part of something truly meaningful.
A Week of Celebration and Gratitude
Last week, we had the privilege of honoring these incredible individuals during our Volunteer Appreciation Week with a kickoff event on April 20th. April 22nd, we gathered in the dining room for our Volunteer Appreciation Award Ceremony Luncheon, where the room was alive with friendly faces, great food, and heartfelt conversations. The festivities continued on April 24th as we turned up the music and let loose with a Dance Party in the dining room. Laughter filled the air as volunteers caught up with friends, enjoyed live music, and danced the afternoon away.
Spotlight on Our Volunteer Photographer
This year, our Volunteer Appreciation Week celebrations were beautifully captured through the lens of a special volunteer: Olivier Kung. An 11th-grade student at the Lycée Français de San Francisco, Olivier discovered his passion for photography when he was a ten year old experimenting with his parents' old point-and-click camera. He has since traded up for a Sony a6400 with a 24-70mm lens—what he used to document our week of festivities! Looking toward the future, Olivier dreams of attending a UC school, where he plans to balance his university studies with his love for photography. Beyond his artistic eye, Olivier has a big heart; if he could choose any superpower, it would be "super healing," reflecting his deep desire to help people become the best physical and mental versions of themselves.
A big thank you to Olivier Kung for volunteering his time and expertise as a photographer this week. Thank you to his mom, Pauline, for accompanying Olivier all week.
Thank You to Our Team
A heartfelt thank you to our amazing On Lok 30th Street Senior Center team for your hard work and coordination throughout Volunteer Appreciation Week. It took many hands to make it happen, and we are grateful for each and every one of you.
By: Sharron Kahoalii, Director of Change Leadership, Oracle
Our Change Champions Network is now activated!
Change Champions are team members across On Lok who help support their colleagues through the Oracle and ADP transition — sharing updates, answering questions, and bringing feedback back to the project team. They play a key role in making sure every team feels informed, supported, and ready for what’s ahead. Take a moment to see who represents your team — and don’t hesitate to reach out to say thank you when you see them! Find your team’s Change Champion HERE You may start seeing new project terms and acronyms (like ERP, HCM, UAT, and more) as we move forward. To make things easier, we’ve created an Acronym Cheat Sheet you can reference anytime you’re unsure what something means. Explore the Acronym Cheat Sheet HERE To stay up to date and access helpful resources, visit the Mission Possible SharePoint site HERE — your go-to hub for updates, materials, and tools. If you have any questions, reach out to the Mission Possible team at missionpossible@onlok.org.
By: Annie Wong and Rachel De La Rosa, Occupational Therapists
Teaching the Dance: Clinical Excellence and Mentorship at On Lok PACE San Jose Center
In honor of National Occupational Therapy Month this April, we sat down with Annie Wong and Rachel De La Rosa to learn more about their passion for occupational therapy (OT) and their commitment to mentoring the next generation of clinicians. Both are valued members of the On Lok PACE San Jose Center team—Annie bringing 11 years of experience and Rachel contributing her expertise over the past three years.
This month’s Employee Spotlight also features Jean Koketsu, whose connection to Annie goes back years. Annie shares that Jean was her first OT professor at San Jose State University and later referred her to On Lok—helping shape the path that led her to where she is today.
Finding Their “Why”
Annie and Rachel both discovered their path to occupational therapy while studying at San Jose State University. For Annie, the profession stood out early on: “I was drawn to healthcare, and once I was exposed to occupational therapy in school, I knew it was for me. What continues to inspire me is the combination of art and science that OT embodies.”
Supporting Independence Through PACE
Working within the PACE model, both clinicians emphasize engagement in meaningful “occupation” as an essential component of helping our participants maintain independence and quality of life.
Rachel shares that the most rewarding part of her work is “seeing participants’ happy faces and hearing how On Lok has positively impacted their lives—helping them stay active in hobbies they love or even discover new ones.”
The Occupational Therapy Perspective
Occupational therapy is often confused with physical therapy, but Annie highlights a key distinction: “Occupation is more than just our jobs, it is any activity that brings meaning and purpose to our lives. We work with participants on what is most meaningful to them. Physical therapy can teach someone to walk, but OT teaches someone to dance (and get dressed ahead of time).”
A Meaningful Impact, One Tool at a Time
Rachel recalls a powerful example of how small interventions can make a big difference. A participant experiencing severe hip pain relied on her granddaughter for help getting dressed. Through OT, Rachel introduced adaptive tools like a sock aid, reacher, and shoehorn. “After just one session, she was able to put on her socks and shoes independently. Both she and her granddaughter were so happy—it gave her back a sense of freedom.”
A Legacy of Mentorship and Academic Partnership
The OT team at On Lok reflects a strong and ongoing connection with San Jose State University’s OT program. Further strengthening this relationship is Graham Teaford, who served as Annie’s OT counterpart at On Lok for many years before returning to SJSU to pursue a full-time tenure position. Rachel stepped into this role following his departure, continuing the tradition of collaboration between clinical practice and academic training.
Investing in the Next Generation
Both Annie and Rachel are deeply committed to giving back to their alma mater and mentoring OT interns each semester. Annie approaches this responsibility with both humor and purpose: “They’re going to be taking care of us one day! I want them to pursue OT with expertise, passion, and confidence—and to have such a positive experience that they’ll want to mentor others in the future.”
Rachel emphasizes the importance of interpersonal communication as a key takeaway for interns: “It’s a critical life skill. Strong communication helps us build trust with participants and collaborate effectively with families, team members, and community partners.”
Learning Goes Both Ways
Mentorship is not a one-sided experience. Annie notes that working with interns keeps her grounded and curious: “They remind me to be patient and to keep asking questions. Their curiosity reinforces my own commitment to lifelong learning.”
Advice for Future Clinicians
For students considering a career in geriatric care, Rachel offers encouragement: “If you’re interested, dive in. You’ll build meaningful relationships, stay engaged, and find real fulfillment in your work.”
Annie’s advice is simple and direct: “Don’t be scared. It’s important and rewarding work.”
As we celebrate Occupational Therapy Month, we recognize Annie and Rachel not only for the care they provide to participants but also for their dedication to shaping the future of the profession—and the strong network of mentors and academic partners who continue to support that mission.
new hires
On Lok 30th Street Senior Center: Regine Gonzalves, Lead Care Manager – ECM
On Lok PACE 30th Street Center: Angel Aguilar, Driver - Meals
On Lok PACE Gee Center: Shuzhu Chen, Caregiver 1; Melanie Guevara, Caregiver 1; Yan Fang Lei, Caregiver 1; Yu Yu Lin, Caregiver 1; Yaying Liu, Nutrition Assistant; Mark Morin, Home Care Coordinator 1; Cristina Ventura Cabrera, Caregiver 1; Jin Zhou, LVN
On Lok PACE Peralta Center: Surinder Singh, Driver; Mya Thet Chel, Caregiver 2; Tierra White, Caregiver 2
On Lok PACE San Jose Center: Kelly Au, Caregiver 1; Shuhua Bian, Caregiver 1; Ana Castro, Center Scheduler; Araceli Martinez, Caregiver 1
On Lok PACE South San Jose Center: Amy Lobach, LVN; Chen Qian, Caregiver 1
On Lok PACE Center Union City: Sheila Valerie Convocar, RN
SF Admin: Ashneel Kumar, Accounts Payable Specialist 1; Dionne Murphy, People Operations Manager; Tyler Williams, Accounts Payable Specialist 1; Jenny Zhao, Quality Analyst
The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg On Lok Memory Care Center: Hua Ji, Caregiver 1; Meiyu Jiang, Caregiver 1
