Raised on the Navajo reservation, Adriann Begay is Tábaahi (Edge of the Water clan) and born for Bít’ahnii (Folded Arms People clan). Her maternal grandparents are Ta’néészahnii (Badlands People clan) and paternal grandparents are Tl’aashchí’í (Red Cheek People clan). While raising three children, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona; and received a medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine through the Indians into Medicine program. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Arizona and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice. Adriann worked for the Indian Health Service for 21 years initially at Salt River Clinic under Phoenix Indian Medical Center for 4 years as a primary care provider. Then at Gallup Indian Medical Center as an urgent care physician and administrator for 17 years. Her career is dedicated to elevating healthcare for American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN). Increasing the pipeline of AI/AN students who can come home and care for their people is a major part of her dedication. Adriann’s greatest accomplishments are being a mother of three, being a grandmother to nine beautiful grandchildren, being a daughter to a strong Navajo woman who she can now care for, being a wife to a caring artistic husband, and always being a source of support for family, colleagues, friends and anyone who needs even a hug or pat on the back.
Dr. Begay joined HEAL in 2021 as a Senior Officer and leads HEAL’s Strategic Plan goals of 1) expanding to additional domestic sites in addition to Navajo Nation, 2) designing and building a pathway for Native American health workers to transform as they work with the underserved both in Navajo Nation and nationally 3) advocating for policy and programs on behalf of Native American health care equity, and 4) serving as a mentor to fellows based in Navajo Nation.
Raised on the Navajo reservation, Adriann Begay is Tábaahi (Edge of the Water clan) and born for Bít’ahnii (Folded Arms People clan). Her maternal grandparents are Ta’néészahnii (Badlands People clan) and paternal grandparents are Tl’aashchí’í (Red Cheek People clan). While raising three children, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona; and received a medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine through the Indians into Medicine program. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Arizona and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice. Adriann worked for the Indian Health Service for 21 years initially at Salt River Clinic under Phoenix Indian Medical Center for 4 years as a primary care provider. Then at Gallup Indian Medical Center as an urgent care physician and administrator for 17 years. Her career is dedicated to elevating healthcare for American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN). Increasing the pipeline of AI/AN students who can come home and care for their people is a major part of her dedication. Adriann’s greatest accomplishments are being a mother of three, being a grandmother to nine beautiful grandchildren, being a daughter to a strong Navajo woman who she can now care for, being a wife to a caring artistic husband, and always being a source of support for family, colleagues, friends and anyone who needs even a hug or pat on the back.
Dr. Begay joined HEAL in 2021 as a Senior Officer and leads HEAL’s Strategic Plan goals of 1) expanding to additional domestic sites in addition to Navajo Nation, 2) designing and building a pathway for Native American health workers to transform as they work with the underserved both in Navajo Nation and nationally 3) advocating for policy and programs on behalf of Native American health care equity, and 4) serving as a mentor to fellows based in Navajo Nation.
Anthony Morin specializes in international relations, strengthening operational procedures and strategic partnerships. Prior to joining the HEAL Initiative at UCSF, Anthony supported Bay Area and international start-ups during the pandemic, through global trade strategies and international programs, effectively boosting economic development as Senior Manager of Operations at GlobalSF.
As a French and Spanish speaking-Latinx person, they are committed to championing inclusion, diversity and cultural appreciation. Their professional experiences have taken them around the world, where they have developed cultural exchanges, and relationships with an array of diplomatic and community leaders, as well as corporations and nonprofit organizations. In addition, Anthony has acted as a liaison between the City and County of San Francisco and the international community, where he welcomed Heads-of-State, and international delegations, while serving the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Protocol.
Anthony is looking forward to supporting the mission and organization of HEAL, and making an impact on some of the most vulnerable communities around the world. In their spare time Anthony helps create change in local queer communities through grants made by their Giving Circle to nonprofits that support immigration services, mental health resources, youth leadership development and the arts.
Anthony is a proud graduate of San Francisco State University and attended the Institut Catholique de Paris, while living abroad.
Anthony Morin specializes in international relations, strengthening operational procedures and strategic partnerships. Prior to joining the HEAL Initiative at UCSF, Anthony supported Bay Area and international start-ups during the pandemic, through global trade strategies and international programs, effectively boosting economic development as Senior Manager of Operations at GlobalSF.
As a French and Spanish speaking-Latinx person, they are committed to championing inclusion, diversity and cultural appreciation. Their professional experiences have taken them around the world, where they have developed cultural exchanges, and relationships with an array of diplomatic and community leaders, as well as corporations and nonprofit organizations. In addition, Anthony has acted as a liaison between the City and County of San Francisco and the international community, where he welcomed Heads-of-State, and international delegations, while serving the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Protocol.
Anthony is looking forward to supporting the mission and organization of HEAL, and making an impact on some of the most vulnerable communities around the world. In their spare time Anthony helps create change in local queer communities through grants made by their Giving Circle to nonprofits that support immigration services, mental health resources, youth leadership development and the arts.
Anthony is a proud graduate of San Francisco State University and attended the Institut Catholique de Paris, while living abroad.
Binu earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Saint Louis University. She began her career at a trauma-informed care training start-up in St. Louis, where she developed the organization’s evaluation infrastructure. She then served as an AmeriCorps Volunteer and Sexual Health Educator to provide access to HIV/STI testing and counseling and inclusive safe sex education for unhoused, LGBTQ+, young people in Chicago. Prior to joining Heal, she was a Public Health Administrator at the Chicago Department of Public Health. Binu is passionate about building efficient systems and processes to best serve marginalized communities and is thrilled to join HEAL as a Program Associate.
Binu earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Saint Louis University. She began her career at a trauma-informed care training start-up in St. Louis, where she developed the organization’s evaluation infrastructure. She then served as an AmeriCorps Volunteer and Sexual Health Educator to provide access to HIV/STI testing and counseling and inclusive safe sex education for unhoused, LGBTQ+, young people in Chicago. Prior to joining Heal, she was a Public Health Administrator at the Chicago Department of Public Health. Binu is passionate about building efficient systems and processes to best serve marginalized communities and is thrilled to join HEAL as a Program Associate.
Biruk Tammru is the Project Manager for the HEAL Initiative’s California program. He is an experienced strategist with a keen focus on innovation in the public health and social impact space. Prior to joining HEAL, he co-founded and managed Last Mile Designs, a design consultancy that supported equity-focused social projects in Alameda County and Marin County. Additionally, as the Senior Design Strategist for Gobee Group, he worked on several high-impact global health projects including developing the strategy for the introduction of PrEP and ART in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, reshaping the design of a pneumonia screening device in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and India, and mapping out the decision-making network for the national immunization programs in Bolivia, Ethiopia, and Guinea.
Biruk received his Bachelor of Science in Molecular Environmental Biology and a Master of Public Health from UC Berkeley. He is deeply invested in advancing equity and justice to underserved and underrepresented communities in health. Biruk is galvanized to apply and expand this belief and principle to the state he calls home through the HEAL California Program.
Biruk Tammru is the Project Manager for the HEAL Initiative’s California program. He is an experienced strategist with a keen focus on innovation in the public health and social impact space. Prior to joining HEAL, he co-founded and managed Last Mile Designs, a design consultancy that supported equity-focused social projects in Alameda County and Marin County. Additionally, as the Senior Design Strategist for Gobee Group, he worked on several high-impact global health projects including developing the strategy for the introduction of PrEP and ART in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, reshaping the design of a pneumonia screening device in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and India, and mapping out the decision-making network for the national immunization programs in Bolivia, Ethiopia, and Guinea.
