People

Sara Ackerman, PhD, MPH, is a medical anthropologist, Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Director of Bioethics and Regulatory Support at UCSF’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Dr. Ackerman conducts empirical ethics research using qualitative methods and public engagement to advance our understanding of how genomics, artificial intelligence and other emerging medical technologies shape the lived experience of patients, caregivers and communities.

Jess has a split appointment between the Institute for Global Health Sciences where she is the Management Lead in the Center for Pandemic Preparedness and the SON's Institute for Health and Aging where she serves as the Chief Administrative Officer.

Sneha Challa is an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Health and Aging at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Challa obtained her PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health from the University of California San Diego and San Diego State University. She obtained her MPH from the University of Michigan in Health Behavior and Health Education with a concentration in Global Health. Her research interests include studying the impact of gender norms on sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

Calvin Chiu is an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Health & Aging, University of California San Francisco. His research is at the intersection of behavioral, development and health economics, focusing on innovative ways to increase uptake of healthcare services in low- and middle-income countries. Previously, he worked for Innovations for Poverty Action in Zambia and the Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office in South Africa on research in maternal and child health and HIV respectively.

Mica Estrada is the Associate Dean of Opportunity & Engagement and Professor at the University of California at San Francisco’s School of Nursing in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Institute for Health and Aging.