UCSF - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Real Estate
- Vice President for Real Estate, UCSF Health / Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, UCSF
Brian Newman is vice president for real estate at UCSF Health and a senior associate vice chancellor at UCSF. Newman oversees all campus real estate planning, space management and capital construction activities, as well as the UCSF Health Department of Design and Construction and UCSF Health Major Capital Projects. He and his team focus on delivering high-performing work spaces and patient care areas that are welcoming, easy to navigate and sensitive to UCSF's neighbors.
Newman previously was vice president of campus development at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where he oversaw planning and development of OHSU's new campus on Portland's South Waterfront, with more than 2 million square feet of clinical, academic and research facilities. Before joining OHSU, he spent 15 years as a planning consultant and elected official working on land use and transportation projects in the Portland metro area. Newman has a master's degree in city and regional planning from the University of California, Berkeley.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Corey Jackson is senior vice president, human resources, for UCSF Health and associate vice chancellor, human resources, UCSF. He oversees all human resources functions to support talent management across UCSF's academic, research, administrative and clinical departments. He is charged with strengthening UCSF's ability to attract, develop and retain the diverse talent necessary to be a leader in patient care and the world's preeminent health sciences innovator, and to make the organization the best place to work.
Jackson previously was executive vice president and chief talent officer at Parkland Health & Hospital Systems in Dallas, Texas. At Parkland, he evolved the human resources environment from a task-oriented, people management function to a talent management department dedicated to supporting the entire employee life cycle, from recruitment to retirement. Before his position at Parkland, he was vice president for compliance, diversity and ethics at George Mason University, director of diversity and inclusion at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and a legislative counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives. Jackson holds a juris doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida, and a bachelor of science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia.
Job Titles:
- President
- Senior Vice President
Cynthia Barginere is president of adult services and senior vice president at UCSF Health. She is responsible for achieving the health system's goals across all adult inpatient programs and key adult service lines. She oversees strategy, finances, quality, safety, work culture, and operations management of clinical adult services at UCSF Health's Parnassus, Mission Bay and Mount Zion campuses.
Dr. Alan Ashworth is senior vice president of clinical services and the president of cancer services at UCSF Health, as well as president of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is responsible for all cancer-related activities across UCSF, including research and clinical operations. Ashworth co-leads the Center for BRCA Research, which provides personalized care and planning for families with BRCA and other mutations and performs research into treatments and preventive strategies. He co-leads SF CAN, the first comprehensive cancer strategic plan for a major U.S. city, and the University of California (UC) Cancer Consortium, a research and advocacy alliance of the National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers across UC.
Ashworth is a translational biologist and laboratory researcher who focuses on understanding cancer genetics to improve treatment and care of patients. In 1995, he was part of the team that identified the BRCA2 breast cancer susceptibility gene. Ten years later, he discovered how to kill BRCA1- and BRCA2-related tumor cells by treating them with PARP inhibitors. Based on his work, four different PARP inhibitors have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of ovarian, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer. Before joining UCSF, Ashworth served as chief executive of the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and as director of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre in London.
Dr. Doris Wang is a neurosurgeon who specializes in surgery for patients with movement disorders, such as essential tremor, Parkinson's disease and dystonia, a condition in which involuntarily contracting muscles cause abnormal movements.
Wang uses deep brain stimulation devices - implantable devices that can send electric signals to specific areas of the brain - in her research to better understand the dynamics of neural networks that develop as humans learn motor skills. Her goal is to develop targeted treatments that restore motor skill learning in patients with brain diseases and injuries.
Wang earned her doctorate in neuroscience and her medical degree at UCSF, where she also completed a residency in neurosurgery. During her residency, she developed an interest in functional neurosurgery, which utilizes a variety of techniques to restore or improve brain function. Also at UCSF, she completed a fellowship in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery, which involves using advanced imaging techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to guide neurosurgical procedures.
A member of the UCSF community since 2004, Wang shares the institution's values and commitment to advancing patient care while deepening scientific understanding of neurological disorders. She belongs to the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery.
Job Titles:
- Chief Clinical Officer
- Executive Vice President
Dr. Josh Adler is executive vice president and chief clinical officer at UCSF Health as well as vice dean for clinical affairs at the UCSF School of Medicine. As chief clinical officer, he oversees the coordination, clinical integration, and quality and safety of care across the health system. He is responsible for the faculty practices organization, the clinical cancer center and mental health services; leads the health system funds flow program; and oversees population health, medical staff affairs, risk management, clinical innovation and resource management. As vice dean, he works with clinical department chairs to ensure alignment of UCSF's clinical, research and education priorities and physician involvement in operational decision-making.