Biruk received his Bachelor of Science in Molecular Environmental Biology and a Master of Public Health from UC Berkeley. He is deeply invested in advancing equity and justice to underserved and underrepresented communities in health. Biruk is galvanized to apply and expand this belief and principle to the state he calls home through the HEAL California Program.
Joseph Scarpelli is the Program Director for the HEAL Initiative. He completed his degree in Global Health with a focus on management from the Boston University School of Public Health. Joseph did his undergraduate studies in English and Peace and Conflict Studies at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. He has worked on global health issues with Management Sciences for Health in Uganda as well as the University of the Philippines and the World Health Organization in the Philippines. Joseph’s most recent position was managing innovations projects for One Acre Fund in Kenya.
Joseph Scarpelli is the Program Director for the HEAL Initiative. He completed his degree in Global Health with a focus on management from the Boston University School of Public Health. Joseph did his undergraduate studies in English and Peace and Conflict Studies at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. He has worked on global health issues with Management Sciences for Health in Uganda as well as the University of the Philippines and the World Health Organization in the Philippines. Joseph’s most recent position was managing innovations projects for One Acre Fund in Kenya.
Kialani Mackey specializes in driving change through strategic communications and value-aligned partnerships. Before joining the HEAL Initiative at UCSF, Kialani drove digital communications strategies to protect land in the Bay Area, bring the US to zero emissions and shift the juvenile justice system to champion accountability and healing.
With a degree in Biology and Public Health from Occidental College, Kialani is looking forward to bringing together her experience in strategic communication and education to support global health equity. Every day, Kia looks forward to supporting the mission and vision of HEAL to make lasting change in historically resource-denied communities through storytelling and building the HEAL community.
Kialani Mackey specializes in driving change through strategic communications and value-aligned partnerships. Before joining the HEAL Initiative at UCSF, Kialani drove digital communications strategies to protect land in the Bay Area, bring the US to zero emissions and shift the juvenile justice system to champion accountability and healing.
With a degree in Biology and Public Health from Occidental College, Kialani is looking forward to bringing together her experience in strategic communication and education to support global health equity. Every day, Kia looks forward to supporting the mission and vision of HEAL to make lasting change in historically resource-denied communities through storytelling and building the HEAL community.
Meg earned her degree in Global Health Systems and Development at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She began her work in global health in rural Zambia, working in collaboration with community health workers and partners to implement health and economic initiatives. Since then she’s served as a community health worker in Seattle, WA, and most recently as a Regional Prevention Coordinator, partnering with communities in New Orleans, LA to improve access to comprehensive HIV/STI services. She is passionate about ensuring equal access to quality health services for underserved communities and working with communities to address inequities through advocacy and collaboration.
Meg earned her degree in Global Health Systems and Development at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She began her work in global health in rural Zambia, working in collaboration with community health workers and partners to implement health and economic initiatives. Since then she’s served as a community health worker in Seattle, WA, and most recently as a Regional Prevention Coordinator, partnering with communities in New Orleans, LA to improve access to comprehensive HIV/STI services. She is passionate about ensuring equal access to quality health services for underserved communities and working with communities to address inequities through advocacy and collaboration.
Phuoc V. Le, MD, MPH, DTM&H is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at UCSF, and Assistant Professor of Public Health at UC Berkeley. Dr. Le completed a combined residency in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Global Health Equity at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. During residency, he worked with PIH to provide equitable health care in Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi, and post-earthquake Haiti. With Dr. Sriram Shamasunder, he co-founded the nation’s first Global Health-Hospital Medicine Fellowship, and co-founded the HEAL Initiative in 2014.
Phuoc V. Le, MD, MPH, DTM&H is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at UCSF, and Assistant Professor of Public Health at UC Berkeley. Dr. Le completed a combined residency in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Global Health Equity at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. During residency, he worked with PIH to provide equitable health care in Rwanda, Lesotho, Malawi, and post-earthquake Haiti. With Dr. Sriram Shamasunder, he co-founded the nation’s first Global Health-Hospital Medicine Fellowship, and co-founded the HEAL Initiative in 2014.
Rachael earned a Master’s of Science focused in Healthcare Administration and Inter-Professional Leadership from UC San Francisco. She brings a unique combination of skills and expertise to the table with a deep understanding of operations management, and institutional challenges that organization’s face. Rachael is excited to join HEAL, and is committed to the mission of building a community of health care professionals dedicated to serving the underserved. With a proven ability to manage complex projects and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, Rachael looks forward to working with HEAL and broad family of fellows, site partners and affiliates. She is passionate about improving health equity, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement to drive meaningful impact in global health. Rachael is not only a leader, but a team player who wears a lens of compassion and gratitude in the work that she does.
Rachael earned a Master’s of Science focused in Healthcare Administration and Inter-Professional Leadership from UC San Francisco. She brings a unique combination of skills and expertise to the table with a deep understanding of operations management, and institutional challenges that organization’s face. Rachael is excited to join HEAL, and is committed to the mission of building a community of health care professionals dedicated to serving the underserved. With a proven ability to manage complex projects and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, Rachael looks forward to working with HEAL and broad family of fellows, site partners and affiliates. She is passionate about improving health equity, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement to drive meaningful impact in global health. Rachael is not only a leader, but a team player who wears a lens of compassion and gratitude in the work that she does.
Rachel BeLieu earned a Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, and went on to earn a Masters in Public Health in Global Health from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, focusing on reproductive and sexual health and the intersection of public health and human rights. Rachel has always been passionate about working to improve the health of vulnerable populations, and is thrilled to be beginning her public health career here at the HEAL Initiative.
Rachel BeLieu earned a Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, and went on to earn a Masters in Public Health in Global Health from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, focusing on reproductive and sexual health and the intersection of public health and human rights. Rachel has always been passionate about working to improve the health of vulnerable populations, and is thrilled to be beginning her public health career here at the HEAL Initiative.
Robin Goldman was a rotating fellow at UCSF in San Francisco and at Partners in Health affiliated hospital in central Haiti (2014-2016). She completed her undergraduate studies in Biology at Amherst College. Prior to going to medical she worked as a research assistant focusing on environmental health projects at Resources for the Future in Washington D.C. and then as a science teacher in Monterrey, Mexico. She attended medical school at the University of Maryland. During medical school, she was selected to be an Albert Schweitzer fellow and was part of a health education project for at-risk teens in Baltimore. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Michigan.
Field of work: Education, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Program Implementation
Areas of interest: Professional Development, Anti-racism Education, Social Medicine Education, Health Systems and Capacity Building
Current Job: Med-Peds Hospitalist at UCSF, SFVA & Washington Hospital, Assistant Director of Curriculum and Mentorship at HEAL Initiative
Robin Goldman was a rotating fellow at UCSF in San Francisco and at Partners in Health affiliated hospital in central Haiti (2014-2016). She completed her undergraduate studies in Biology at Amherst College. Prior to going to medical she worked as a research assistant focusing on environmental health projects at Resources for the Future in Washington D.C. and then as a science teacher in Monterrey, Mexico. She attended medical school at the University of Maryland. During medical school, she was selected to be an Albert Schweitzer fellow and was part of a health education project for at-risk teens in Baltimore. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Michigan.
