Educators and Administration | Chaplaincy Services and Education | UC Davis Health

Rev. Samuel C.M. Brown-Dawson is a chaplain, CPE educator, and Department of Chaplaincy Services and Education manager. Born and raised in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, West Africa, he came to the United States in 1980 and trained as a pastor-teacher. In 1988, he entered Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) as a resident and became an ACPE-certified educator. He continues to serve as a chaplain, pastor, and educator in churches and healthcare institutions, providing pastoral/spiritual care for diverse patients and families.

As a chaplain, Rev. Brown-Dawson knows what it means to be on the receiving side of medical care for himself or for his first wife, who died from breast cancer. He recently experienced the death of his parents and the medical challenges of other loved ones. He compassionately serves others, drawing from his knowledge and personal and professional experiences.

Rev. Brown-Dawson enjoys spending time with his family, relatives, friends, and members of various religious and social groups, especially diasporan communities such as the Sierra Leone community in Sacramento. He also enjoys traveling for fun and missions and is a member of the Center of Praise Ministries.

Kris Sullivan is an ACPE Certified Educator and Board-Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains. Sullivan started her residency as a chaplain at UC Davis Health in 2015 and subsequently entered the Certified Educator training program to become an ACPE Certified Educator. Recently, she has become Chair of the Interfaith and Intercultural Employee Resource Group.

Sullivan was born in Germany, and raised in Oregon and has called Northern California her home since 2003. She earned her B.A. in Humanities and Cultural Studies from Dominican University in San Rafael, CA and her Master of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA focusing on Interfaith Studies, Pastoral Care, and Education.

Kris is a Licensed Unity Teacher endorsed by Unity Worldwide Ministries, a part of the New Thought Movement. Sullivan is married with a blended family of four grown children and three grandchildren.

Chaplain Ricky Chao has been a local pastoral leader in the Sacramento area for over 7 years and serves as a Co-Director for the Common Table Food Pantry. He holds a rounded background earning a B.A. in Exercise Science & Kinesiology from Azusa Pacific University and a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary. Ricky Chao is endorsed by the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Chaplain Ricky is a Sacramento native, he speaks 3 different languages (English, Mienh, Lao). He enjoys fishing, traveling, and serving his community. His love language is food. 

Felicisima Horcabas is a full-time UC Davis Health employee and appointed to serve as the AAII for Chaplaincy Services and Education. Her duties include coordinating the department's office, corresponding with prospective and current students as a guided by the Manager of Chaplaincy Services and Education and the ACPE Educators. She serves as the note taker for the CPE Professional Advisory Group (PAG).