Dr. Daniel H. Lowenstein is the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the Robert B. and Ellinor Aird Professor and Vice Chairman in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and Director of Physician-Scientist and Education Training Programs for the UCSF School of Medicine. Dr. Lowenstein’s work spans across multiple fields. He is a clinical researcher, actively involved in defining scientific policy at the national level, as well as a highly-regarded teacher at UCSF with a focus on issues related to cultural diversity and civil rights. Dr. Lowenstein joined the HEAL Initiative Steering Committee in 2021.
Dr. Daniel H. Lowenstein is the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the Robert B. and Ellinor Aird Professor and Vice Chairman in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and Director of Physician-Scientist and Education Training Programs for the UCSF School of Medicine. Dr. Lowenstein’s work spans across multiple fields. He is a clinical researcher, actively involved in defining scientific policy at the national level, as well as a highly-regarded teacher at UCSF with a focus on issues related to cultural diversity and civil rights. Dr. Lowenstein joined the HEAL Initiative Steering Committee in 2021.
Damon Francis, MD is the Chief Medical Officer of Health Leads, a non-profit that envisions a healthcare system that addresses basic needs such as food and housing as a standard part of quality care. His work involves re-imagining and re-designing primary care as a collaborative enterprise among patients, clinics, and community based organizations, and leveraging the potential for integrated health and human services data to accelerate the impact of public health interventions. He previously directed the Health Care for the Homeless program at a local health department in California. He received an M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Damon Francis, MD is the Chief Medical Officer of Health Leads, a non-profit that envisions a healthcare system that addresses basic needs such as food and housing as a standard part of quality care. His work involves re-imagining and re-designing primary care as a collaborative enterprise among patients, clinics, and community based organizations, and leveraging the potential for integrated health and human services data to accelerate the impact of public health interventions. He previously directed the Health Care for the Homeless program at a local health department in California. He received an M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Patricia Cornet is professor and vice chair for education in the Department of Medicine at UCSF. In her role as vice chair, she oversees all graduate medical education programs, including fellowships, within the department. She is an active attending in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco. She has won multiple awards, including membership into the Academy of Medical Educators.
Dr. Patricia Cornet is professor and vice chair for education in the Department of Medicine at UCSF. In her role as vice chair, she oversees all graduate medical education programs, including fellowships, within the department. She is an active attending in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco. She has won multiple awards, including membership into the Academy of Medical Educators.
Jimena Maza was born and raised in La Peninsula de Yucatan Mexico, (for her, the Paradise on earth), in a very loving family. She did medical school in La Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan. After she finished medical school, she spent one year working in a rural clinic in a Mayan community close to Chichen Itza. Since then, she has been working as a clinical supervisor, and most recently as Primary Care Director at Compañeros en Salud (CES) in la Sierra Madre de Chiapas, a part of the Partners in Health (PIH) network. Jimena served as the first HEAL-CES site fellow in the inaugural HEAL class (2015-2017).
Jimena Maza was born and raised in La Peninsula de Yucatan Mexico, (for her, the Paradise on earth), in a very loving family. She did medical school in La Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan. After she finished medical school, she spent one year working in a rural clinic in a Mayan community close to Chichen Itza. Since then, she has been working as a clinical supervisor, and most recently as Primary Care Director at Compañeros en Salud (CES) in la Sierra Madre de Chiapas, a part of the Partners in Health (PIH) network. Jimena served as the first HEAL-CES site fellow in the inaugural HEAL class (2015-2017).
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.
Dr. Shamasunder 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.
Dr. Shamasunder 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.
Dawn currently works part-time as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant on the Navajo reservation in Arizona; and also as a Technical Assistance Specialist with the Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (CoE for IECMHC). Dawn has experience in providing mental health consultation to early care directors, teachers, and providers on the Navajo reservation. As a part of this work she also provides mental health consultation to home visitors on the Navajo reservation as well. Dawn has been able to incorporate traditional Navajo cultural perspectives into the early childhood best practices trainings when working on the Navajo Nation. Dawn also provides presentations on her work as an ECMHC on the Navajo Nation, as a part of professional development for technical assistance providers for Arizona’s FTF Quality First program, early childhood professionals and Infant-Toddler Mental Health professionals. Dawn also serves as a health board member for an Indian Health Services contracted Self-Determination (‘638) hospital, and as Chair of the First Things First – Navajo Nation Regional Partnership Council. Dawn has earned a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.
Dawn currently works part-time as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant on the Navajo reservation in Arizona; and also as a Technical Assistance Specialist with the Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (CoE for IECMHC). Dawn has experience in providing mental health consultation to early care directors, teachers, and providers on the Navajo reservation. As a part of this work she also provides mental health consultation to home visitors on the Navajo reservation as well. Dawn has been able to incorporate traditional Navajo cultural perspectives into the early childhood best practices trainings when working on the Navajo Nation. Dawn also provides presentations on her work as an ECMHC on the Navajo Nation, as a part of professional development for technical assistance providers for Arizona’s FTF Quality First program, early childhood professionals and Infant-Toddler Mental Health professionals. Dawn also serves as a health board member for an Indian Health Services contracted Self-Determination (‘638) hospital, and as Chair of the First Things First – Navajo Nation Regional Partnership Council. Dawn has earned a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.
