If you tune in to a bi-weekly health education radio program for Tongans on KEST (1450 AM), you hear a voice that has the warmth of a South Sea island breeze. The host is Melieni Falemaka Talakai, a nurse who was born and raised in Tonga and received her nursing and nurse midwife training in New Zealand.

In 1982 Melieni immigrated to the United States. From 1984 to 2001 she was a home health and hospice nurse, and then joined the staff of San Mateo County Health Services where she currently works as the clinical case manager and as a staff nurse for the Mobile Clinic of San Mateo County.

Melieni knows more about the history of the clinic than any other board member. She was there at its inception in 1998 when a Blue Ribbon Advisory met to layout the blueprint for a community health center. From 2002 through and 2004 she served as the Chair of RFHC's Board of Directors. It was a period of exuberant, exponential growth.

At the center of her life are five beautiful children-- two sets of twins-- two girls age 16, followed by two 14-year old boys, and her youngest son, age 11. As Board Chair, Melieni juggled her kids needs, her job and her board duties, including four board committees. If all of this was a strain, you would never know it. Her ease and composure and cheerfulness overflows into any meeting she comes to.

"Melieni is always available, encouraging, listening and willing to ask the difficult questions. She has invested hours of her time providing leadership and support to the staff and at the board level, and always with a joy that is infectious. "
- Luisa Buada, CEO

We're so thankful for her solid, unwavering leadership and for an optimism that is contagious.