Field of work: Education, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Program Implementation
Areas of interest: Professional Development, Anti-racism Education, Social Medicine Education, Health Systems and Capacity Building
Current Job: Med-Peds Hospitalist at UCSF, SFVA & Washington Hospital, Assistant Director of Curriculum and Mentorship at HEAL Initiative
Robin Tittle is a hospital medicine attending at the Portland VA Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. She previously worked at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where she was the co-director of the residency global health pathway. She completed internal medicine residency at UCSF, after which she was a global health hospital medicine fellow in Haiti. Prior to residency training, she was a member of the inaugural class of the UCSF global health masters program, completing her fieldwork project in rural Kenya with Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES). She is a founding member of the UCSF HEAL Initiative and continues to serve as HEAL’s director of curriculum. She is passionate about leveraging social medicine as a tool for achieving global health equity.
Robin Tittle is a hospital medicine attending at the Portland VA Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. She previously worked at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where she was the co-director of the residency global health pathway. She completed internal medicine residency at UCSF, after which she was a global health hospital medicine fellow in Haiti. Prior to residency training, she was a member of the inaugural class of the UCSF global health masters program, completing her fieldwork project in rural Kenya with Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES). She is a founding member of the UCSF HEAL Initiative and continues to serve as HEAL’s director of curriculum. She is passionate about leveraging social medicine as a tool for achieving global health equity.
Sangeeta joined the HEAL Initiative after more than a decade of work in global health and a deep belief in the possibility of a more just world. She has worked on the rapid acceleration of pediatric HIV treatment and on strategies to scale the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (pMTCT) with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), UNICEF, and the WHO-primarily francophone Africa. She has focused on working with key stakeholders – especially Ministries of Health, partners, and local health workers, to build ever-more responsive and impactful programming at sub-national, national, and global levels. In recent years, she has focused on health system transformation through health worker capacity building, in partnership with Ethiopia’s national CEMONC training program and SPARK Health Africa.
Sangeeta earned her Bachelors in International Development (Brown) and a Masters in Public Policy (Harvard Kennedy School) but has learned the most from working alongside and in support of public sector workers on the African continent. Sangeeta believes deeply in strengthening people, teams, and in innovating systems to transform what is possible in health.
Sangeeta joined the HEAL Initiative after more than a decade of work in global health and a deep belief in the possibility of a more just world. She has worked on the rapid acceleration of pediatric HIV treatment and on strategies to scale the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (pMTCT) with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), UNICEF, and the WHO-primarily francophone Africa. She has focused on working with key stakeholders – especially Ministries of Health, partners, and local health workers, to build ever-more responsive and impactful programming at sub-national, national, and global levels. In recent years, she has focused on health system transformation through health worker capacity building, in partnership with Ethiopia’s national CEMONC training program and SPARK Health Africa.
Sangeeta earned her Bachelors in International Development (Brown) and a Masters in Public Policy (Harvard Kennedy School) but has learned the most from working alongside and in support of public sector workers on the African continent. Sangeeta believes deeply in strengthening people, teams, and in innovating systems to transform what is possible in health.
Sriram Shamasunder, MD, DTM&H is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Harbor UCLA. He has worked extensively in Rwanda, Liberia, Haiti, Burundi, and India. Recently, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship where he studied implementation in resource-poor tribal areas in rural India. In 2010, he was named an Asia 21 fellow as well as the Northern California Young Physician of the Year. He continues to work with Partners in Health (PIH) several months a year.
Sriram Shamasunder, MD, DTM&H is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Harbor UCLA. He has worked extensively in Rwanda, Liberia, Haiti, Burundi, and India. Recently, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship where he studied implementation in resource-poor tribal areas in rural India. In 2010, he was named an Asia 21 fellow as well as the Northern California Young Physician of the Year. He continues to work with Partners in Health (PIH) several months a year.
POD PARTNERS
Kelvin Chan, MD is originally from the Los Angeles area. He completed medical school in North Carolina and his residency and chief residency in Internal Medicine in Los Angeles. After residency, Kelvin joined HEAL as part of the 2015-2017 class, where he rotated between Gallup Indian Medical Center and Last Mile Health in Liberia. He completed his Masters in Public Health via UC Berkeley with HEAL. After HEAL, he took a full time position at Gallup Indian Medical Center, where he’s been since. His clinical work is half inpatient and half outpatient.
Kelvin Chan, MD is originally from the Los Angeles area. He completed medical school in North Carolina and his residency and chief residency in Internal Medicine in Los Angeles. After residency, Kelvin joined HEAL as part of the 2015-2017 class, where he rotated between Gallup Indian Medical Center and Last Mile Health in Liberia. He completed his Masters in Public Health via UC Berkeley with HEAL. After HEAL, he took a full time position at Gallup Indian Medical Center, where he’s been since. His clinical work is half inpatient and half outpatient.
Trisha Schimek, MD pursued a career in medicine to care for underserved populations and address health equity and thus was naturally drawn to a career in Family Medicine and Global Health. She is a former alumni of the first HEAL class and spent her fellowship working on Navajo Nation in Shiprock and with Companeros en Salud in Mexico. After the fellowship she decided to focus on “glocal” work as an attending physician in the Contra Costa County health care system in Martinez, CA. She does direct patient care and also teaches in the Family Medicine Residency program in hopes to teach and prepare more family physicians on how to provide quality care to a diverse patient population. She was born and raised in Minnesota and holds onto the Midwest values of caring for her neighbors. Her educational path has allowed her to live in a variety of places, starting in New Orleans to complete her bachelors and Masters in Public Health in Tropical Medicine at Tulane, next to Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, and finally to University of Wisconsin, Madison, to complete her Family Medicine Residency. Her interests outside of medicine include spending time with her husband and daughter, salsa dancing, searching food blogs for fun recipes, and anything that will take her outdoors: hiking, biking, camping, running.
Trisha Schimek, MD pursued a career in medicine to care for underserved populations and address health equity and thus was naturally drawn to a career in Family Medicine and Global Health. She is a former alumni of the first HEAL class and spent her fellowship working on Navajo Nation in Shiprock and with Companeros en Salud in Mexico. After the fellowship she decided to focus on “glocal” work as an attending physician in the Contra Costa County health care system in Martinez, CA. She does direct patient care and also teaches in the Family Medicine Residency program in hopes to teach and prepare more family physicians on how to provide quality care to a diverse patient population. She was born and raised in Minnesota and holds onto the Midwest values of caring for her neighbors. Her educational path has allowed her to live in a variety of places, starting in New Orleans to complete her bachelors and Masters in Public Health in Tropical Medicine at Tulane, next to Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, and finally to University of Wisconsin, Madison, to complete her Family Medicine Residency. Her interests outside of medicine include spending time with her husband and daughter, salsa dancing, searching food blogs for fun recipes, and anything that will take her outdoors: hiking, biking, camping, running.
Alon Unger, MD, MS, is an Associate clinical professor in hospital medicine at UCSF. He is originally from Arizona and completed medical school at UCSF and residencies in internal medicine and pediatrics at UCLA. He has worked in clinical care and public health research in various settings including the Navajo Nation, Haiti, South Africa, Thailand and Brazil. He worked for MSF in Myanmar as an HIV and TB treatment advisor for a large treatment program. He is interested in health system improvement and providing equitable and patient-centered care in global settings.