Adler is a practicing internist and professor of clinical medicine at UCSF. He previously served as chief medical officer at UCSF Medical Center and medical director of ambulatory care. He earned his medical degree at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and completed a residency at UCSF, followed by a chief resident year at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. He held several positions in the VA system, including chief medical officer of the VA Sierra Pacific Network.
Dr. Leo Sugrue is a radiologist who cares for adults and children with conditions affecting the brain and spine; these range from brain tumors and epilepsy to stroke and dementia. He has a particular interest in medical imaging of the brain circuits responsible for complex thought and behavior, which are affected in a variety of mental illnesses, including addiction, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and mental health conditions related to chronic pain. He works closely with colleagues in psychiatry, neurology and neurosurgery to develop new brain circuit-based approaches to diagnosing and treating these conditions.
Sugrue directs the Laboratory for Precision Neuroimaging at UCSF, which focuses on integrating brain imaging with genetic, health and behavioral data to better understand, diagnose and treat brain disease. The lab operates from the perspective that brain disorders have different underlying causes in different people, with a goal of developing ways to identify these subgroups and target trials and treatments to individual illness.
Sugrue earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and his doctorate in neuroscience at Stanford University. During his graduate and postdoctoral training, he used diverse neuroscience techniques and model systems to explore the neural basis of cognition. He completed a residency in diagnostic radiology and a fellowship in neuroradiology at UCSF.
Education
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2007
Stanford University, PhD, Neuroscience, 2008
Job Titles:
- Engineer
- Associate Vice Chancellor, Informatics, and Chief Digital Transformation Officer
- Chief Digital Transformation Officer Associate Vice Chancellor, Informatics
Dr. Michael Blum is associate vice chancellor, informatics, and chief digital transformation officer at UCSF. Blum is responsible for UCSF's strategic design and implementation of informatics and digital health capabilities in support of clinical care delivery and discovery. He is a professor of medicine in cardiology, specializing in preventive cardiology and care of patients with congestive heart failure or valvular heart disease, and general cardiology. Blum is passionate about wellness and preventing heart disease through a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes diet, exercise and stress reduction, as well as early detection of heart disease and aggressive medical intervention to reduce its impact. His clinical and informatics activities intersect as he drives the digital transformation of care delivery.
Before his medical career, Blum trained as an engineer and now applies his expertise in technology to health care as chief digital transformation officer and as executive director of the UCSF Center for Digital Health Innovation (CDHI). Previously, he was a leader of the successful enterprise deployment of Epic's electronic health record system and development of a large-scale networked enterprise data warehouse that supports the campuses' clinical, research and education missions, and expands data and information sharing and aggregation across the University of California. As executive director of CDHI, he leads UCSF's early-stage validation and incubation of digital health technologies to improve wellness preservation and disease management.
Job Titles:
- Director, Brain Tumor Center
- Expert
Dr. Mitchel S. Berger is a nationally recognized expert in treating brain and spinal cord tumors as well as tumor-related epilepsy in adults and children. He also is a specialist in brain mapping techniques - used to identify and preserve areas of motor, sensory and language function during surgery - and an expert in using the Gamma Knife, a precise, noninvasive tool that applies radiation beams for tumor treatment. He is director of the Brain Tumor Center, director of the Center for Neurological Injury and Repair and co-director of the Adult Brain Tumor Surgery Program.
Berger earned his bachelor's degree from Harvard College in 1975 and his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 1979. He completed an internship and a residency at UCSF, and was awarded a clinical fellowship in neuro-oncology by the American Cancer Society and a research fellowship by the Brain Tumor Research Center. He completed further fellowship training in neuro-oncology at UCSF and in pediatric neurosurgery at the Hospital for Sick Children, an affiliate of the University of Toronto.
Berger was elected to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons' board of directors and appointed to the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Education
University of Miami School of Medicine, 1979
Dr. Ryutaro Hirose is a transplant surgeon who performs liver, kidney and pancreas transplants.
Hirose's research interests include the induction of immunologic tolerance, immune monitoring and cancer in transplant patients. He has received research grants from the National Kidney Foundation and UCSF School of Medicine.
Hirose earned his medical degree from Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, the medical school of Columbia University. He completed clinical research training at UCSF as a resident in general surgery and a fellow in molecular medicine and transplantation surgery.
