A distinguished career in the medical field spanning 18 years, marked by resilience and a commitment to excellence, has taken this healthcare leader from the Philippines to the United Kingdom, and now to Harbor City, California. Mervin Francisco-Passarella, currently serving as Chief Nurse Executive (CNE) for South Bay Medical Center, exemplifies how cultural values and a relentless passion for patient care can shape a successful and impactful nursing journey.
Mervin’s passion for leadership began early. “I’ve always believed that great leadership can elevate the practice of nursing,” he says, recalling a pivotal moment when he was still a bedside nurse. Tasked with managing a unit that lacked sufficient equipment, he found himself hiding a blood pressure machine in a patient’s room to ensure continuity of care. “One moment that stands out was having to hide a blood pressure machine…because there weren’t enough to go around,” he explains. That experience galvanized him, instilling a drive to guarantee that nurses have the resources they need to provide the highest level of care. This promise became a guiding principle throughout his career, influencing how he leads and innovates.
Over the years, Mervin advanced from clinical nurse roles in Medical/Surgical and Telemetry units to leadership positions, including Assistant Department Administrator, Clinical Director for adult inpatient services, and Hospital Administrator overseeing continuing care and utilization management. Now, as CNE, he is responsible for leading nursing operations and driving strategic initiatives to enhance patient care across the South Bay Medical Center. His tenure has been marked by significant achievements—reducing falls, minimizing hospital-acquired infections, and optimizing discharge times to skilled nursing facilities. His team engagement strategies have not only improved metrics but also cultivated a more positive workplace culture, reflecting his steadfast commitment to workforce empowerment.
Drawing on his Filipino heritage, Mervin integrates the core values of resilience, compassion, and humility into his leadership approach. Growing up in the Philippines, he learned about the importance of community and “kapwa,” a concept of shared humanity that underscores empathy and inclusivity. “We may stumble, but we always come back stronger,” he notes, describing the Filipino spirit. This ethos guided Mervin when he moved to the UK, where he encountered workplace bullying. Far from deterring him, these experiences solidified his resolve to create safe, nurturing spaces for the teams he leads. His emphasis on equity and respect is evident in his leadership style, where every team member is encouraged to speak up, share ideas, and contribute to a culture of mutual support.
“What excites me most about my new role as Chief Nurse Executive is the opportunity to influence nursing practice at a strategic level,” Mervin says. The position enables him to shape policies, champion innovation, and bring the insights of frontline nurses into organizational decisions. By fostering cross-functional partnerships and building cohesive relationships among nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, he aims to create a resilient system where collaboration is not just encouraged but embedded in day-to-day operations. Mervin views his CNE role as more than a job title—he sees it as a platform to advocate for nurses, mentor rising leaders, and serve as a visionary for the entire organization.
Mervin’s journey to CNE was not without setbacks. He shares that he was rejected from leadership positions twice before finally landing his dream job. “Rejection doesn’t feel like redirection right away,” he admits. However, each disappointment spurred him to seek feedback, refine his skills, and harness mentorship opportunities. These challenges, along with the financial struggles he faced during his early college years in the Philippines, ingrained in him a sense of perseverance and resourcefulness. “Those moments taught me to embrace setbacks as opportunities to grow stronger, learn, and prepare for something greater,” Mervin reflects.
Equipped with a BSN from Ateneo de Zamboanga, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a DNP from California Baptist University, Mervin continues to prove that academic and clinical excellence can be combined to transform healthcare outcomes. Part of his success also lies in maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which includes hiking adventures with his husband, Gianni, and quality time with their dogs, Bella and Alvin.
As for his vision of impact, “I aim to elevate the nursing profession by focusing on my three key pillars: people, partnership, and accountability,” he says. “People” signifies the importance of investing in team development, mentorship, and recognition. “Partnership” emphasizes building collaborative relationships across all disciplines and encouraging shared leadership. Finally, “accountability” entails setting clear goals, measuring progress, and transparently addressing both achievements and areas for improvement. By centering his leadership on these pillars, Mervin believes he can create an environment where nurses feel empowered to lead, innovate, and provide optimal patient care.
To aspiring Filipino nurses—or indeed to any nurse seeking a leadership trajectory—Mervin offers encouragement tempered by realism: “It’s natural to feel disappointed when things don’t go as planned,” he advises, recalling a time when a senior leader told him, “I don’t see your spark.” Instead of losing heart, he doubled down on professional development, earning nationally recognized certifications and expanding his education. Through self-belief, resilience, and a relentless drive for excellence, Mervin overcame the hurdles in his path.
His story resonates with a simple yet powerful truth: passion, perseverance, and strong community values can guide anyone toward a transformational leadership journey. In Mervin’s case, those core principles have shaped a career that enhances patient outcomes, elevates nurse-led initiatives, and builds dynamic, empowered teams—proving that great leadership, grounded in humanity and vision, truly can elevate the practice of nursing.
