Desiree Carmen is a family medicine physician and faculty member at UCSF and the HEAL Initiative. Desiree proudly claims the Texas-Mexico Frontera as her home, which continues to inspire her career in healthcare equity. After completing medical school at Texas Tech, El Paso, she attended the Sutter Family Medicine Residency program in Santa Rosa. During that time, she served as Chief Resident in diversity and equity initiatives. She then completed a Global Health Fellowship through Contra Costa Family Medicine, supporting the education of medical students in Neno, Malawi, in partnership with Partners In Health. Additionally, she worked with the Refugee Health Alliance in Tijuana to provide primary care to asylum seekers. She continues to provide full-spectrum care as an attending, splitting her time as a hospitalist at UCSF and practicing obstetrics in Oakland and Fresno. Her passions include refugee and migrant advocacy, reproductive healthcare, and health policy. When she’s not working, she enjoys exploring new San Francisco neighborhoods with her partner.