ZSFG Department of Medicine Newsletters

Main Story: To help leaders work most effectively in this complex environment, Neil R. Powe, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief of Medicine at ZSFG and Constance B. Wofsy Distinguished Professor, and Dr. Harleman established the Clinical Leaders Professional Development Program at ZSFG. This fall, 16 leaders nominated by their division chiefs met once a month for three-hour sessions on topics including personality type and leadership, the power of inquiry, the matrix structure of UCSF and DPH, approaches to conflict, diversity and inclusion. Featuring: Beth Harleman, MD; Vivek Jain, MD; Carolyn Hendrickson, MD; Sarah Kim, MD

Spotlight: ZSFG Research and Academic Building; Cynthia Nagendra; Paula Lum, MD, MPH; John Imboden, MD

Main Story: In 1736 when fire endangered the city of Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin coined the phrase, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” for fire awareness and prevention, something we are now all too familiar with in California. We have many “fires” due to illnesses that threaten the health of our patients here in San Francisco, as well as across the U.S. and the world. We feature two leaders at ZSFG Medicine who are working upstream to “nip in the bud” diseases that cut human lives short and diminish quality of life: Diane Havlir, MD; Dean Schillinger, MD

Spotlight: The Addiction Care Team, led by Marlene Martin, MD, and Hannah Snyder, MD, was awarded a $ million donation. 

Main Story: For half a century, the ZSFG Renal Center has provided life-sustaining treatment for some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents, while discovering new ways to improve the care of patients with kidney disease. Featuring: Anitha Toke, MD

Cardiac imaging has many tools, each with strengths and limitations. Since Sithu Win, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, was recruited to direct the ZSFG Division of Cardiology’s Echocardiography and Non-Invasive Cardiac Laboratory, his team has increased this toolkit and improved access.

Spotlight: Palliative Care Program; Diane Havlir, MD; POP-UP program at Ward 86

Main Story: ZSFG Department of Medicine (DOM) celebrated staff on September 13, 2019 with the annual Staff Appreciation Day. The event culminated with the presentation of this year's Staff Excellence Awards for Administrative Support, Leadership, Patient Care, and, new this year, Research. Featuring: Jep Poon, Carlo Juárez, Erin Collins, Paul Couey, Kristina Bello 

Spotlight: Edward Wiedemann, Brandi Moretz, Brooks Bigart

Main Story: Founded in 2002, CARE provides health education, resources, and a welcoming community to any SFDPH patient living with cancer. It is open to people of any gender and cancer type, at any stage of illness or survivorship. Featuring: Terence Friedlander, MD; Sofia Sojourner Newton, MPH; Gabriela Quezada-Pérez.

Emily Silverman, MD, founded The Nocturnists, a series of live storytelling events and podcast. The stories, filled with compassion and sometimes humor, feature health care professionals grappling with thorny issues such as medical errors, experiences with depression, and frustration with patients who are unable to follow a care plan.

Spotlight: Neal Benowitz, MD; Katherine Lupton, MD; Payam Nahid, MD; Hilary Seligman, MD

Main Story: Chief residents are outstanding graduates of our internal medicine residency program who spend an additional year in leadership roles, helping to teach, mentor and support the 180 interns and residents who rotate through the Department of Medicine at ZSFG. They bring deep knowledge of the challenges of residency, as well as fresh perspectives about how to make the experience even more meaningful and rewarding. Featuring: Kathryn Sullivan, MD; Tyler Mains, MD; Albert Liu, MD

Spotlight: Brian Graham, MD; Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH; Peter Hunt, MD; Mallory Johnson, PhD; Terence Friedlander, MD 

Main Story: A dynamic partnership between ZSFG Pulmonary Division and UC Berkeley Biology Scholars Program supports aspiring undergrads. Featuring: Aisha Jama; Antonio Gomez, MD; Kristin Hildreth, Semhar Teklu 

Spotlight: Krevans Award recognizes Arturo Gasga, MD; Rapaport Award recognizes Jeffrey Critchfield, MD

Main Story: 2019 ZSFG Medicine Faculty Awards and ZSFG Staff STAR Achievement Awards. Featuring: Alicia Fernandez, MD; Lucas Zier, MD; Devora Keller, MD; Jack Chase, MD; Urmimala Sarkar, MD; Reena Gupta, MD; Kelly Han, MD; Jehan Budak, MD; Larissa Thomas, MD; Oanh Nguyen, MD; Beth Harleman, MD; Susan Lau; Stephen May; Raeni Miller; Justin Moore; Nadia Nardone; Vanessa York

Spotlight: ZSFG Medical SPOT Awards, ZSFG Milestone Service Recognition

Main Story: Homelessness is one of the nation’s most vexing problems, and the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations (CVP), based in the ZSFG Department of Medicine, has launched the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative to help address this epidemic. More than five million children worldwide die each year of treatable diseases such as malaria and pneumonia – but Ari Johnson, MD, and his colleagues are working to change that. Featuring: Margot Kushel, MD; Ari Johnson, MD

Spotlight: Payam Nahid, MD; Emily Silverman; Talmadge King, MD; Gallup Staff Engagement Survey, ZSFG RAB

Main Story: While ZSFG has always been dedicated to serving vulnerable populations, in recent years the institution and the ZSFG Department of Medicine have deepened their commitment to creating an environment that goes beyond equality to equity. Featuring: Jeffrey Critchfield, MD; Marlene Martin, MD; Tosan Boyo, MPH

Spotlight: UCSF Diversity and Inclusion Staff Certificate Program ZSFG graduates - Yazmin Carrasco, Jena Desai, Justin Moore, Kay Wallis, Edward Wiedemann