Alon Unger, MD, MS, is an Associate clinical professor in hospital medicine at UCSF. He is originally from Arizona and completed medical school at UCSF and residencies in internal medicine and pediatrics at UCLA. He has worked in clinical care and public health research in various settings including the Navajo Nation, Haiti, South Africa, Thailand and Brazil. He worked for MSF in Myanmar as an HIV and TB treatment advisor for a large treatment program. He is interested in health system improvement and providing equitable and patient-centered care in global settings.
Lena Wong was was a rotating fellow who served at Tuba City Regional Health Care in Tuba City, Arizona and at Possible in Nepal (2015-2017). She was born and raised in the wonderland that is New Jersey. She attended Rutgers University as an undergrad where following a few trips overseas to South Africa and China, she saw the inequities in access to medicine and education and decided to go to medical school with an interest in international health. She moved to Philadelphia to attend medical school at Temple University, mostly to watch her beloved Flyers play. She went on to do a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in Miami, working mostly in the county hospital. With the diversity in the patient population, ability to work with the underserved and a great exposure to tropical medicine, she travelled south for the first time in her life and found it warm and amazing. She then went onto the HEAL fellowship with a focus on health care systems development, program planning and quality improvement. She stayed in the Navajo Nation following this but then completed a second fellowship in Infectious Disease back in Miami. She will return to the Navajo Nation to continue working on adult and child medicine, as well as infectious disease.
Field of work: Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Infectious Disease.
Areas of interest: Public Health, QI, ID, Community Engagement, Community Health Work
Lena Wong was was a rotating fellow who served at Tuba City Regional Health Care in Tuba City, Arizona and at Possible in Nepal (2015-2017). She was born and raised in the wonderland that is New Jersey. She attended Rutgers University as an undergrad where following a few trips overseas to South Africa and China, she saw the inequities in access to medicine and education and decided to go to medical school with an interest in international health. She moved to Philadelphia to attend medical school at Temple University, mostly to watch her beloved Flyers play. She went on to do a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in Miami, working mostly in the county hospital. With the diversity in the patient population, ability to work with the underserved and a great exposure to tropical medicine, she travelled south for the first time in her life and found it warm and amazing. She then went onto the HEAL fellowship with a focus on health care systems development, program planning and quality improvement. She stayed in the Navajo Nation following this but then completed a second fellowship in Infectious Disease back in Miami. She will return to the Navajo Nation to continue working on adult and child medicine, as well as infectious disease.
Field of work: Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Infectious Disease.
Areas of interest: Public Health, QI, ID, Community Engagement, Community Health Work
Robin Goldman, MD, MPH spent time teaching and doing environmental health research prior to deciding to go into medicine. She joined the HEAL team after participating in the Global Health and Hospital Medicine/HEAL Initiative fellowship, during which she worked with Zanmi Lasante (Partners in Health in Haiti) at a public hospital in the central plateau region of Haiti where she learned a lot from her patients and Haitian colleagues. After completing her fellowship, she decided to spend sometime in one place and started a combination of jobs as an adult hospitalist at the San Francisco VA, a pediatric hospitalist at a community hospital, supporting the HEAL program around curriculum, mentorship and evaluation and continuing to work on some small projects for Zanmi Lasante focused on capacity building through education and guideline development.
Robin Goldman, MD, MPH spent time teaching and doing environmental health research prior to deciding to go into medicine. She joined the HEAL team after participating in the Global Health and Hospital Medicine/HEAL Initiative fellowship, during which she worked with Zanmi Lasante (Partners in Health in Haiti) at a public hospital in the central plateau region of Haiti where she learned a lot from her patients and Haitian colleagues. After completing her fellowship, she decided to spend sometime in one place and started a combination of jobs as an adult hospitalist at the San Francisco VA, a pediatric hospitalist at a community hospital, supporting the HEAL program around curriculum, mentorship and evaluation and continuing to work on some small projects for Zanmi Lasante focused on capacity building through education and guideline development.
Pediatrician by training. HEAL faculty mentor out of love for the movement! Born to Libyan immigrants in Louisville, he developed his passion for teaching and global health as a student at the University of Chicago. His pediatric residency began with UCLA’s Community Health and Advocacy Training and completed at UCSF in 2009 when he went on to join the faculty as a neonatal hospitalist at California Pacific Medical Center, directing the newborn nursery rotation for medical students.
Former Chair of Pediatrics at the only hospital on the Pacific island of Saipan (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Clinical scope included neonatal intensive care, outpatient, inpatient and transport medicine. As the only UCSF affiliate full-time at the partner global health site, he provided faculty mentorship and support for visiting internal medicine and pediatric residents, support in grant preparation and telemedicine.
International experiences include
- HIV consultant in Zimbabwe for Doctors without Borders where he collaborated with ICRC, UNICEF and other local partners to successfully hand over a regional center Pediatric HIV project to the Ministry of Health.
- Evaluating community health workers in Nicaragua
- Disaster relief work in Iceland and Peru
- Pediatric resident rotation in San Pedro Sula, Honduras central hospital.
Titles
- Associate Clinical Professor-Vol, Dept of Pediatrics, UC-San Francisco
- Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor, Dept of Pediatrics, Stanford University
- Pediatrics Medical Director, Fair Oaks Health Center, County of San Mateo”
Pediatrician by training. HEAL faculty mentor out of love for the movement! Born to Libyan immigrants in Louisville, he developed his passion for teaching and global health as a student at the University of Chicago. His pediatric residency began with UCLA’s Community Health and Advocacy Training and completed at UCSF in 2009 when he went on to join the faculty as a neonatal hospitalist at California Pacific Medical Center, directing the newborn nursery rotation for medical students.
Former Chair of Pediatrics at the only hospital on the Pacific island of Saipan (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Clinical scope included neonatal intensive care, outpatient, inpatient and transport medicine. As the only UCSF affiliate full-time at the partner global health site, he provided faculty mentorship and support for visiting internal medicine and pediatric residents, support in grant preparation and telemedicine.
International experiences include
- HIV consultant in Zimbabwe for Doctors without Borders where he collaborated with ICRC, UNICEF and other local partners to successfully hand over a regional center Pediatric HIV project to the Ministry of Health.
- Evaluating community health workers in Nicaragua
- Disaster relief work in Iceland and Peru
- Pediatric resident rotation in San Pedro Sula, Honduras central hospital.
Titles
- Associate Clinical Professor-Vol, Dept of Pediatrics, UC-San Francisco
- Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor, Dept of Pediatrics, Stanford University
- Pediatrics Medical Director, Fair Oaks Health Center, County of San Mateo”
Aylin Ulku, MD, PhD is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine at UCSF. After completing her Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, she continued as Chief Resident in the Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency at Waterbury/Yale-New Haven Hospitals. In 2010, she began work in Kigali, Rwanda, as an Assistant Clinical Professor for Yale School of Medicine, to assist in medical education capacity building within the National University of Rwanda (NUR) School of Medicine. Her work included direct teaching and clinical care supervising Rwandese medical students and residents in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics as well as collaboration with NUR and the Rwanda Ministry of Health in revising undergraduate and graduate curricula and training programs. Her clinical and research interests focus on global health education and training in non- communicable diseases in limited-resource settings.
Aylin Ulku, MD, PhD is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine at UCSF. After completing her Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, she continued as Chief Resident in the Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency at Waterbury/Yale-New Haven Hospitals. In 2010, she began work in Kigali, Rwanda, as an Assistant Clinical Professor for Yale School of Medicine, to assist in medical education capacity building within the National University of Rwanda (NUR) School of Medicine. Her work included direct teaching and clinical care supervising Rwandese medical students and residents in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics as well as collaboration with NUR and the Rwanda Ministry of Health in revising undergraduate and graduate curricula and training programs. Her clinical and research interests focus on global health education and training in non- communicable diseases in limited-resource settings.
