Born and raised in San Diego, Kristina Dethmanivong went to Kearny High School and volunteered as a Guest Services Ambassador at Sharp Memorial Hospital. From there she went on to San Diego Mesa Community College and then earned a degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego. 

Kristina began her career as an Intern in the Risk Management Department at the San Diego Regional Airport Authority. This is where she met our very own SD RIMS Board Treasurer, Lan Nguyen. After her internship ended, Kristina stayed with the Airport for another year in the Finance Department and then Lan asked her to join the team at BioMed Realty.

Kristina has been working for BioMed Realty* for over four years, first as a Risk Management Administrator and now as a Senior Risk Management Administrator. She loves her team and the working environment at BioMed. She spends her time assisting with commercial insurance renewals, gathering data, conducting loss control inspections, and maintaining the RMIS system. Kristina was awarded the “Always Growing Award” in December 2023 at BioMed, which showcases her desire to constantly grow in her professional and personal life. She recently took four courses and four exams in one year and acquired her ARM. She plans to learn as much as she can about insurance so she can grow her career at BioMed.

Kristina’s family immigrated to the United States from Laos. As a first generation adult, only child and baby of the family, Kristina understands Lao, and receives lots of love, attention, sticky rice (made by her grandfather every morning) and papaya salad (her grandmother’s recipe of course). When she’s not with her family, she likes to hang out with friends going to sporting events (Padres, Clippers and Chargers). A self-described “weirdo,” Kristina goes nuts for any ube- or pandan-flavored** foods. 

At least four times per week, Kristina practices Muay Thai*** and Jiu Jitsu at Steel MMA (not to be confused with Marsh McLennan Agency) doing partner work, kicking bags, jumping knees, spinning elbows and breaking her toes kicking other people. She has been training for seven years and may compete in the future. Kristina loves to travel – last year she went to Turks and Caicos and spent Mardi Gras with her friends in New Orleans. This year she’s going to Hawaii and plans to go to Europe and Asia soon. Her favorite shows are Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

If you have not already, introduce yourself to Kristina Dethmanivong at the next Chapter meeting. She would love to expand her network in the risk management field.    

* BioMed Realty, a Blackstone Real Estate portfolio company, is a leading provider of real estate solutions to the life science and technology industries. BioMed owns and operates high quality life science real estate comprising 16.8 million square feet concentrated in leading innovation markets throughout the United States and United Kingdom, including Boston/Cambridge, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Boulder and Cambridge, U.K. In addition, BioMed maintains a premier development platform with 2.7 million square feet of Class A properties in active construction to meet the growing demand of the life science industry.

**Ube extract has a nutty like flavor with a coconut like background note. It can be used in a variety of desserts, including ice cream. Pandan leaves have a naturally sweet taste and soft aroma. Their flavor is strong, described as grassy with hints of rose, almond, vanilla and coconut.

*** Muay Thai, sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "Art of eight limbs", as it is characterized by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins. Muay Thai became widespread internationally in the late 20th to 21st century, when Westernized practitioners from Thailand began competing in kickboxing and mixed rules matches as well as matches under Muay Thai rules around the world.