11th Annual Providers Gathering Presenter Biographies
Claire Brindis, PhD, Director, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies & Director, Bixby Center for
Global Reproductive Health, UCSF
Dr. Claire Brindis, a native of Argentina, obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health from UCLA, and a Doctoral
Degree in Public Health and Behavioral Sciences from U.C. Berkeley. Dr. Brindis' research interests focus on
adolescent and child health policy and women's health, as well as the implementation of health care reform and
immigration health. Dr. Brindis served as a frequent policy advisor to government policymakers and private
foundations.
Sarah Rodriguez’G, M.S., Coordinator/Director, Adolescent Health Working Group
Ms. Rodriguez’G has worked in public health for several years in various youth serving programs and agencies. In
2012 Ms. Rodriguez’G earned her Master’s Degree in Health Policy and Management from the University of
Southern Maine and moved back to her native California to continue her work in improving adolescent health
programming. She has been the Coordinator and Director of AHWG for over a year. Her main area of interest is
public health policy and its impact on youth health outcomes.
Rebecca Gudeman de Ortiz, JD, Senior Attorney, National Center for Youth Law
Rebecca Gudeman is a senior attorney with the National Center for Youth Law in Oakland, California where she
directs NCYL’s Adolescent Health Law program. Ms. Gudeman specializes in consent and confidentiality law and
is a national expert on cross agency information sharing. She is author of numerous publications on consent,
confidentiality and child abuse reporting law and trains nationally on these issues. She has provided technical
assistance to public and private youth serving agencies looking to develop better information sharing and privacy
protocols. Ms. Gudeman holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University and a Law Degree from UCLA.
Anna LeMon, MSW, MPH Project Manager of Health Education and Cultural Linguistic Services, San Francisco
Health Plan.
Anna Le Mon is the Project Manager for Health Education and Cultural and Linguistic Services at San Francisco
Health Plan. She is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating all health education services to SFHP
members, and for the promotion of culturally competent health care services and language access, as well as
development of programs to address disparities and promote health equity. She assures compliance with health
education, cultural and linguistic regulatory requirements from City, State and Federal entities, and conducts annual
oversight audits of delegated medical groups in these service areas. She also actively collaborates with San
Francisco community organizations to promote health education and culturally competent care. Previously, she
coordinated health education programs for patients and grand rounds for primary care providers at two hospitalbased HIV primary care clinics in New York City. She earned a Master of Science in Social Work degree and a
Master of Public Health degree, both from Columbia University.
Curtis Chan, MD, Medical Director, SFDPH Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health
Dr. Curtis Chan is Medical Director of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health for the San Francisco Department of
Public Health. He graduated from UC Berkeley with undergraduate degrees in social welfare and neurobiology; and
a Master's in Public Health. At UC San Francisco, he completed medical school, pediatrics residency, preventive
medicine residency, and a general pediatrics research fellowship. He has also served as a medical epidemiologist for
SFDPH, Assistant Health Officer for San Mateo County. He has cared for youth and adolescents in primary care
clinic.
Daisy Ozim, TAYSF Fellow, AHWG Steering Committee Member
Ms. Daisy Ozim is currently an advocate fellow with TAYSF. She is also a member of the Adolescent Health
Working Group. She graduated from CCSF with a degree in Biology and Behavioral Studies. She is currently
attending SF State and is working towards a bachelor’s degree in Public Health. She plans to attend graduate school
11th Annual Providers Gathering Presenter Biographies
to obtain a Masters in nursing to become a holistic nurse. She plans to continue with civic engagement in
conjunction with her healthcare career.
Adrianna “Annie” Alexandrian, MPH Candidate, UC Berkeley School of Public Health/AHWG Intern
Ms. Alexandrian, recently completed her BA in both Feminist Studies and English at UC Santa Barbara. She is
currently in her first year of the Masters of Public Health Program in Health and Social Behavior at UC Berkeley.
As a McNair Scholar, Ms. Alexandrian completed two research papers on the women’s health issues such as lowincome women’s access to various childbirth options and low-income women’s knowledge of health risks and sideeffects associated with birth control. She has focused her community work around women’s health, through working
as a Client Advocate Volunteer at a domestic violence shelter, and leading programs as an intern at the UCSB
Women, Gender, and Sexual Equity Department.