Linda Sharp, MD, is an internist at Martin Luther King, Jr Community Hospital in South Los Angeles, where she currently chairs the hospital bioethics committee. At work she tries to provide good quality care and works to build organizational policies and practices that promote health equity and human rights. She has been with Doctors for Global Health for many years, supporting community health work in Mexico, El Salvador and Uganda. Doctors for Global Health tries to practice “liberation medicine”, the conscious, conscientious use of health to promote social justice and human dignity. As U.S. based health activists, they work with People’s Health Movement, the Social Medicine Consortium, and the global Campaign Against Racism. She has been a part of the HEAL global health fellowship for several years, and has been an advisor within the Nepal/Nyaya Health/Possible pod.
Linda Sharp, MD, is an internist at Martin Luther King, Jr Community Hospital in South Los Angeles, where she currently chairs the hospital bioethics committee. At work she tries to provide good quality care and works to build organizational policies and practices that promote health equity and human rights. She has been with Doctors for Global Health for many years, supporting community health work in Mexico, El Salvador and Uganda. Doctors for Global Health tries to practice “liberation medicine”, the conscious, conscientious use of health to promote social justice and human dignity. As U.S. based health activists, they work with People’s Health Movement, the Social Medicine Consortium, and the global Campaign Against Racism. She has been a part of the HEAL global health fellowship for several years, and has been an advisor within the Nepal/Nyaya Health/Possible pod.
Peter was born and raised in the Eastern province of Rwanda. He has Masters in Public Health and Bachelors of Science in Public Health. He graduated a two-year HEAL fellowship under University of California, San Francisco (Cohort 2020-2022). He attended Community Based Education training at Suez Canal University, Egypt in 2019. Peter has worked for Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) since December 2021. Prior joining CHAI, he worked for Partners In Health (PIH) more than a decade. Currently, he is Senior Associate-Hepatitis Program at CHAI-Rwanda. His primary responsibilities include program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation focusing on Hepatitis C elimination. As an educator, Peter led social medicine and palliative care rotations for medical students under the Department of Primary Health Care at the University of Rwanda for more than five years. He also served as joint faculty for a community-based education program at the University of Global Health Equity, and for a Global Social Medicine course took place Uganda and Rwanda three times. Prior to becoming the Director of Social Medicine at PIH, Peter worked as a research department assistant, research teaching assistant and palliative care coordinator in non-communicable diseases at IMB.
Peter was born and raised in the Eastern province of Rwanda. He has Masters in Public Health and Bachelors of Science in Public Health. He graduated a two-year HEAL fellowship under University of California, San Francisco (Cohort 2020-2022). He attended Community Based Education training at Suez Canal University, Egypt in 2019. Peter has worked for Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) since December 2021. Prior joining CHAI, he worked for Partners In Health (PIH) more than a decade. Currently, he is Senior Associate-Hepatitis Program at CHAI-Rwanda. His primary responsibilities include program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation focusing on Hepatitis C elimination. As an educator, Peter led social medicine and palliative care rotations for medical students under the Department of Primary Health Care at the University of Rwanda for more than five years. He also served as joint faculty for a community-based education program at the University of Global Health Equity, and for a Global Social Medicine course took place Uganda and Rwanda three times. Prior to becoming the Director of Social Medicine at PIH, Peter worked as a research department assistant, research teaching assistant and palliative care coordinator in non-communicable diseases at IMB.
Veronica was born in Santa Ines Yatzeche, a small indigenous village in the valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico and is tri-lingual. Her native language is Zapoteco. Her family settled in Pacific Grove, CA, where she was brought to live at age two. Veronica’s parents and community worked the fields and currently work in the restaurant and hospitality industry. As an immigrant, Veronica and her family, as well as the rest of her community, faced many challenges, such as poverty, lack of healthcare, and safe housing. Although Veronica grew up in “America”, her parents and family continued to practice their cultural beliefs and customs. At the age of 15, she dropped out of high school and married. Prior to delivering her first child, Veronica decided to go back to school and obtain her High School diploma and GED. In December 2000 she was hired as the first indigenous interpreter for the Monterey County Health Department Public Health Nursing Division. Veronica is adamant that because of the health professionals she encountered and their caring attitudes, compassion, interventions, but most of all encouragement she has been able to break the cycle and statistics piled against people like herself and her community. Veronica worked in Public Health Nursing for 10 years as an interpreter and community service aide and has have been at serving the community at Natividad as a Registered Nurse in Perinatal Services. She currently holds a BSN, PHN and is currently working on a Masters in Nursing Leadership and Management with the goal of obtaining a doctorate and FNP. Veronica appreciates continued learning and teaching and is passionate about working with the underserved, families, community and representing her indigenous community. Veronica currently lives in Pacific Grove with her husband Cirilo and youngest son Brandon who is soon to be college-bound. Veronica and her husband enjoy an active lifestyle, spend time with family and friends, and especially enjoy visiting her oldest son Damean who is currently serving in the military.
Veronica was born in Santa Ines Yatzeche, a small indigenous village in the valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico and is tri-lingual. Her native language is Zapoteco. Her family settled in Pacific Grove, CA, where she was brought to live at age two. Veronica’s parents and community worked the fields and currently work in the restaurant and hospitality industry. As an immigrant, Veronica and her family, as well as the rest of her community, faced many challenges, such as poverty, lack of healthcare, and safe housing. Although Veronica grew up in “America”, her parents and family continued to practice their cultural beliefs and customs. At the age of 15, she dropped out of high school and married. Prior to delivering her first child, Veronica decided to go back to school and obtain her High School diploma and GED. In December 2000 she was hired as the first indigenous interpreter for the Monterey County Health Department Public Health Nursing Division. Veronica is adamant that because of the health professionals she encountered and their caring attitudes, compassion, interventions, but most of all encouragement she has been able to break the cycle and statistics piled against people like herself and her community. Veronica worked in Public Health Nursing for 10 years as an interpreter and community service aide and has have been at serving the community at Natividad as a Registered Nurse in Perinatal Services. She currently holds a BSN, PHN and is currently working on a Masters in Nursing Leadership and Management with the goal of obtaining a doctorate and FNP. Veronica appreciates continued learning and teaching and is passionate about working with the underserved, families, community and representing her indigenous community. Veronica currently lives in Pacific Grove with her husband Cirilo and youngest son Brandon who is soon to be college-bound. Veronica and her husband enjoy an active lifestyle, spend time with family and friends, and especially enjoy visiting her oldest son Damean who is currently serving in the military.
Raised on the Navajo reservation, Adriann Begay is Tábaahi (Edge of the Water clan) and born for Bít’ahnii (Folded Arms People clan). Her maternal grandparents are Ta’néészahnii (Badlands People clan) and paternal grandparents are Tl’aashchí’í (Red Cheek People clan). While raising three children, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona; and received a medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine through the Indians into Medicine program. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Arizona and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice. Adriann worked for the Indian Health Service for 21 years initially at Salt River Clinic under Phoenix Indian Medical Center for 4 years as a primary care provider. Then at Gallup Indian Medical Center as an urgent care physician and administrator for 17 years. Her career is dedicated to elevating healthcare for American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN). Increasing the pipeline of AI/AN students who can come home and care for their people is a major part of her dedication. Adriann’s greatest accomplishments are being a mother of three, being a grandmother to nine beautiful grandchildren, being a daughter to a strong Navajo woman who she can now care for, being a wife to a caring artistic husband, and always being a source of support for family, colleagues, friends and anyone who needs even a hug or pat on the back.
