Leah Jayanetti graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Exercise Science. There, she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a Carolina Classic football recruiting hostess.

Leah continued her education at Duke University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She went on to practice pediatric physical therapy with a focus on early intervention. She has lectured to universities and hospitals on the importance of the appropriate NICU environment for developing babies. Leah has three young children and her journey as a mother coupled with her professional experience drives her to seek the best care for premature babies and their families.

Vanesa Salvo graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in Management and Sociology.  She then earned her Master’s of Public Administration from Florida International University.

Having grown up in Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America, Vanesa always felt compelled to help those in need.  She was involved in community service growing up and has dedicated her career to the non-profit sector.  Before joining ICU baby as Volunteer Coordinator, Vanesa worked at Hands On Miami as their Youth Program Manager.  She helped engage young men and women to serve in community organizations throughout Miami-Dade and organized large-scale Annual Days of Service projects where hundreds of volunteers participated.

Vanesa took some time away from the workforce to care for her two young children.  During that time, she pursued personal projects and moved abroad.  Back in Florida with school-aged children, Vanesa joined ICU baby to follow her passion for helping others through volunteerism.  Now a mother, it means even more to be with an organization helping families with sick babies.

Stacey Alpert graduated Cum Laude from Florida International University (FIU) in 2019 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Sciences and a Second Major Completion in Interdisciplinary Studies through the Honors College. She holds certifications in Social and Behavioral Human Research, Veterinary Assisting (CVA), Beverage Excellence, and Student Leadership.

While at FIU, Stacey served in various leadership roles and sat on boards in the community, the most prominent being Hillel at FIU, the Student Government Association and the Global Learning Medallion Program. She engaged in an international internship in Israel where she developed the logistics for the following years programming for the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel, she developed innovative research with global One-Health perspectives on a study abroad in South Africa and Eswatini (formally, Swaziland) and she chaired the committee for FIU’s Annual Holocaust and Genocide Awareness Week where she executed a multidisciplinary week of events and exhibits open to the entire Miami community.

Introduced to volunteering at the age of four by her grandparents Stacey quickly became drawn to the nonprofit sector. Over the past two and a half years she served as a Service Corps Fellow with ICU baby primarily helping develop and launch the NEST program, sat on the Disability and Inclusion Committee of Domestic Policy and Government Affairs for the Public Affairs team at Jewish Federations of North America in DC while also caretaking for her mom. She is also a very proud aunt to four children that she adores! She is ecstatic to continue in this new role with ICU baby and to be able to help more NICU families and their babies feel supported and cared for during their journeys.

Karina Kalb grew up in Miami and earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Miami.  She worked in Human Resources before starting a family.  She has spent the past 20 years volunteering for various organizations, including the Miami City Ballet, the American School in London, St. John’s Hospice London, and Catholic Charities of New York.

With Karina’s daughters now in university, she is delighted to dedicate time to ICU baby and the NICU families she meets.  As Director of Transportation at Holtz Children’s Hospital, Karina works to ensure that every family has the transportation they need in order to spend as much time as they can with their sick baby.  Karina is also an ICU Read volunteer in the hospital.  Reading to the sick babies in the NICU is her favorite part of volunteering with ICU baby.

Valerie brings over 25 years of marketing expertise, working across Fortune 500 companies and non-profits to craft impactful marketing strategies that attract, engage, and convert leads. Known for her passion for strategic thinking and a deep focus on audience insights, she excels in creating messaging that resonates with target audiences. Valerie has shaped the strategies and narratives of iconic brands like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Comcast, AIG, Campbell Soup Company, and Tiffany & Co.
After her personal experiences with two NICU journeys, Valerie began volunteering as a parent mentor with ICU baby in 2019. In addition to her mentorship, she applies her marketing skills to help raise awareness and build ICU baby’s brand from the ground up.

Having lived in Paris and Madrid, Valerie has called Miami home for over 15 years, where she resides with her husband and two children. She holds a BA in Communications and Media from Rutgers University.

Valentina is a dedicated healthcare professional with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida International University. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Miami to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, Valentina brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her work.

With two years of experience as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse, Valentina has honed her skills in patient care and demonstrated a commitment to excellence. Born and raised in Miami, she possesses a deep connection to her community and a strong desire to make a difference.

Valentina’s journey led her to ICU baby. As a social media manager, she found a perfect alignment between her professional expertise and personal values when she discovered ICU baby.
Now, Valentina is excited to leverage her nursing background and social media skills to raise awareness and support for ICU baby’s mission. With her dedication and enthusiasm, she is poised to make a meaningful impact in the lives of families facing the challenges of the NICU journey.

Born and raised in Mexico City, Karime’s passion for hospitality led her to Miami, where she pursued a Master of Science in Hospitality Management. After a successful career spanning over fifteen years, she embarked on a new chapter in life, starting a family and relocating to the Caribbean and Mexico.
In 2008, Karime’s life took an unexpected turn when her second son, Mateo, was born. They spent long scary hours in the NICU waiting for him to get strong and recover. Today he is a healthy teenager and Karime has found, through ICU Baby, an opportunity to support families that navigate unfamiliar and intimidating NICU experiences hoping to give them some support and comfort.

Karime enjoys giving back to the community together with her family. They participate in organizations like TECHO and Blue Missions, traveling to Latin America and the Caribbean to contribute with projects that build houses and provide clean water to underserved communities.