Healthforce Center at UCSF is pleased to announce the seventh cohort of the Cedars-Sinai’s Community Clinic Initiative: Managing to Leading (M2L) program. Funded by Cedars-Sinai and administered by Healthforce Center, this program develops emerging leaders by fostering the knowledge, skills, and confidence to effectively lead change and improve health care delivery.

This year, the Managing to Leading program brings together 31 clinicians and administrative staff who work in community health centers and other safety-net organizations in Los Angeles to learn about the specific needs and priorities of Los Angeles's health care landscape. Over the next 12 months, participants will gain skills on leading change and drive innovative strategies to deliver high-quality care while navigating statewide transformation efforts.

Tom Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai, in his message to the last graduating cohort of M2L, said, “The difference between unmanageable challenges and manageable ones is often the presence of a capable, creative, and committed manager. Moreover, your leadership is exponentially more important in times of change. In the Managing to Leading program, you refine the passion, empathy, social skills, and adaptability that equip you to support your teammates in handling the unexpected. The work you put in to understanding yourself and how you communicate with others is going to pay off in ways that may surprise you.”

Managing to Leading Program, Cohort 7 (Class of 2024-25)

• George Aguilar, Office Manager, Central City Community Health Center
• Andrea Albarracin, HR Manager, Clínica Monseñor Oscar Romero
• Darrell Andalon, Site Dental Director, AltaMed Health Services
• Jaqueline Barrios, Clinic Manager, Asian Pacific Healthcare Venture
• Diego Emestica, Program Manager of Chronic Disease, Northeast Valley Health Corporation
• Amber Garcia, Call Center Supervisor, Saban Community Clinic
• Amelia Gaspar-Vasquez, Nurse Manager, Venice Family Clinic
• Berenice German Marin, Lead Medical Assistant, Behavioral Health Services, Inc.
• Johnette Gonzalez, Program Manager, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County
• Jazmin Govantes, Nurse Assistant Manager, LA LGBT Center
• Nancy Guerrero, Program Manager, Medical Care Coordination, Eisner Health
• Aida Herrera, Clinic Manager, South Central Family Health Center
• Stephany Larios, Quality Assurance Coordinator, Center for Family Health and Education
• Andrea Limon, Managed Care Coordinator-Lead, JWCH Institute Wesley Health Centers
• Aurora Lopez, Health Information Manager, Valley Community Healthcare
• Amalia Morales, Supervisor Behavioral Health Program, AltaMed Health Services
• Julie Nguyen, Dental Director Field Ops OC, AltaMed Health Services
• Angelica Paredes, Clinical Supervisor, JWCH Institute Wesley Health Centers
• Jackeline Perla, Senior Dental Manager, Clínica Monseñor Oscar Romero
• Katherine Phan-Yee, Physician Assistant, Los Angeles Christian Health Centers
• Joanna Quintanilla, Associate Director of Health Equity, Northeast Valley Health Corporation
• Rose Rivera, Clinical Supervisor, Eisner Health
• Wendy Roa, Front Desk Supervisor, Saban Community Clinic
• Ruby Rodriguez, Clinic Manager, Angeles Community Health Center
• Robin Ruggiero, Manager of HIV Prevention and Linkage, LA LGBT Center
• Andrés Sánchez, Workforce Program Manager, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County
• Brenda Smith, Clinic Administrator I - Special Projects, Northeast Valley Health Corporation
• Jorvon Smith, Director of School Based Health Centers, St. John’s Community Health
• Mariana Vargas, Clinic Manager, St. John’s Community Health
• Paxy Virgen, Clinical Supervisor, JWCH Institute Wesley Health Centers
• Minyan Watson, Program Manager, Pediatrics, Saban Community Clinic

The Managing to Leading Program will begin recruiting its next cohort in January 2025. Learn more about the program and sign up for the Healthforce Center newsletter to get program announcements.