We are pleased to spotlight Jessica Santos-Parker, MD, PhD, whose dedication to surgical education has earned her national recognition as recipient of the Association for Surgical Education's Outstanding Resident Teacher Award. This award honors a surgical trainee whose commitment to education elevates both learners and the field itself.
In addition to her roles as a General Surgery Resident and NCSP Scholar, Dr. Santos-Parker serves as a UCSF Simulation Education & Johnson & Johnson Robotic Fellow, a combination that speaks to her deep commitment to advancing surgical training across multiple fronts. Dr. Santos-Parker exemplifies a clinician-educator who pursues cutting-edge surgical innovation while actively investing in the growth of the next generation of surgeons.
Following our recent Chinatown neighborhood visit, we were thrilled to return and partner with the Community Youth Center (CYC) and local youth ages 15–24. The afternoon brought together our team and CYC's young people for an opportunity to share experiences and explore career paths, all over boba. Shoutout to the UCSF Center for Community Engagement and Roberto Vargas, MPH, for helping us foster these connections.
The conversations ranged widely, from how our scholars landed in their current roles, to the skills and experiences that helped them get there, to what they wish they'd known when they were younger.
What stood out most was the genuine curiosity and thoughtfulness of CYC's youth, and the meaningful exchange that happened across the tables. A heartfelt thank you to CYC for hosting us and to all the young folks who showed up ready to engage.
In April, the NCSP at UCSF explored San Francisco's historic Chinatown, one of the oldest and most storied Chinese communities in the United States. We were graciously guided throughout the day by Sarah Ching Ting Wan, Executive Director of the Community Youth Center of San Francisco, and Dr. Dennis Chen, Behavioral Health Program Director.
Our visit took us through the neighborhood's rich network of community organizations, including the Chinatown Public Health Center #4, Chinese Hospital, North East Medical Services, and Chinatown Community Development Center’s housing sites. We are deeply grateful to each organization and their dedicated staff for opening their doors and sharing their work with us.
This visit offered a glimpse into the deep roots of care, culture, and advocacy that define Chinatown. Furthermore, it reinforced the importance of community partnerships in advancing health and wellbeing for all.
Congratulations to Dr. Brianna Jackson on her publication in PLOS One, Finally my turn to write my story”: A convergent mixed methods study exploring the perceptions and experiences of emerging adults who aged out of foster care in Canada!
This work examines how former youth-in-care navigate the transition to independence after aging out of the foster system. Her research provides important insights into the challenges and resilience of this population, contributing to a deeper understanding of support needs for emerging adults in foster care.
Congratulations to Dr. Mignote Yilma on her publication in Journal of Clinical Medicine, Outcomes from Referral to Transplant for Patients with MASLD: A California Liver Network Study!
This study, which Dr. Yilma designed, assembled, and led during her time at NCSP, represents the first publication from the California Liver Network.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent NCSP and RWJF Alumni Association gathering! We were thrilled by the strong turnout and grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with so many members of our community. Your engagement and thoughtful participation made the evening especially meaningful.
Our event featured RWJF Clinical Scholar alum Neil Powe, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief of Medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Constance B. Wofsy Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair of Medicine at UCSF. Dr. Powe shared reflections from his experience as a healthcare leader, as well as his insights and optimism about navigating uncertain times. The fireside chat exemplified the spirit of dialogue that defines the National Clinician Scholars Program.
Following the discussion, we enjoyed a wonderful reception for alumni and Scholars to continue conversations, strengthen connections, and celebrate the evening together.
Events like this strengthen our alumni network, foster connection across generations of Scholars, and create space for shared learning and reflection. We look forward to seeing many of you at our next annual alumni event!
We are proud to spotlight Maxwell Presser, MD, MPH, whose work in injury and violence research continues to receive national recognition. Dr. Presser has had two abstracts accepted for presentation at the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury
Research (SAVIR) Conference this April.
The accepted presentations, “Beyond the Bullet: Evaluating Firearm-Acquired Disability among Survivors of Violence” and “Identifying Firearm-Acquired Disability: An Iterative, Multidisciplinary Approach Using the Trauma Registry and Electronic Health Records,” highlight Dr. Presser’s efforts to better understand the long-term impacts of firearm injury. His work emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and the use of trauma registry data and electronic health records to improve identification and evaluation of firearm-acquired disability.
Emily Ager, MD, MPH:
Congratulations to Dr. Ager on publishing, Preliminary Post-Dobbs Trends in Emergency Department Use for Early Pregnancy Complications, which provides preliminary evidence on how severe abortion restrictions may impact ED utilization for early obstetric care.
