Manuel Tapia, MD MPH
Manuel Tapia, MD, is an Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine at UCSF. He is also the Vice Chair for Diversity in his department and the Director of Workforce Initiatives for the LCOE. His main interests include providing primary care in under-resourced communities, helping students from historically excluded backgrounds in medical education, and supporting health professions pathway programs. In his role at the LCOE, Dr. Tapia leads programs for community college and undergraduate pre-medical students who are underrepresented in healthcare. He also conducts research on diversity in medical education and represents the LCOE at various local, state, and national conferences. Recently, Dr. Tapia received the UCSF Chancellor’s Award for Public Service for his local contributions. He was also honored nationally in 2023 as part of the National Minority Quality Forum's 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health cohort.
Dr. Tapia and the LCOE Workforce Initiatives team are excited to announce that they have secured a 5-year philanthropic award. This award will help them create a new pathway program, Hellman-Rooted in Health Equity, aimed at increasing healthcare opportunities for dedicated young people who want to promote health equity and serve their local communities.
Hellman-Rooted in Health Equity
Rooted in Health Equity (RHE) serves as a regional hub dedicated to fostering healthcare opportunities for undergraduate students who are committed to supporting underserved communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. RHE unites local academic institutions across high school, community college, and undergraduate levels, emphasizing social justice and the diversification of the healthcare workforce. By building a collaborative network of partners, RHE aims to create a comprehensive pathway for individuals interested in health professions, particularly those who are educationally and economically disadvantaged. RHE is committed to developing an innovative program that centers on health equity, leveraging participants’ lived experiences and resiliency as valuable assets within healthcare teams. The programs are designed to support 60 participants annually through organized initiatives that address the gaps in mentorship, clinical exposure, and academic guidance, ensuring that the specific needs of participants are met.
GROW
GROW (Gators Reclaiming Our Healthcare Workforce) is a year-long pre-health program that supports underrepresented rising sophomores and juniors at San Francisco State University (SFSU) interested in health careers. The program offers mentorship, cohort-based support, and hands-on clinical experience through partnerships with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), UCSF, and community organizations. This program prepares students for success in health professions while empowering them to lead social change and advance health equity.
PLANT
PLANT (Pre-matriculation Leadership Academy for New Transfers) is a 4-week summer program that supports community college transfer students from City College San Francisco (CCSF) to San Francisco State University (SFSU) who are interested in health careers. PLANT scholars will be introduced to the SFSU landscape for health careers pathway through academic planning, exposure to health career coursework and resources, community-based learning, and mentoring. The program focuses on course selection, study habits, and early advising to prepare students for successful completion of pre-health prerequisites.
Faculty & Staff:
GROW Director: Kelechi Uwaezuoke, DrPH, MPH
GROW Policy Analyst: Brianna Mejia-Carreno, MA
PLANT Director: Randy Jackson, MD
PLANT Policy Analyst: Stephanie Gordon-Rivera, MPH
For any PLANT questions or collaborations, please contact: Stephanie Gordon-Rivera ([email protected])
The full RHE website is coming soon!
For more information about RHE, please contact: Brianna Mejia-Carreno ([email protected])