Hirose is involved in teaching medical students as well as residents and fellows in surgery. He serves as associate director of UCSF's general surgery residency program.
Education
Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1989
Job Titles:
- Surgeon
- Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery
Dr. Edward Chang is a neurosurgeon who treats adults with difficult-to-control epilepsy, brain tumors, trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and movement disorders. He specializes in advanced brain mapping methods to preserve crucial areas for speech and motor functions in the brain. He also has extensive experience with implantable devices that stimulate specific nerves to relieve seizure, movement, pain and other disorders. He is the chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery.
Chang's research focuses on the brain mechanisms for speech, movement and learning. He co-directs the Center for Neural Engineering and Prostheses, a collaborative enterprise of UCSF and the University of California, Berkeley. The center brings together experts in engineering, neurology and neurosurgery to develop state-of-the-art biomedical technology to restore function for patients with neurological disabilities such as paralysis and speech disorders.
Chang earned his medical degree at UCSF, where he also completed a residency in neurosurgery. He was honored with the Blavatnik National Laureate for Life Sciences in 2015. In 2020, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, an honor that recognizes outstanding achievements and service in the fields of medical sciences, health care and public health.
Education
UCSF School of Medicine, 2004
Dr. Edward Chang is absolutely amazing as well as his entire team. Would definitely recommend him.
Dr. Chang is a truly gifted surgeon and overall healthcare provider. He is a "specialist" within the HMO world of my insurance and ergo not someone I can see regularly. This particular appt you are asking of was initiatated thru Dr. Chang's office as he simply wanted to check-in and check-up on my status. Dr. Chang cares and he moves me forward each and every time I see him.
Elizabeth Engel is vice president of UCSF Health and chief of staff to the CEO. In partnership with the leadership team and the medical school, she drives strategic priorities for UCSF Health, collaboratively advancing major clinical, operational and strategic initiatives. She manages performance reporting, efforts to support national benchmarking and the budget for organization-wide investments.
Engel has more than 20 years of experience in health law, policy and strategy, spanning government, health systems, and other corporate and nonprofit organizations. She previously served as chief strategy officer and chief of staff at UC Health. She spent a number of years at Stanford Medicine as in-house counsel for its medical school and for its adult and children's health care systems. She has extensive experience in Washington, D.C., including in key health policy roles for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Obama-Biden transition team and U.S. senate majority leader. She also has done significant work in the digital health space, including as head of health policy for Google and as a consultant advising clients at the intersection of technology and health care. She earned a juris doctor degree at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
- Senior Vice President, Information Technology
Joe R. Bengfort is senior vice president, information technology, and chief information officer at UCSF Health as well as an associate vice chancellor at UCSF. His responsibilities span across the university, including UCSF Health, research, education and administration, as well as strategic information technology (IT) initiatives at the University of California (UC) health system. At UCSF, he leads IT information and analytics, financial and human resources core systems, infrastructure, operations, customer support services and security. He represents UCSF at UC to establish strategy and tactics to protect data, systems, and university and health system operations.
Bengfort joined UCSF in 2011. He worked for 22 years at Perot Systems, where he held a broad range of senior leadership positions, including the management of client relationships and service delivery at Parkland Hospital, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, Triad Hospitals and Stanford Health Care. He has a bachelor of science in electronic engineering technology from Texas A&M University.
Job Titles:
- President of UCSF Benioff Children 's Hospitals
Matthew Cook is president of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals and senior vice president of Children's Services at UCSF Health. He oversees strategic direction, operations and clinical services for all pediatric care in Oakland and San Francisco; partners with academic programs within UCSF; and serves as a core member of the UCSF Health leadership team.
Cook came to UCSF from Indianapolis, where he served as president of Riley Children's Health. He also served as chief strategy officer for Indiana University Health, where he provided strategic direction and leadership for pediatric services throughout the state's largest health system. Under his leadership, physician engagement increased by 20 percent and the hospital's foundation successfully met its five-year capital campaign. His term as president also saw dramatic improvements in the hospital's U.S. News & World Report rankings, as it achieved its best performance to date.
Before his time in Indianapolis, Cook was executive vice president of strategic planning and business development at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and spent nine years as a principal at the Chartis Group, a health care consulting firm based in Chicago.