Dr. Begay joined HEAL in 2021 as a Senior Officer and leads HEAL’s Strategic Plan goals of 1) expanding to additional domestic sites in addition to Navajo Nation, 2) designing and building a pathway for Native American health workers to transform as they work with the underserved both in Navajo Nation and nationally 3) advocating for policy and programs on behalf of Native American health care equity, and 4) serving as a mentor to fellows based in Navajo Nation.
Raised on the Navajo reservation, Adriann Begay is Tábaahi (Edge of the Water clan) and born for Bít’ahnii (Folded Arms People clan). Her maternal grandparents are Ta’néészahnii (Badlands People clan) and paternal grandparents are Tl’aashchí’í (Red Cheek People clan). While raising three children, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona; and received a medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine through the Indians into Medicine program. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Arizona and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice. Adriann worked for the Indian Health Service for 21 years initially at Salt River Clinic under Phoenix Indian Medical Center for 4 years as a primary care provider. Then at Gallup Indian Medical Center as an urgent care physician and administrator for 17 years. Her career is dedicated to elevating healthcare for American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN). Increasing the pipeline of AI/AN students who can come home and care for their people is a major part of her dedication. Adriann’s greatest accomplishments are being a mother of three, being a grandmother to nine beautiful grandchildren, being a daughter to a strong Navajo woman who she can now care for, being a wife to a caring artistic husband, and always being a source of support for family, colleagues, friends and anyone who needs even a hug or pat on the back.
Dr. Begay joined HEAL in 2021 as a Senior Officer and leads HEAL’s Strategic Plan goals of 1) expanding to additional domestic sites in addition to Navajo Nation, 2) designing and building a pathway for Native American health workers to transform as they work with the underserved both in Navajo Nation and nationally 3) advocating for policy and programs on behalf of Native American health care equity, and 4) serving as a mentor to fellows based in Navajo Nation.
Rachel G. Saykpah, is a Registered Nurse by profession. She works as a Quality Assurance Officer with Last Mile Health assigned to Jo-River District, Rivercess County. She is a graduate of the Cuttington University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a Licensed Nurse by the Liberian Board of Nursing and Midwifery since 2010. She also earned a certificate in practical Project Management from the Amref University in Nairobi, Kenya and was trained as a Master Trainer for the Community Health Program of Liberia by the Ministry of Health, Community Health Department and Last Mile Health. She is married with three kids, none of which are biological. Initially, when she joined the LMH Family, she served as a Training Supervisor for Grand Gedeh County and was later transferred to Rivercess County to serve in a similar capacity. In the position of a Training Supervisor, she was tasked with the responsibility to train Community Clinical Supervisors (CCS), Community Health Worker Leaders (CHWL) and Community Health workers (CHWS). She continuously worked with these workers to provide field-based coaching and mentoring to build a resilience community health workforce, taking quality health services to the doorsteps of the underprivileged. Rachel is overwhelmed to be selected as a HEAL fellow. Being a fellow has long been her dream. She strongly believes HEAL will help build her leadership capacity and upon completion of the fellowship, she would love to see take on a managerial role at LMH.She is a second year candidate of the Cuttington University Public Health Department specializing in Community Health.
Rachel G. Saykpah, is a Registered Nurse by profession. She works as a Quality Assurance Officer with Last Mile Health assigned to Jo-River District, Rivercess County. She is a graduate of the Cuttington University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a Licensed Nurse by the Liberian Board of Nursing and Midwifery since 2010. She also earned a certificate in practical Project Management from the Amref University in Nairobi, Kenya and was trained as a Master Trainer for the Community Health Program of Liberia by the Ministry of Health, Community Health Department and Last Mile Health. She is married with three kids, none of which are biological. Initially, when she joined the LMH Family, she served as a Training Supervisor for Grand Gedeh County and was later transferred to Rivercess County to serve in a similar capacity. In the position of a Training Supervisor, she was tasked with the responsibility to train Community Clinical Supervisors (CCS), Community Health Worker Leaders (CHWL) and Community Health workers (CHWS). She continuously worked with these workers to provide field-based coaching and mentoring to build a resilience community health workforce, taking quality health services to the doorsteps of the underprivileged. Rachel is overwhelmed to be selected as a HEAL fellow. Being a fellow has long been her dream. She strongly believes HEAL will help build her leadership capacity and upon completion of the fellowship, she would love to see take on a managerial role at LMH.She is a second year candidate of the Cuttington University Public Health Department specializing in Community Health.
Sangeeta joined the HEAL Initiative after more than a decade of work in global health and a deep belief in the possibility of a more just world. She has worked on the rapid acceleration of pediatric HIV treatment and on strategies to scale the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (pMTCT) with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), UNICEF, and the WHO-primarily francophone Africa. She has focused on working with key stakeholders – especially Ministries of Health, partners, and local health workers, to build ever-more responsive and impactful programming at sub-national, national, and global levels. In recent years, she has focused on health system transformation through health worker capacity building, in partnership with Ethiopia’s national CEMONC training program and SPARK Health Africa.
Sangeeta earned her Bachelors in International Development (Brown) and a Masters in Public Policy (Harvard Kennedy School) but has learned the most from working alongside and in support of public sector workers on the African continent. Sangeeta believes deeply in strengthening people, teams, and in innovating systems to transform what is possible in health.
Sangeeta joined the HEAL Initiative after more than a decade of work in global health and a deep belief in the possibility of a more just world. She has worked on the rapid acceleration of pediatric HIV treatment and on strategies to scale the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (pMTCT) with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), UNICEF, and the WHO-primarily francophone Africa. She has focused on working with key stakeholders – especially Ministries of Health, partners, and local health workers, to build ever-more responsive and impactful programming at sub-national, national, and global levels. In recent years, she has focused on health system transformation through health worker capacity building, in partnership with Ethiopia’s national CEMONC training program and SPARK Health Africa.
Sangeeta earned her Bachelors in International Development (Brown) and a Masters in Public Policy (Harvard Kennedy School) but has learned the most from working alongside and in support of public sector workers on the African continent. Sangeeta believes deeply in strengthening people, teams, and in innovating systems to transform what is possible in health.
Lena Wong was was a rotating fellow who served at Tuba City Regional Health Care in Tuba City, Arizona and at Possible in Nepal (2015-2017). She was born and raised in the wonderland that is New Jersey. She attended Rutgers University as an undergrad where following a few trips overseas to South Africa and China, she saw the inequities in access to medicine and education and decided to go to medical school with an interest in international health. She moved to Philadelphia to attend medical school at Temple University, mostly to watch her beloved Flyers play. She went on to do a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in Miami, working mostly in the county hospital. With the diversity in the patient population, ability to work with the underserved and a great exposure to tropical medicine, she travelled south for the first time in her life and found it warm and amazing. She then went onto the HEAL fellowship with a focus on health care systems development, program planning and quality improvement. She stayed in the Navajo Nation following this but then completed a second fellowship in Infectious Disease back in Miami. She will return to the Navajo Nation to continue working on adult and child medicine, as well as infectious disease.
Field of work: Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Infectious Disease.
