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.

Map of department of medicine partnerships with federally qualified health centers and safety net health systems

Our Team

Keith Norris

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

headshot of Teresa Seeman in a pink shirt

Teresa Seeman, PhD

Associate Vice Chair, Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence

Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine

headshot of Marco Hidalgo in blue sweater

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

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

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 M. Kozman, MD, MPH

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

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

headshot of Cristina Punzalan in black t-shirt

Cristina Punzalan, MPH

Program Manager

Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence 

RCMAR CHIME

Patrick G. Frierson

Patrick G. Frierson

Program Manager for Staff Initiatives

Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence 

Moira Ann Desphy, MPH

Moira Ann Desphy, MPH

Education Coordinator

Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence

Gerald Asare Bempong

Gerald Asare Bempong, MPH

Program Coordinator

Department of Medicine for Community Engagement and Inclusive Excellence

RCMAR CHIME

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