Meet the Manresa Wellness Team
Alma C Ritsema RN, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified and Vice President
Alma Ritsema, who goes by Carrie, has devoted her nursing career to the mental health field. She received her undergraduate degree from University of California Santa Cruz in 1998 and her Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of California San Francisco in 2006. Her clinical experience began at Monterey County Behavioral Health, where she worked to develop an integration program between primary care and behavioral health departments. Carrie then worked for Montage Health in Monterey, where she worked in the out-patient and in-patient departments. She worked in collaboration with psychiatrists and therapists. Most recently, Carrie has been working in the Behavioral Health Department at Sutter Health and working for over six years on integrating mental health services in primary care.
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Carrie has extensive experience partnering with primary care providers and working in collaboration with therapists. She is a nationally board certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.
Carrie was born in El Salvador and moved to California as a teenager. She has made her home on the Monterey Bay and is passionate about serving the community in which she resides. Carrie is bilingual in English and Spanish and has 25 years of healthcare experience.
For more information on Alma's professional qualifications please visit her LinkedIn profile.
Dr. Renee Hill
Medical Director and CEO
Renee earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University in 1985, where she was honored with both the Beauchamp Scholarship Award and the Ernest Y. Williams MD Clinical Scholars of Distinction Award. She began her professional career as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Illinois School of Medicine in 1990. Over the next 26 years in the Midwest, she served as a medical director and staff psychiatrist at various hospitals and family youth centers. In 1991, she also established a private practice, which she maintained for 18 years. Since relocating to the West Coast, Renee joined Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in 2009. She currently serves as the Medical Director of the Adult Outpatient and Inpatient Mental Health Unit at Montage Health and as the Medical Director at Manresa Wellness.
Kim Sickler, MS, RN, CNS, PMHNP-BC, ACHPN
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified
Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse​
Kim is an Advanced Practice Nurse with extensive experience in supporting mental health across various fields, including emergency medicine, palliative care, and, more recently, psychiatry. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the University of San Francisco in 1999, followed by a Master’s Degree in Nursing as an Advanced Practice Nurse from the University of California, San Francisco in 2009. In 2023, she furthered her expertise by completing a Post-Master’s Graduate Degree in Psychiatry at the same institution. Kim also completed her Psychiatric Clinical Residency at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Stanford Healthcare, and Manresa Wellness.
With over 25 years of experience in healthcare, including more than 15 years as an Advanced Practice Nurse, Kim has a broad clinical background in addressing both physical and mental health needs. Her expertise spans from managing minor illnesses to supporting patients through the emotional challenges of serious conditions like cancer and heart failure.
She has consistently focused on enhancing the quality of life for her patients and has a proven track record of collaborating with various clinicians, including Primary Care Providers, Social Workers, and Behavioral Health Specialists, to improve patient well-being.
Kim's experience includes work at both community healthcare systems and prestigious institutions such as San Francisco General Hospital and Stanford. Currently, she serves as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Manresa Wellness, where she addresses the mental health needs of the community, and at Stanford Healthcare, where she provides comprehensive care for both mental and physical health in Stanford's Outpatient Palliative Medicine Clinic.
Kim, a lifelong Bay Area resident, has always considered this region her home. She currently lives locally with her family and two dogs. A self-described foodie, Kim enjoys exploring new culinary experiences and stays active through workouts, yoga, and meditation. She treasures time spent with friends and family and finds tranquility in visits to the beach.
Lori Hood
Practice Manager
Lori prides herself on her organizational and interpersonal skills and enjoys supporting clients through their experience at Manresa Wellness. She understands the importance of making the administrative side of the experience efficient and stress free so clients are able to focus on their health.
Lori has a background in project and event management as well as extensive experience in office administration. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies from UCSC.
Lori has lived most of her life in Santa Cruz County and loves her community. When not at work, she enjoys attending her sons’ sporting events with her husband, and volunteering for her community of La Selva Beach.
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"Like most health challenges, working on mental health takes a combination of different treatments including medical support, medicine when appropriate, and therapy. We are here to offer our expertise in the support of your goals. This is your journey – your commitment of time and engagement in the treatment process is the key to your success."