Welcome to the UCLA Department of Medicine Office of Community Engagement & Inclusive Excellence
The mission of DoM Office of Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence is to become the exemplar Department of Medicine program/center in the nation for advancing community engagement and inclusion excellence for students, residents, fellows and faculty in the context of scientific excellence, outstanding scholarship/innovation and the highest level of compassionate, high-quality care for our patients. To do this, we focus our efforts on open conversation, sharing ideas, data, and knowledge to build a thriving and inclusive community that fosters the success of us all.

Our Team

Keith C. Norris, MD, PhD
Executive Vice Chair, Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence
Professor of Medicine, UCLA Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research

Teresa Seeman, PhD
Associate Vice Chair, Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence
Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine

Marco Hidalgo, PhD
Associate Vice Chair, Department of Medicine Office for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, Medicine-Pediatrics Section

Utibe Essien, MD, MPH
Associate Vice Chair, Department of Medicine Office for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence
Assistant Professor of Medicine in Residence at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Alejandra Casillas, MD, MSHS
Associate Vice Chair of Community Impact
Assistant Professor of Medicine in Residence at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Daniel Kozman, MD, MPH
Director of Health Equity Partnerships
Assistant Dean for Office of Inclusive Excellence at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCLA Division of General Internal Medicine & Health Services Research, Medicine-Pediatrics & Preventive Medicine Section

Shatara V. Townes, MD
Shatara V. Townes, MD
Associate Program Director for Inclusive Excellence, UCLA Internal Medicine Residency Program
Clinical Instructor of Medicine | Primary Care | UCLA Department of Medicine

Cristina Punzalan, MPH
Program Manager
Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence
RCMAR CHIME

Patrick G. Frierson
Program Manager for Staff Initiatives
Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence

Moira Ann Desphy, MPH
Education Coordinator
Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence

Gerald Asare Bempong, MPH
Program Coordinator
Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence
RCMAR CHIME
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