Cook graduated cum laude from the Wharton School with bachelor's degrees in economics and German. He earned a master of business administration degree from New York University, where he was class valedictorian.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Senior Vice President
Raju Iyer is senior vice president and chief financial officer. He is responsible for the financial strategy and services of UCSF Health, which has an annual revenue of more than $5 billion. Iyer oversees financial reporting, as well as capital management, decision support, government reimbursement, revenue cycle and health information management services for UCSF Health and its affiliated physician networks.
Iyer joined UCSF Health in 2018. Previously, he served as the regional chief financial officer for Providence St. Joseph Health in Northern California. With more than 18 years of experience in health care finance, he has managed financial operations of for-profit and nonprofit medical institutions, as well as adult and children's hospitals. His background also includes work on mergers and acquisitions. Iyer holds a master of science in accounting from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and a bachelor of science in commerce from the University of Bombay.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Senior Vice President
Sheila Antrum is senior vice president and chief operating officer at UCSF Health. She ensures that the operations of patient services across the health system align with UCSF Health's vision and strategic objectives. She oversees strategic implementation of UCSF Health's affiliations, finances, quality and safety for adult patient services across UCSF Health's locations and affiliates on the west side of the bay and has matrixed responsibilities for operations in children's and cancer services. Nursing, clinical services, facilities, supply chain, major construction projects, pharmaceutical, women's services and perioperative services report to her.
Antrum has been with the University of California for more than two decades. She recently served as chief nursing and patient care services officer for UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco, and previously worked at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. She holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from Hampton University and a master's in health services administration from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Job Titles:
- President
- in 2015 As Chief Strategy Officer
Shelby Decosta is president of the UCSF Health care network as well as senior vice president and chief market development officer at UCSF Health. As president of the UCSF Health care network, she is responsible for managing affiliate relationships, overseeing network operations and clinical quality, and ensuring successful alignment with UCSF Health strategic priorities. As chief market development officer, she oversees international and executive health, managed care contracting, marketing and brand experience, mergers and acquisitions, and partnership development.
Decosta joined UCSF Health in 2015 as chief strategy officer and was appointed president of UCSF Health affiliates network in 2019. She previously was senior vice president of mergers, acquisitions and partnerships at Trinity Health in Michigan. She also served in various strategy roles at Dignity Health and Kaiser Permanente. Decosta earned a bachelor's degree in health promotion and disease prevention/health policy and management at the University of Southern California. She also earned a master's degree in health care administration at USC.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Suresh Gunasekaran is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of UCSF Health, an internationally recognized health system that includes UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics, UCSF Benioff Children's Physicians and the UCSF Faculty Practice. UCSF Health includes approximately 18,000 staff and physicians, maintains 1,290 beds, admits 41,000 patients and has over 2.5 million outpatient visits yearly, and has annual revenue of more than $5 billion.
Gunasekaran also oversees UCSF Health's expanding network of affiliated health care organizations throughout Northern California. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UCSF Medical Center among the country's top 10 hospitals and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals among the nation's best pediatric medical centers.
Gunasekaran leads the execution of UCSF Health's vision and the institution's next phase of growth, revitalization and innovation, including in the area of technology. He partners with UCSF's research and education enterprises and upholds the health system's PRIDE (Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence) values, and commitment to advancing anti-racism and social justice.
Gunasekaran has more than 20 years experience in health care administration and information technology, with a focus on quality and safety, patient service, collaboration and operational excellence. He most recently was CEO of University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and associate vice president for University of Iowa Health Care. He led the clinical enterprise of Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center, a more than $2 billion operation with 11,000 employees. He previously served as chief information officer and then chief operations officer for the health system of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He began his career in health care as an administrative director in outpatient clinical operations at Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. He also worked as an analyst for both Gartner and IBM/Healthlink.
Gunasekaran earned a master of business administration degree, graduating with honors, from Southern Methodist University.
Timothy Y. Kan - Chief Strategy Officer, SVP
Job Titles:
- Chief Strategy Officer
- Senior Vice President
Timothy Y. Kan is senior vice president and chief strategy officer at UCSF Health, where he is responsible for leading and executing strategic planning. He collaborates with the UCSF School of Medicine and health system leaders, as well as UCSF Health's affiliates, to expand access to clinical services for patients in the Bay Area and beyond.
Kan joined UCSF Health in 2023. He has more than 20 years of experience as an executive and adviser leading growth, organizational change, and financial performance improvement for academic medical centers, regional health systems and other health care providers. Most recently, he was chief strategy officer at University of Iowa (UI) Health Care, chief operating officer at UI Health System and chief executive officer at UI Health Ventures. He earned a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering and his master of business administration degree at Northwestern University.