Your Student Experience Team
Thriving in medical school, navigating career choices, and transitioning into residency training presents new opportunities and potential challenges. At UCSF, the Student Experience Team (SET) supports you during these transitions and helps you on your way to becoming a physician committed to advancing health for all.
The Student Experience Team works closely with your education deans to provide the resources and support necessary for your success, and ultimately the success of your patients and our community.
LEADERSHIP
Erick Hung, MD
Associate Dean for Students
Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Hung sees students with questions about student life, issues related to the learning environment including mistreatment, medical student wellbeing and mental health, academic support, disabilities and accommodations, leaves of absence, professional development, and career advising and exploration.
FACULTY STUDENT SUPPORT
Odi Ehie, MD
Director, Student Support
Associate Professor of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care
Dr. Ehie provides support to students with academic, social, financial, health, and accommodation needs. She also leads student support initiatives, identifying strategies, developing programs, and coordinating with other school and campus resources.
Denise Davis, MD, FACH
Director, Student Belonging
Professor of Medicine
Dr. Davis provides support and mentoring to students. She also leads Diversity Matters Orientation and other initiatives to support medical students.
[email protected]
CAREER ADVISORS
Brent Kobashi, MD
Faculty Director of Career Advising,
Associate Clinical Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at UCSF
Leads improvements to the career advising programs for medical students. Evaluates and implements best practices in career development and match advising. Develops and oversees the specialty advisor program. Provides faculty mentoring and support for coaches and career advisors. Dr. Kobashi is also a Bridges Curriculum Coach.
Neeti Parikh, MD
Faculty Assistant Director of Career Advising
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Jessie Werner, MD
Faculty Assistant Director of Career Advising - Fresno
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine,
Emergency Medicine
Medical Education Fellowship Director, UCSF Fresno
Dr. Werner is currently on leave and unavailable. Students should schedule appointments with Dr. Kobashi or Dr. Parikh.
Dina Wallin, MD
Career Advising Specialist
Associate Clinical Professor Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Dr. Wallin is available to provide additional advising to all students, with a special focus on students who are first-generation to college and those from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine. She provides additional coaching through mock interviews, personal statement reviews, and more.
STAFF
Amanda Dohse
Assistant Director for Student Programs
- Leads the Student Programs unit which provides general advising, manages support programs, and guides students through the curriculum
Dennis Chan
Student Life and Leadership Advisor
- Manages the operation of the Medical Student Center
- Develops and distributes the weekly Student Digest e-newsletter
- Directs students to resources around campus
Brennan Crilly
Pre-Clinical Student Advisor
- Helps students prepare for and manage the Foundations 1 component of the Bridges Curriculum.
- Provides individual academic advising and resources to students.
- Develops and manages the new student orientation.
Cassie Pitkin
Clinical Student & Career Launch Advisor
- Helps students prepare for the Foundations 2 component of the Bridges Curriculum
- Assists scheduling career-launch courses, such as sub-internships, and will ensure students are on track to graduate on time.
- Helps students decide when to take Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Science board exams and manage the residency application process.
Ciarra Jones
Belonging and Well-Being Specialist
- Provides individual and small group advising, leadership development, and mentoring to community-based student groups.
- Fosters a sense of belonging among students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, and ensures that all students have access to the resources and support they need to thrive in their academic and professional journeys.
Valerie A. Jones
Operations & Student Visitor Program Manager
- Manages Student Experience Team operations
- Executive Assistant to the Associate Dean for Students, supporting student meeting scheduling
- Manages the Student Visitor Program for incoming visiting students.
- Supports students applying for away rotations in their fourth year.
Heather Yaden
Learning Success Specialist
Serves as the department expert for learning resources, academic remediation, assessment, and accommodations.
Manages learner support programs like peer tutoring and USMLE Board exam preparation.
MEDICAL STUDENT WELL-BEING PROGRAM
Howard Rubin, MD
Director, Medical Student Well-being, Psychiatrist
Supports physicians-in-training to develop their personal wellness plans during medical school.
[email protected]
(415) 476-0468
Alice Hua, PhD
Assistant Director, Medical Student Well-being, Clinical Psychologist
Supports physicians-in-training to develop their personal wellness plans during medical school.
[email protected]
(415) 476-0468
DISABILITY SERVICES
Timothy Montgomery
Director, Student Disability Services
Coordinates the support services offered to medical students with disabilities.
Clayton Littrell
Associate Director, Student Disability Services
Coordinates the support services offered to medical students with disabilities.
OTHER SUPPORT
Susan Whitlow
Learning Resources Specialist
Provides strategies to help enhance students' study skills, test performance, and mastery of material.
Franchesca Torres
Student Records Analyst
- Oversees DocuSign forms
- Manages changes in AAMC and NBME
- Manages APeX accounts for all students
- Certifies Candidates for Certificates and Degrees
- Responsible for completing all state licensing, verification of education
Wenia Lee
Clinical Enrollment Specialist
Provides enrollment support to students in Foundations 2 and career launch courses. Supports Away rotation enrollment.