Areas of interest: Public Health, QI, ID, Community Engagement, Community Health Work
Lena Wong was was a rotating fellow who served at Tuba City Regional Health Care in Tuba City, Arizona and at Possible in Nepal (2015-2017). She was born and raised in the wonderland that is New Jersey. She attended Rutgers University as an undergrad where following a few trips overseas to South Africa and China, she saw the inequities in access to medicine and education and decided to go to medical school with an interest in international health. She moved to Philadelphia to attend medical school at Temple University, mostly to watch her beloved Flyers play. She went on to do a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in Miami, working mostly in the county hospital. With the diversity in the patient population, ability to work with the underserved and a great exposure to tropical medicine, she travelled south for the first time in her life and found it warm and amazing. She then went onto the HEAL fellowship with a focus on health care systems development, program planning and quality improvement. She stayed in the Navajo Nation following this but then completed a second fellowship in Infectious Disease back in Miami. She will return to the Navajo Nation to continue working on adult and child medicine, as well as infectious disease.
Field of work: Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Infectious Disease.
Areas of interest: Public Health, QI, ID, Community Engagement, Community Health Work
Miranda Williams is originally from the cool waters of the Oregon coast and is an enrolled member of the Siletz Tribe. She has three sons, Sequoyah, Denali and Nakoa and two daughters, Priah and Yanabaa that lived and attended school in the Navajo community. Miranda worked in the Chinle Service Unit, Navajo Area Indian Health Service as a Supervisory Public Health Advisor from 2011 to 2022. She advocated on a local and national level for culturally-tailored diabetes services for the people of Navajo and worked on efforts to transform the care of diabetes.
Over the past year, Miranda returned to Oregon to work for her tribe as the new Executive Health Director at the Siletz Community Health Clinic. She is excited to be home building on existing projects and services to elevate the health and wellness of her tribal community.
Miranda received a Bachelors of Science in Nutrition (focus: Dietetics) from Arizona State University and obtained a Master of Public Health (focus: Management of Health Systems) from the University of Liverpool. Miranda has 19 years of combined experience in public health and clinical care systems, program development, implementation and evaluation to enhance and progress Indian healthcare and services. As a reflection of her systematic program successes, the improvements have blended public health and clinical medicine to effectively meet the needs of American Indian populations.
Miranda’s interests include hiking, camping and spending time with her family and children. Miranda was a 2016-2018 site fellow at Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Facility in Chinle, Arizona
Miranda Williams is originally from the cool waters of the Oregon coast and is an enrolled member of the Siletz Tribe. She has three sons, Sequoyah, Denali and Nakoa and two daughters, Priah and Yanabaa that lived and attended school in the Navajo community. Miranda worked in the Chinle Service Unit, Navajo Area Indian Health Service as a Supervisory Public Health Advisor from 2011 to 2022. She advocated on a local and national level for culturally-tailored diabetes services for the people of Navajo and worked on efforts to transform the care of diabetes.
Over the past year, Miranda returned to Oregon to work for her tribe as the new Executive Health Director at the Siletz Community Health Clinic. She is excited to be home building on existing projects and services to elevate the health and wellness of her tribal community.
Miranda received a Bachelors of Science in Nutrition (focus: Dietetics) from Arizona State University and obtained a Master of Public Health (focus: Management of Health Systems) from the University of Liverpool. Miranda has 19 years of combined experience in public health and clinical care systems, program development, implementation and evaluation to enhance and progress Indian healthcare and services. As a reflection of her systematic program successes, the improvements have blended public health and clinical medicine to effectively meet the needs of American Indian populations.
Miranda’s interests include hiking, camping and spending time with her family and children. Miranda was a 2016-2018 site fellow at Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Facility in Chinle, Arizona
Matias Iberico completed his internal medicine residency training at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco. He was born in Lima, Peru and moved to Ohio when he was five. While in medical school he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study tuberculosis in Peruvian peri-urban slums and used that research to complete a master’s degree in public health. He is passionate about global health equity and hopes to return to Peru at some point in the future to work in medical education and health systems strengthening (while enjoying some of the world’s greatest cuisine). As a UCSF HEAL Initiative fellow, he will help build health systems that aim to eliminate illness rooted in poverty. Matias is a rotating fellow who will serve at Tséhootsooí Medical Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona and at Muso in Mali.
Matias Iberico completed his internal medicine residency training at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco. He was born in Lima, Peru and moved to Ohio when he was five. While in medical school he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study tuberculosis in Peruvian peri-urban slums and used that research to complete a master’s degree in public health. He is passionate about global health equity and hopes to return to Peru at some point in the future to work in medical education and health systems strengthening (while enjoying some of the world’s greatest cuisine). As a UCSF HEAL Initiative fellow, he will help build health systems that aim to eliminate illness rooted in poverty. Matias is a rotating fellow who will serve at Tséhootsooí Medical Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona and at Muso in Mali.
Nadra Crawford was a fellow at LifeLong Medical Center in California, Possible in Nepal, and Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Facility in Chinle, Arizona (2017-2019). She was a resident at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. She was born in Los Angeles, CA, received her bachelor’s degree from Colby College in Waterville, ME, and completed medical school at the Escuela Latino Américana de Medicina in Havana, Cuba. Nadra became interested in healing and bridging the gap between healthcare and her community at an early age. When she was 13, she participated in a “medical mission” in the Caribbean where she witnessed commensurate health inequities. These experiences led to her studying medicine abroad, working in the Amazon with the forgotten indigenous people of Peru, and joining the HEAL Initiative.
Field of work: Family Medicine
Areas of interest: A broad spectrum of interests
Nadra Crawford was a fellow at LifeLong Medical Center in California, Possible in Nepal, and Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Facility in Chinle, Arizona (2017-2019). She was a resident at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. She was born in Los Angeles, CA, received her bachelor’s degree from Colby College in Waterville, ME, and completed medical school at the Escuela Latino Américana de Medicina in Havana, Cuba. Nadra became interested in healing and bridging the gap between healthcare and her community at an early age. When she was 13, she participated in a “medical mission” in the Caribbean where she witnessed commensurate health inequities. These experiences led to her studying medicine abroad, working in the Amazon with the forgotten indigenous people of Peru, and joining the HEAL Initiative.
Field of work: Family Medicine
Areas of interest: A broad spectrum of interests
Andrea Walker grew up in Southern California and completed her MD at the University of California, Los Angeles where she also graduated from the Ob/Gyn residency program. She completed the HEAL global health fellowship at Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, New Mexico, and at Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo in Malawi. After fellowship, she continued to work in Gallup for 4 years. She now works with an FQHC in Chicago, Illinois, where she enjoys kayaking and biking.
Andrea Walker grew up in Southern California and completed her MD at the University of California, Los Angeles where she also graduated from the Ob/Gyn residency program. She completed the HEAL global health fellowship at Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, New Mexico, and at Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo in Malawi. After fellowship, she continued to work in Gallup for 4 years. She now works with an FQHC in Chicago, Illinois, where she enjoys kayaking and biking.
Diana is a Nurse and Public Health Professional working for Last Mile Health as a Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Officer in remote Liberia. She is passionate about serving rural, underserved, and minorized communities. She likes to help rural community dwellers by empowering them to take initiative of their health. She ensures quality health services are delivered through the National Community Health Assistants Program by building the capacity of the health facility staff, Community Health Services Supervisor, and Community Health Workers in rural Liberia. Her focus is on strengthening coordination among DHT members representing Last Mile Health at the district level. She has worked in rural Liberia for the past seven years to show that health for all is attainable. She is a 2018-2020 fellow.
