Meet the Health Services Team
Dr. Susan Zapalac, Medical Director
Dr. Zapalac is the Medical Director at Cate and co-chair of the Student Services Committee. She is a board certified Emergency Medicine physician and has worked in the field for over 20 years. She and her husband moved to Santa Barbara 20 years ago after finishing residency at LA County+USC. Dr. Zapalac is a mother of three children, and two dogs Scarlet and Arjen. In her free time she loves the outdoors–backpacking, hiking, skiing and walking on the beach. Dr. Zapalac appreciates how fragile life is and believes it’s important to work hard and play even harder.
Nikki Yamaoka BSN, RN Assistant Director of Health Services
Nikki, or more commonly known as “Nurse Nikki” began her career in health care by volunteering as a candy striper when she was only 15 years old. Since that time, she has over 30 years of experience in various areas of patient care (diet aide, nursing assistant, medical technician, Pediatric Med/Surg RN, Pediatric Oncology, School Nurse, and Assistant Director of Nursing at Cate School (best job ever)! She and her husband Brian have two children, Griffin and Ian. They enjoy weekend getaways to Big Bear and Disney Cruises. Nikki is an active member of several volunteer organizations for Carpinteria schools. Inclusion and equal opportunity for learning is something Nikki is very passionate about.
Vanessa Gonzalez, BSN, RN, CEN, PHN Nursing Administrator
Vanessa began her career in health care at the age of 19 years old when she became a CNA. She became a LVN two years later and completed her RN in 2008. She has worked in many areas of nursing but her specialty is in Emergency Medicine/Trauma. After working 12 years at the bedside at local ERs she arrived at CATE and feels she truly has found her home. She and her husband Frank have five children, 4 boys and 1 girl. Vanessa enjoys traveling and reading books in her spare time. She believes in the philosophy of ubuntu and strives every day to lift others.
Brooke Craig, Registered Nurse
Brooke became a nurse during the 2020 COVID pandemic. Starting her career in a LTAC (long term acute care) facility, she quickly learned she had a passion for emergency nursing and made the career change to a trauma nurse in the Denver Metro area! After moving back home to (Oakview) in 2022, she continued her ER career at CMH Ventura! Brooke, her husband Chris, and three kids (Colt, Piper, and Renley) enjoy sports, camping, and traveling on the weekends! In addition to taking care of her kiddos, she also takes care of her 5 chickens, dogs, and cat! Brooke has a passion for caring for all age populations, Veteran care, and Mental health! She looks forward to her new career with Cate and caring for the adolescent population!
Hillary Haan, Registered Nurse
Julianna Marshall, Registered Nurse
Julianna began her career in public health research and education in Johannesburg, South Africa after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. During her international work, Julianna fell in love with the clinical, hands-on side of healthcare. She returned to the US to attend nursing school at Baylor University in Dallas, TX. She has been working in emergency medicine and in trauma focused hospitals since graduating in 2021. She remains an active ER nurse, but is enjoying the additional new challenge and fun of school nursing at Cate. After work you would most likely catch her surfing, backpacking, camping, running, hanging with friends and family, or planning her next adventure.
Sunny Rich, Registered Nurse
Sunny, or better known as “Nurse Sunny” to the Cate students, always truly wants to know “How are you? Are you eating, sleeping well? Are you making time to have some fun?” Sunny loves to go dancing, and see live performances especially for music and stand-up comedy. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, reading, trying new restaurants, being outdoors and traveling. Sunny was a stay-at-home mom for 18 years before graduating from nursing school in 2012. After she graduated, she went directly into school nursing so she could have the same schedule as her girls. She is a mom to 4 lovely daughters who actually like her (she thinks!) so a lot of fun times are spent with them.
Maribel Castro, Medical Assistant
Margaret Coyne, Medical Assistant
Margaret was born and raised in Santa Barbara. She has been working as a Medical Assistant since 2015, and she I loves it. Before working at Cate School, she assisted with plastic surgery at a local dermatology office. Margaret has two boys, Eli and Orion. Their family has lots of pets: one dog, two guinea pigs, birds, fish and frogs. Margaret loves to be out in nature, in the mountains or at the beach- it’s where she feel most content!