With an ultimate goal of reducing healthcare disparities in cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Dr. Lopez’ research addresses issues relating to patient safety and language barriers, optimizing primary care clinical services for Latinos with cultural and linguistic barriers, and using health information technology to decrease disparities. A second line of research is investigating the epidemiology of acculturation among Latinos in the US and its impact on the prevalence and development of cardiovascular disease and Type II diabetes. This research will help inform how to better design clinical interventions for improving chronic disease management among Latinos.
Dr. Lopez’s work is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIDDK) and the Harold Amos Faculty Development Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Past funders have included the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Aetna Foundation and the McKesson Foundation.
Currently, Dr. Lopez serves as the Chief of Hospital Medicine at the UCSF – San Francisco VA Medical Center. In addition, he is a faculty member in the following research translational centers: The UCSF Center for the Study of Adversity and Cardiovascular Diseases (NURTURE Center) (http://nurture-center-ucsf-cardiology.org), the Center for Vulnerable Populations (https://cvp.ucsf.edu) and the Kidney Health Research Collaborative (http://khrc.ucsf.edu).
With an ultimate goal of reducing healthcare disparities in cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Dr. Lopez’ research addresses issues relating to patient safety and language barriers, optimizing primary care clinical services for Latinos with cultural and linguistic barriers, and using health information technology to decrease disparities. A second line of research is investigating the epidemiology of acculturation among Latinos in the US and its impact on the prevalence and development of cardiovascular disease and Type II diabetes. This research will help inform how to better design clinical interventions for improving chronic disease management among Latinos.
Dr. Lopez’s work is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIDDK) and the Harold Amos Faculty Development Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Past funders have included the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Aetna Foundation and the McKesson Foundation.
Currently, Dr. Lopez serves as the Chief of Hospital Medicine at the UCSF – San Francisco VA Medical Center. In addition, he is a faculty member in the following research translational centers: The UCSF Center for the Study of Adversity and Cardiovascular Diseases (NURTURE Center) (http://nurture-center-ucsf-cardiology.org), the Center for Vulnerable Populations (https://cvp.ucsf.edu) and the Kidney Health Research Collaborative (http://khrc.ucsf.edu).
Graciela Cadet was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and attended the national nursing school (Ecole Nationale d’Infirmieres de Port-au-Prince). She has worked as a nurse for seven years and became the nurse manager of the Intensive Care Unit at Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais in 2013. Graciela has worked for Zamni Lasante (ZL), the sister organization of Partners in Health, for over three years, and has come to see the organization as a driving force in social justice and a key player in the promotion of equity in health. She is particularly interested in quality improvement, advocacy, and strengthening the Haitian health system, and has continued to pursue training in public health management. She believes through this fellowship she will gain the skills needed to lead the effort in making a difference at the hospital she works, in the country where she comes from, and advocating for marginalized populations around the world. Graciela was a fellow at Zanmi Lasante in Haiti.
Graciela Cadet was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and attended the national nursing school (Ecole Nationale d’Infirmieres de Port-au-Prince). She has worked as a nurse for seven years and became the nurse manager of the Intensive Care Unit at Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais in 2013. Graciela has worked for Zamni Lasante (ZL), the sister organization of Partners in Health, for over three years, and has come to see the organization as a driving force in social justice and a key player in the promotion of equity in health. She is particularly interested in quality improvement, advocacy, and strengthening the Haitian health system, and has continued to pursue training in public health management. She believes through this fellowship she will gain the skills needed to lead the effort in making a difference at the hospital she works, in the country where she comes from, and advocating for marginalized populations around the world. Graciela was a fellow at Zanmi Lasante in Haiti.
Abhisake (Abhi) Kole was a rotating fellow at Jan Swasthya Sahjog in India and at UCSF Medical Center at San Francisco, California (2018-2020). He was born in Calcutta, India. He finished his medical school at Emory University and PhD at University of Oxford with residency in Internal Medicine at Emory University. He became interested in the economic toll of untreated chronic illnesses through economic development courses in his undergraduate studies. He believes by increasing access to healthcare, equity in other parts of society will be achievable. During his MD/PhD, he studied cellular immunology of the gut mucosa in the context of maintaining homeostasis in the face of infectious and non-infectious antigens. During residency, he rotated through the Indian Health Services in Tuba City, AZ and Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He currently volunteers regularly at a free refugee clinic near Atlanta, GA. He also enjoys mentoring children via several programs including a sickle cell buddy program, autism buddy program, and Destination Imagination, a creative problem solving program that combines theatrical and scientific elements.
Field of work: Internal Medicine
Areas of interest: Racial equity in healthcare, prison healthcare, decolonizing global health
Abhisake (Abhi) Kole was a rotating fellow at Jan Swasthya Sahjog in India and at UCSF Medical Center at San Francisco, California (2018-2020). He was born in Calcutta, India. He finished his medical school at Emory University and PhD at University of Oxford with residency in Internal Medicine at Emory University. He became interested in the economic toll of untreated chronic illnesses through economic development courses in his undergraduate studies. He believes by increasing access to healthcare, equity in other parts of society will be achievable. During his MD/PhD, he studied cellular immunology of the gut mucosa in the context of maintaining homeostasis in the face of infectious and non-infectious antigens. During residency, he rotated through the Indian Health Services in Tuba City, AZ and Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He currently volunteers regularly at a free refugee clinic near Atlanta, GA. He also enjoys mentoring children via several programs including a sickle cell buddy program, autism buddy program, and Destination Imagination, a creative problem solving program that combines theatrical and scientific elements.
Field of work: Internal Medicine
Areas of interest: Racial equity in healthcare, prison healthcare, decolonizing global health