Diana loves to watch people’s lives change daily by aiding them in accessing health services and attaining better health outcomes when in need.
Faculty Advisors
Doruk Ozgedizis The Associate Professor of Surgery at UCSF, Director of the UCSF Center for Global Surgery and Health Equity, and in the leadership team of the Institute for Global Health Sciences. He trained in medicine at UCSF and completed a general surgery residency at UCSF before pursuing a pediatric surgery fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto. Dr. Ozgediz also completed a Master’s of Science in Public Health in Developing Countries at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Dr. Ozgediz became involved in surgical collaborations in Uganda in 2003 and since then has been part of multiple collaborations to strengthen surgery and anesthesia care there and in the region, mostly through support of capacity-building initiatives.
He is a co-founder of the Global Partners in Anesthesia and Surgery (GPAS) collaboration, focused in Uganda, as well as the Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery (GICS). He is also on the advisory board of KIDS OR, an international charity dedicated to strengthening surgery and perioperative care in low resource settings.
Doruk Ozgedizis The Associate Professor of Surgery at UCSF, Director of the UCSF Center for Global Surgery and Health Equity, and in the leadership team of the Institute for Global Health Sciences. He trained in medicine at UCSF and completed a general surgery residency at UCSF before pursuing a pediatric surgery fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto. Dr. Ozgediz also completed a Master’s of Science in Public Health in Developing Countries at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Dr. Ozgediz became involved in surgical collaborations in Uganda in 2003 and since then has been part of multiple collaborations to strengthen surgery and anesthesia care there and in the region, mostly through support of capacity-building initiatives.
He is a co-founder of the Global Partners in Anesthesia and Surgery (GPAS) collaboration, focused in Uganda, as well as the Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery (GICS). He is also on the advisory board of KIDS OR, an international charity dedicated to strengthening surgery and perioperative care in low resource settings.
Dr. Meg Autry is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist at the UCSF/Mount Zion Women’s Health Center. In her clinical practice, she does obstetrics and complex gynecology. Her areas of interest include family planning, cervical dysplasia, and benign gynecology. Dr. Autry is a member of the Academy of Medical Educators and is the Director of Graduate Medical Education for UCSF Obstetrics and Gynecology. She was the president of APGO 2014-2016 and is a board examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Meg Autry is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist at the UCSF/Mount Zion Women’s Health Center. In her clinical practice, she does obstetrics and complex gynecology. Her areas of interest include family planning, cervical dysplasia, and benign gynecology. Dr. Autry is a member of the Academy of Medical Educators and is the Director of Graduate Medical Education for UCSF Obstetrics and Gynecology. She was the president of APGO 2014-2016 and is a board examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Michael Lipnick is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at UCSF and based clinically at San Francisco General Hospital. He is a graduate of the UCSF School of Medicine and completed residency programs in Internal Medicine at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Anesthesia Residency at UCSF as well as Critical Care Fellowship at UCSF. Michael is co-founder of Global Partners in Anesthesia and Surgery (GPAS – www.globalsurgery.org) and has co-directed this collaboration’s efforts to increase access to quality surgical services in Uganda since 2007. Michael’s interests in public health have focused on injury, perioperative care, and the ethics and best practices surrounding global health collaborations. He has served as a contributor to the Global Burden of Disease Study Group and co-founded The Global Health Hub (www.globalhealthhub.org). Michael joined the HEAL Faculty in 2015 to help expand and direct anesthesia and surgery pathways for the fellowship.
Michael Lipnick is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at UCSF and based clinically at San Francisco General Hospital. He is a graduate of the UCSF School of Medicine and completed residency programs in Internal Medicine at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Anesthesia Residency at UCSF as well as Critical Care Fellowship at UCSF. Michael is co-founder of Global Partners in Anesthesia and Surgery (GPAS – www.globalsurgery.org) and has co-directed this collaboration’s efforts to increase access to quality surgical services in Uganda since 2007. Michael’s interests in public health have focused on injury, perioperative care, and the ethics and best practices surrounding global health collaborations. He has served as a contributor to the Global Burden of Disease Study Group and co-founded The Global Health Hub (www.globalhealthhub.org). Michael joined the HEAL Faculty in 2015 to help expand and direct anesthesia and surgery pathways for the fellowship.
Madhavi Dandu is an Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSF. Her work is devoted to global health education, curriculum development, and mentorship. She is Director of the Masters of Science in Global Health, a one-year program designed for students or practitioners in a health science profession or related field who wish to achieve mastery and leadership skills in the field of global health. Additionally, she is Director of the Global Health Pathway/Area of Distinction for the Internal Medicine Residency. In this capacity she coordinates international experiences of residents, assists with their scholarly projects, and provides curriculum for trainees interested in careers in global health. She is also co-director of the Global Health Core for the Division of Hospital Medicine and a senior curriculum advisor for the HEAL Fellowship. Finally she continues to pursue her interest in health and human rights work.
Madhavi Dandu is an Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSF. Her work is devoted to global health education, curriculum development, and mentorship. She is Director of the Masters of Science in Global Health, a one-year program designed for students or practitioners in a health science profession or related field who wish to achieve mastery and leadership skills in the field of global health. Additionally, she is Director of the Global Health Pathway/Area of Distinction for the Internal Medicine Residency. In this capacity she coordinates international experiences of residents, assists with their scholarly projects, and provides curriculum for trainees interested in careers in global health. She is also co-director of the Global Health Core for the Division of Hospital Medicine and a senior curriculum advisor for the HEAL Fellowship. Finally she continues to pursue her interest in health and human rights work.
Bibhav Acharya has extensive experience in developing global health programs. He is the co-founder of Possible (www.possiblehealth.org), a non-profit company that has been operating a health delivery system in rural Nepal since 2008 in partnership with the Nepali Government. The health system employs over 200 staff members and sees over 200 patients a day in Achham, a remote district in Nepal where previously a population of 250,000 people did not have access to a physician. Since 2013, he has been serving as a member of the Board of Advisors for Possible and is focused on developing mental health programs in this area. He conducts implementation science research in mental health services at Possible (http://hsdg.partners.org/team/) and manages a group of US-based volunteer psychiatrists who provide remote assistance to primary care providers in Nepal. He is a co-founder and the Executive Director of Shared Minds, a non-profit organization that provides culturally-appropriate, evidence-based clinical training and supervision for clinicians in Nepal. Bibhav was born and raised in Nepal and completed his M.D. at Yale University School of Medicine.
Bibhav Acharya has extensive experience in developing global health programs. He is the co-founder of Possible (www.possiblehealth.org), a non-profit company that has been operating a health delivery system in rural Nepal since 2008 in partnership with the Nepali Government. The health system employs over 200 staff members and sees over 200 patients a day in Achham, a remote district in Nepal where previously a population of 250,000 people did not have access to a physician. Since 2013, he has been serving as a member of the Board of Advisors for Possible and is focused on developing mental health programs in this area. He conducts implementation science research in mental health services at Possible (http://hsdg.partners.org/team/) and manages a group of US-based volunteer psychiatrists who provide remote assistance to primary care providers in Nepal. He is a co-founder and the Executive Director of Shared Minds, a non-profit organization that provides culturally-appropriate, evidence-based clinical training and supervision for clinicians in Nepal. Bibhav was born and raised in Nepal and completed his M.D. at Yale University School of Medicine.