People

Kelechi Uwaezuoke is the Assistant Director for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnerships at SF BUILD at San Francisco State University. Her research interests include exploring the educational experiences of historically under-represented premed students in the UC system, the role of pipeline programs in increasing health workforce diversity and program evaluation as a means of identifying best practices for increasing educational equity and sustainable institutional change. She has extensive experience working with historically underrepresented and disadvantaged students pursuing careers in health and marginalized communities to address health inequities. She has spent the last decade managing and evaluating programs that impact students and communities of color throughout the state of California. Dr. Uwaezuoke is the San Francisco State University SF BUILD Liaison to the LCOE APP program.

Connie Calderón-Jensen is a dedicated education professional with over 30 years of experience championing higher education access for students from diverse backgrounds, including students of color, English-language learners, and those from immigrant families. Throughout her career, she has advocated for first-generation college students, collaborated with under-resourced school districts to develop educational programs that empower immigrant families to prepare their children for higher education, and supported post-baccalaureate learners at the UCSF School of Medicine.

Connie became the associate director of the Latinx Center of Excellence (LCOE) when it was founded in 2019 and has been instrumental in advancing the center's mission. As the leader of its HRSA programs, outreach efforts, and overall administration, she works closely with Dr. Fernandez to ensure the LCOE meets its stated goals, prepares staff for future careers, and establishes a solid framework for institutionalizing the LCOE at UCSF. She collaborates with numerous UCSF departments, community organizations, and academic programs to drive initiatives aimed at increasing the representation of Latinx physicians in California and across the nation.

Connie holds a Master’s degree in International Policy Studies and Spanish from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, CA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a focus on Latin America from UC San Diego. Fluent in both Spanish and Italian, she developed a curiosity about the world around her, which led her to live in Italy, Mexico, Togo, and Hungary, where she participated in various study programs.

Outside of her professional life, Connie enjoys exploring ancient cultures, discovering hidden beaches along the Sea of Cortez (Baja California), and sailing with her husband and three teenage sons—experiences that keep her connected to the world’s diverse beauty and grounded in family.

Sandra R. Hernández, is president and CEO of the California Health Care Foundation. Prior to joining CHCF, she was CEO of The San Francisco Foundation. She previously served as Public Health Director for San Francisco. In 2018, she was appointed by Governor Brown to the Covered California board of directors. In 2019, she was appointed by Governor Newsom to the Healthy California for All Commission. She also serves on the UC Regents Health Services Committee and the UC San Diego Chancellor’s Health Advisory Board. Sandra practiced at San Francisco General Hospital in the HIV/AIDS Clinic from 1984 to 2016 and was an assistant clinical professor at the UCSF School of Medicine.

Dr. Tomás Aragón is the director of the California Department of Public Health and the State Public Health Officer. As CDPH director, he strives to embody and promote the universal values of dignity, equity, compassion and humility, working through collaborative partnerships to mobilize communities and institutions to transform policies and systems towards a culture of equity, antiracism, healing and health. Dr. Aragón has served in public health leadership roles for more than 20 years; communicable disease controller, deputy health officer, state public health officer, community health and chronic disease epidemiologist.

As an undergraduate, Dr. Diaz was co-founder of UC Davis CHE, a Latino Pre-medical club in 1972. He co-founded Clinica Tepati, a free clinic for Spanish-speaking patients in 1974 where he has volunteered as an undergraduate student, medical student, resident and attending physician. He graduated from the UCSF School of Medicine and is a board certified Family Practice and Occupational Medicine. He was a founding member of the National Hispanic Medical Association, the National Hispanic Health Foundation and the National Hispanic Pharmacists Association. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Hispanic Health Foundation. He is a Volunteer Clinical Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine of the University of California, Davis and at CA Northstate University College of Medicine.

The first-born daughter of Mexican immigrants, Leti began her education in the U.S. speaking only Spanish. Despite an unwelcoming school environment, she was the first member of her extended family to complete high school gaining admission to Stanford. In 1994 she joined the faculty at SF State, focusing her professional efforts to “give back” to the communities who supported her professional advancement. She remains motivated by Cesar Chavez’ words, "We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community." 

Jeff Oxendine, MBA, MPH has been a health executive, educator, author, consultant for over 30 years. Jeff is currently a California leader and consultant in health workforce and diversity, the CEO of Health Career Connection, Co-Director of the California Health Professions Consortium and Director of Health Workforce and Diversity at the UC Berkeley Center for Healthcare Innovation and Organizational Research (CHOIR). He previously served as Associate Dean at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, and a lecturer at the Harvard School of Public Health. Jeff’s passion is inspiring and empowering students and health professionals to discover and achieve their authentic health careers.

Dr. Rios serves as President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association and president of NHMA’s National Hispanic Health Foundation to direct educational and research activities.

Dr. Rios also serves on Better Medicare Alliance and the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda Boards of Directors, Centene Health Policy Advisory Committee, Centene Health Equity Committee, Cancer Treatment Centers for America Hispanic Advisory Council, Morehouse Health Equity Committee, Office of Research on Women’s Health Advisory Committee, NIH, US Department of Health and Human Services, and the VA National Academic Affiliations Council.

Isela Ford is an experienced Special Program Coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in public health. Isela has worked with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Office of Health Equity, which seeks to address health disparities and workforce inequities to create a culture of equity and inclusion, and allow all San Franciscans to enjoy health and prosperity.