Arlene Oviedo, MSN Candidate, SFSU/ AHWG Nursing Intern
Ms. Oviedo is a graduate student majoring in nursing at San Francisco State University. She is set to graduate fall of
2014 with both a Bachelors and Masters of Science degree. She is on the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) track,
specializing in maternal-child health. Arlene received her undergraduate degree in Health Science at California State
University, East Bay. She has previously worked for Kaiser Permanente and a pediatric day healthcare center
serving disabled and medically fragile infants, young children and their families. She currently holds CPR, PALS,
ACLS, and phlebotomy certifications. Arlene also volunteers as a doula for expectant mothers at Contra Costa
Regional Medical Center in her spare time. In the future Arlene aspires to work as a nurse in the maternal-child
areas in an inpatient setting or as a public health home visiting nurse, serving vulnerable populations.
Amanda Holscher MSN-CNS Candidate, SFSU/AHWG Nursing Intern
Ms. Holscher holds a BA in Human Development from Sonoma State University. Currently a MSN-CNS Candidate
at SFSU School of Nursing (Graduating class of Fall 2014). Emphasis in Maternal/Child
Health. CPR/ ACLS/ PALS certified. Previous experience as a Home Health Aide. Interested in pursuing a nursing
career as a Labor and Delivery/Post-Partum RN. Wish to continue on in the future to obtain my FNP certification
with a focus in Women's Health.
Alison Chopel, DrPH ©, Director, California Adolescent Health Collaborative
Alison Chopel is the current Director of the California Adolescent Health Collaborative in Oakland. Ms. Chopel has
been working with youth for over a decade, both in the US and abroad. Ms. Chopel expects her DrPH degree in May
of 2014. Ms. Chopel has worked with disconnected and homeless youth and adolescents in several countries,
including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and India. Ms. Chopel’s passion for enabling young people to fulfill
their potential stems from her own experiences with abuse, homelessness, and pregnancy in her youth.
Dr. Rachel Grana, PhD Scholar, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education-UCSF
Dr. Rachel Grana is a postdoctoral scholar at the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the
University of California San Francisco. Her research focuses on e-cigarette and other tobacco product use, as well as
smoking cessation among young adults. Her e-cigarette research includes a content analysis of electronic cigarette
marketing and e-cigarettes relationship to quitting. She also studies the public health and policy impact of new
tobacco and nicotine products. Dr. Grana earned her PhD in Health Behavior Research and Masters of Public Health
in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Southern California, where she studied tobacco and other drug
use prevention among adolescents.
Erica Monisterio, MN, PHN, NP Director, Family Nurse Practitioner Program at UCSF
Ms. Monisterio has been a nurse for nearly 30 years and has worked at many hospitals and clinics including Kaiser
Permanente, SFDPH Special Programs for Youth, Cole Street Clinic (also the co-founder), and now teaches at
11th Annual Providers Gathering Presenter Biographies
UCSF’s School of Nursing. In addition to her faculty position, Ms. Monisterio is the Director of the Family Nurse
Practitioner Program at UCSF. Ms. Monisterio has committed years of her work to improve the health of
adolescents in San Francisco and is also currently a member of the AHWG Steering Committee.
Tonya Chaffee, MD, MPH, Director, Teen Services at San Francisco General Hospital
Dr. Tonya Chaffee is the Director of Teen Services at San Francisco General Hospital and also Associate Clinical
Professor in Pediatrics at UCSF. Dr. Chaffee has worked for years in adolescent and teen health and has brought her
clinical expertise to AHWG as a member of our Steering Committee. Dr. Chaffee has special research interest in
violence prevention in adolescents and reproductive education for adolescents.
Nichole Tyson, MD, Director, Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
Dr. Nichole Tyson is currently the Director of Kaiser Permanente’s Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic in Roseville.
Over her career, she has published numerous articles and book chapters on various pediatric/adolescent subjects
such as contraception, polycystic ovarian disease and breast disease in young women. She regularly attends local
and national conferences where she gives lectures on timely pediatric adolescent topics. One of her passions is
promoting safe and effective contraception for women of all ages. Over the past several years, she has become a
busy minimally invasive surgeon, integrating laparoscopy into my general and pediatric gynecology practice.
Aliya Sheriff, PsyD, Therapist, 3rd Street Youth Center and Clinic
Dr. Aliya Sheriff is a therapist at 3rd Street Youth Center and Clinic. Aliya moved to the Bay Area 7 years ago from
Texas. She has previously worked with refugee and immigrant victims of domestic violence and trafficking; has
spent time providing individual, family, and group therapy to young people and families in schools, hospitals, and
in-home. Aliya advocates for the youth and families she works with, whatever the concern may be.
Phuong Khuu, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Dermatology, Stanford University
Dr. Phuong Khuu is a clinician, educator, and researcher in the Department of Dermatology at Stanford University.
Dr. Khuu completed her medical degree and residency in pediatrics at UCSF, where she was awarded the
Chancellor's Public Service Award. She then completed a dermatology residency and pediatric dermatology
fellowship at Stanford University.