Senator Dave Min Announces Health Care Hero Joy Anne Lacebal Fumera as SD-37’s Woman of the Year
Senator Dave Min Announces Health Care Hero Joy Anne Lacebal Fumera as SD-37’s Woman of the Year
Fumera, a nurse, participated in Orange County’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force this year
ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) today announced his Woman of the Year honoree, Joy Anne Lacebal Fumera. Fumera, a Rancho Mission Viejo resident, is a Kaiser Permanente night shift nurse who tirelessly and courageously battled the COVID-19 pandemic on the frontlines this past year.
“On behalf of the 1.1 million residents of Senate District 37, I’m honored to recognize Joy Anne Lacebal Fumera as our Woman of the Year,” Min said. “Ms. Fumera is a leader in the nursing community and on Orange County’s COVID-19 Task Force, and as a critical care nurse on the night shift, she has valiantly helped our most vulnerable patients without any expectation of recognition or accolades. She is representative of the best of our Orange County values, serving humbly and tirelessly on the frontlines of this pandemic. We are on the verge of defeating this virus, thanks to the efforts of so many unsung heroes like Joy. We are so grateful to her and ALL of the essential workers who have helped us through these unprecedented times.”
“I’m deeply moved to be selected as Senator Min’s first Woman of the Year,” Fumera said. “I consider it an honor to represent my profession and its legacy of caring service to patients and the community. Over the past year, my colleagues and I saw too many families bid goodbye to their loved ones too early, so please get vaccinated when you can, wash your hands, wear a mask and follow all the proper health precautions.”
Fumera’s full bio can be found below.
Born in Manila, Philippines, Joy Anne Lacebal Fumera immigrated to California with her parents Jose and Juliana and younger sister, Gladys. Joy earned an Associate's Degree in Nursing from the Los Angeles County College of Nursing in 2001, learning her craft at the University of Southern California Keck Hospital. Settling in Orange County in 2005, Joy spent the next decade honing her nursing skills and pursuing higher education by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at California State University, Fullerton. Joy achieved both advanced degrees while balancing a career in direct patient care for the night shift unit at Kaiser Permanente Orange County.
Joy is active with the Greater Long Beach and Orange County American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), serving as President for multiple terms. The Chapter represents Registered Nurses in progressive care and critical care across local hospitals. Joy also serves as an Affiliate Officer for the United Nurses Associations of California/Union Health Care Professionals.
Last year, Joy was selected to participate in the Orange County COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force and makes recommendations to the Orange County Health Care Agency ensuring vaccine distribution to priority groups and vulnerable populations. From intern to nursing professor, Joy’s dynamic career has culminated as a community leader on the frontlines of Kaiser’s COVID Unit and as a tireless nurse at the center of the movement to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Joy lives in Rancho Mission Viejo with her husband, Christopher Tabayoyong.
###
Dave Min represents California State Senate District 37, which is located in Orange County and includes the communities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Foothill Ranch, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Orange, Tustin, and Villa Park.
Dave was a University of California Irvine law professor and a former economic policy staffer in the United States Senate and for the Center for American Progress. He began his legal career at the Securities and Exchange Commission to protect the retirement security of seniors, turning down high paying jobs to serve the public interest. Dave and his wife Jane live and work in Irvine, where they are raising their three young children.