People

Sara Ackerman, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor

N_SBS Operations

Sara Ackerman, PhD, MPH, is a medical anthropologist, Associate 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.

Karen Barrett, PhD

Assistant Professor

Institute for Health & Aging

Karen Chan Barrett, PhD, is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed at the Institute for Health & Aging (UCSF School of Nursing) and the Department of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery (UCSF School of Medicine). As an Auditory Cognitive Neuroscientist, Dr. Barrett’s research bridges neuroscience, music, and health to uncover the intricate relationships between artistic creativity, music perception, and cognitive aging.

Jess Celentano

Chief Administrative Officer

Institute for Health and Aging

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, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor

N_IHA Operations

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, PhD

Assistant Professor

N_IHA Operations

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.

Jiwon Choi, RN, PhD

Associate Professor

N_IHA Operations

JiWon Choi, PhD, RN, is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Health & Aging and the Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences in the UCSF School of Nursing. Her research program focuses on developing innovative strategies to improve lifestyle health behaviors (e.g., physical activity) among vulnerable populations, including Asian immigrants and family caregivers of persons living with dementia. Dr. Choi received her PhD in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed her post-doctoral training in the UCSF School of Nursing.

Mica Estrada, PhD

Professor and Associate Dean

N_IHA Operations

Dr. Mica Estrada received her Ph.D. (1997) in Social Psychology from Harvard University and now Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity for the School of Nursing and a Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Institute for Health and Aging at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Her research program focuses on social influence, including the study of identity, values, forgiveness, well-being, and integrative education.

Jason Flatt, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor

N_IHA Operations

Jason D. Flatt, PhD, MPH (He, Him, His) is an Associate Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Health & Aging, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Jason is a faculty member with the UCSF Healthforce and affiliated with the UCSF Center for Aging in Diverse Communities, UCSF Pepper Center, PRL-IHPS Evaluation Community of Practice, and UCSF Health Workforce Research Center on Long-Term Care.