Her Story
About Maria Pinky
Pinky Velasco serves as Quality and Safety Improvement Consultant at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, California, where she oversees the sepsis program at the Panorama City medical center. She ensures timely care for sepsis patients, educates medical teams and staff, monitors performance, reviews cases for improvement opportunities, and provides patient education on early recognition. With a background of 10 to 12 years in emergency medicine, she transitioned to this leadership role after nearly a decade at the county and joining Kaiser Permanente in 2015. Pinky earned her LVN at Central Career College and her RN at LA County USC Nursing School, later completing a micro-credential from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. She maintains memberships in the Sepsis Alliance and American Nurses Association and supports initiatives including the American Diabetes Association and Heart Walk. Pinky attributes her professional success to her family and personal drive inspired by her father, a public servant in the Philippines who helped others without expectation of return. She values respect, empathy, compassion, and equality in both her work and personal life, and advises others to follow their heart and be kind, drawing from Maya Angelou's words on caring for others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maria Pinky
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from family and personal drive to be like my dad, who was a public servant in the Philippines helping people without expecting anything in return. I remember growing up with live chickens, eggs, veggies, rice, and beans around the house because people would give that in return. Even now, my nurses remember me on my birthday and brought things when my mom passed away.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Follow your heart and make sure you have your heart in it before getting into that kind of role. Maya Angelou said if you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded. Also, be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The program is new so the challenge is getting people to follow the new process and convert from the old ways they are used to. I have to make sure I get their buy-in.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect is number one. Empathy and compassion are number two. Equality is very important to me.
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