Dean's Office Management Unit

Shiloh Elias serves as Executive Assistant to Olivia Herbert, Vice Dean and Chief of Staff, and provides calendar management and other administrative support for: 

• Brian Graham, Senior Advisor for Space Management and Strategy  
• Karin Wong, Director of Space Strategy  
• Jon Rueter, Associate Dean of Financial Affairs  
• Samantha Yee, Director of Administrative Services  

In addition, Shiloh serves as the School of Medicine WINGS Grant Program Coordinator and supports several key School of Medicine programs and initiatives, including the Leadership Development Program, the STAR Achievement Award, and the Annual Stewardship Review process. 

Contact Shiloh regarding: 

• General inquiries related to the School of Medicine Dean’s Office
• Scheduling requests for Olivia Herbert, Vice Dean and Chief of Staff, the leaders listed above, and the School of Medicine Space Strategy Team  
• Information regarding WINGS and the School of Medicine programs and initiatives listed above 

Padric McCaig, Office Administrator for the Dean’s Office Management Unit, serves as the front desk liaison for the School of Medicine Dean’s Office and is responsible for reception and daily office operations. He manages the calendar for Maye Chrisman, Vice Dean for Administration and Finance, coordinates meetings, and supports administrative projects across the Dean’s Office.

Contact Padric for:

• General inquiries for the School of Medicine Dean’s Office
• Scheduling requests for Maye Chrisman, Vice Dean for Administration and Finance
• Dean’s signature requests (letters of support, grant applications, and signature-required documents)
• Certificate signature requests
• Hoteling workspace requests for School of Medicine departmental executives

Kristen Newhouse, Executive Assistant to Dean Andy Josephson, manages Dean Josephson's busy schedule. She coordinates travel, prioritizes activities and meetings, and also helps coordinate meetings with department chairs and other campus leadership.

Contact Kristen regarding:

• Appointments for Dean Andy Josephson
• Chairs and Directors meeting requests
• Other requests related to the dean's activities
• For dean's signature requests, please contact Padric McCaig.

Vic Sanvicente, MPA, Special Projects and Executive Recruitment Specialist in the UCSF School of Medicine Dean's Office. He oversees executive leadership recruitment, coordinates high-priority strategic initiatives, and collaborates with university leadership to support organizational excellence across the School of Medicine.

Contact Vic regarding:

• SOM Chair and Director Searches.

Varsha Subramanyam, Program Analyst, School of Medicine Administrative Initiatives, supports the School of Medicine Leadership Development Program (LDP), Staff Appreciation and Recognition Plan, “STAR” Achievement Awards, Clinical Enterprise Management Recognition Plan (CEMRP2), and other strategic administrative initiatives across the School.

Samantha Yee, Director, Administrative Services, serves as an advocate for the School of Medicine on Campus and UC-systemwide policy, and implementation of strategic initiatives, with a particular focus on human resources. She leads the recruitments and HR actions for SOM department chief administrative officers (CAOs) and Dean’s Office managers. Her specific projects and programs include the SOM Leadership Development Program (LDP); Staff Appreciation and Recognition Plan “STAR” Achievement Awards; Clinical Enterprise Management Recognition Plan (CEMRP2), and staff engagement.

Contact Sam regarding:

• Advocacy for Campus and UC-systemwide initiatives and process improvement projects
• Manager recruitment questions or issues
• Questions about LDP, STAR Achievement Awards, and CEMRP2 programs

Stephanie Belger, Director, Strategic Initiatives, leads the planning and implementation of short- and long-term School of Medicine initiatives. She provides strategic leadership by designing, implementing and managing complex programs spanning across departments and the university. Her specific projects and programs include Differences Matter; the SOM Strategic Plan; annual Leadership Retreat and other SOM events; leadership driven initiatives; and faculty and staff awards.

Contact Stephanie regarding:

• Questions about School of Medicine events, honors and awards, staff engagement projects, staff and faculty development programs and all initiatives stemming from the annual School of Medicine Leadership Retreat.

Anita Browning, Communications Specialist, manages Graduate Medical Education (GME) communications on behalf of the Associate Dean for GME and the Director of GME, in collaboration with OGME faculty, staff, and administration, and the School of Medicine Dean's Office Communications Team. She executes communications strategies for new GME initiatives, with a focus on leadership communications to faculty, staff, and trainees about these programs and initiatives, and serves as the principal manager and editor of the GME websites.

Contact Anita regarding:

• Questions about the GME Newsletter
• Questions about the information included on GME websites

Arego Mitchell, Digital Communications Manager, manages the School of Medicine website and social media properties including X, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. In addition to crafting digital communications strategies & content, Arego also provides graphic design and video production support to the Dean's Office.

Contact Arego regarding:

• School of Medicine & Medical Education websites
• Social media & web strategy

Cora Palmer, Medical Education Communications Manager, guides communications for the Vice Dean for Medical Education’s Office including leadership messages. She develops communication strategy and messaging for new medical education initiatives, produces marketing collateral for Admissions and outreach, and authors content for medical education newsletters, websites, and news stories.

Contact Cora regarding:

• Questions about the Bridges Newsletter
• Story ideas about Medical Education

Lesley Snyder, Director, Leadership Communications, oversees all communications activities for the School of Medicine. She provides communications counsel to School of Medicine senior leadership, leads all internally focused communications, writes and edits web stories, speeches and key messages, produces special reports, and collaborates with the Office of Communications to manage emergency communications and media relations.

Contact Lesley regarding:

• Questions about School of Medicine publications 
• Story ideas in any of our mission areas
• Vetting and coordination of internal or external School of Medicine leadership team speaking opportunities

Mark Wooding, Senior Producer Director, is the photographer, animator, and videographer for the UCSF School of Medicine. 

Contact Mark regarding:

• Event photography or video needs.

Karla Goodbody, AAffiliations, Outreach and Compliance Coordinator for the School of Medicine, works directly with Vice Dean Patrick Ha on managing the School of Medicine's affiliation agreements and Professional Services Agreements. She is the School's liaison to the Medical Board of California and assists internationally-trained physicians and clinical departments with the application process for special faculty permits. Karla works closely with the other members of the SOM Academic Affairs team on faculty outside professional activities.
 

Contact Karla regarding:

• Scheduling requests for Vice Dean Ha

• Stock and stock option disclosures and valuation

• Faculty consulting agreements reviews

• Faculty Professional and Volunteer Service Agreement requests

• Medical Board Section 2113/ 2168 applications

Ashley Heermann joined the Dean’s Office in 2024 as a Space Strategy Project Manager. She works closely with Director Karin Wong and Space Advisor Dr. Brian Graham to support the School of Medicine’s space planning and management efforts, including strategic planning, department space requests, and campus redevelopment initiatives. Ashley brings more than a decade of experience in planning, real estate development, and project management, with previous roles spanning life science development, economic planning, asset management, and architecture. She enjoys collaborating with school, campus, and department partners to develop thoughtful space solutions that support the School’s research, education, and clinical missions.

Karin Wong, Director, Space Strategy, works closely with Senior Advisor for Space Management and Strategy Brian Graham to advise Dean Josephson on all projects, policies, and operations related to school space management. With the assistance of Ashley Heermann, Karin also staffs the SOM Space Committee, participates in the Campus Space Workgroup, lends subject matter expertise to the Faculty Space Review Committee, advises SOM departments on space issues, and facilitates campus construction and redevelopment projects. There is never a dull day in the world of space management, but Karin is grateful for the opportunity to work closely with thoughtful school, campus, and department leaders to advocate for the highest and best use of our shared space resources.

Contact Karin regarding:

• Space management guidance/training
• SOM space policies
• SOM space requests
• Campus/SOM space utilization metrics