Year 5. May 18. Acknowledging the High Bar in Training Those Who Will Lead in the Future
Training the next generation of physician leaders is central to our mission in the UCLA Department of Medicine (DoM). Nearly all members of our community play a role in achieving this goal, and our collective impact on supporting the physician workforce in our region and beyond is immense. However, there are educators in our department whose accomplishments stand out, and LEADERS without whom our mission to secure medicine’s future workforce would fall short. This week, I focus on our incoming chief residents —who are foundational to ensuring that our remarkable house-staff trainees achieve their professional and personal goals — and the exceptional educators who were recognized this year by UCLA and the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) as outstanding role models.
Edward Ha, MD, MEHP, FACP Receives UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award
The UCLA Distinguished Teaching Awards are the university’s highest recognitions for excellence in teaching. It gives me great pleasure to share that Edward Ha, MD, MEHP, FACP – hospitalist and assistant dean for clinical education at DGSOM – was among this year’s recipients. Dr. Ha is a phenomenal educator who serves as one of the core clinical teaching faculty for the internal medicine residency program in addition to his clinical duties and administrative roles within the DGSOM.
“My initial response was surprise, followed closely by overwhelming gratitude,” Dr. Ha recalled. He noted that he is inspired by those in the department who have received this award in prior years — several of whom are his close colleagues and role models — as well as the many other passionate, dedicated educators in the DoM.
“I have learned so much from them about the art of teaching and patient care,” Dr. Ha said. “I believe very strongly that it takes a village to develop a doctor, and it is this same village — the DoM and the school of medicine — that has also been the foundation for my development as an educator. I am blessed and humbled to be a part of this incredible community.”
Dr. Ha enjoys teaching physiology, pathophysiology and the doctor-patient relationship, and he loves sharing his passion for those subjects with the next generation. He finds it immensely gratifying to equip future physicians with the knowledge and skills they need to care for their patients.
“Ultimately, for me, it starts and ends with the patient,” he said.
Dr. Ha acknowledged that it requires effort, dedication and commitment to teach in the medical profession. Physicians have many competing priorities, and teaching can quickly fall by the wayside. But he noted that one could argue that teaching is the most important mission of a doctor.
“Indeed, the Latin word for doctor means ‘teacher’,” Dr. Ha said. “At a minimum, we teach our patients so that they may better understand their own health and become partners in their care. But we can multiply this effect by committing ourselves to teaching future physicians who will then be able to provide even better care to their patients, both now and into the future.”
That compounding impact is Dr. Ha’s “why” for teaching, he added, and he encourages fellow medical educators to find their own “why” and revisit it often. When he reflects on his career so far, he believes that he would not be where he is today without the DGSOM and DoM communities.
“The people around me, my colleagues and mentors, have played such an outsized role in my career, as have the innumerable opportunities at UCLA to develop as a teacher and carve out an academic career in medical education — which I believe are representative of an environment that is very favorable to teaching,” Dr. Ha said. “While it took sustained hard work and dedication, the synergy between my efforts and this institution and its members has been undeniable in my journey.”
Dr. Ha added that he looks forward to being part of the DoM at UCLA for many years to come and hopes to see many more of our amazing educators recognized for their outstanding contributions. I share his hopes and invite you to join me in congratulating Ed on this fantastic and well-deserved recognition!
Neveen S. El-Farra, MD Honored with Serge and Yvette Dadone Clinical Teaching Award
Vice Chair for Inpatient and Hospitalist Services Neveen S. El-Farra, MD has been lauded for her devotion to educating medical students and trainees on the art and science of patient care — including with the 2020 UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award, the university’s highest honor for educators. This year she is the recipient of the 2026 Serge and Yvette Dadone Clinical Teaching Award, a special honor for faculty who have been at UCLA for more than 10 years and who carry an exceptional clinical teaching load, take an academic approach to clinical teaching, and whose peers can attest to the value of the recipient’s clinical teaching and clinical care. The award is given in honor of Saleh Salehmoghaddam, MD, a beloved UCLA physician and educator who died in 2014.
Dr. El-Farra felt honored and grateful when she learned she had received the award — an especially poignant moment in her teaching career, as she was one of Dr. Salehmoghaddam’s mentees.
“He was an amazing mentor to me and someone I would seek out often to discuss cases with,” she recalled. Dr. El-Farra was especially moved by a message from a colleague who worked closely with Dr. Salehmoghaddam that said he would be proud and delighted to see her winning the award.
“That was so heartwarming to read,” she said. “Teaching is one of the most meaningful aspects of my work, and to be recognized by learners and colleagues in this way is incredibly humbling.”
She added that she feels the award is a reflection not only of her own efforts, but of the shared commitment to education that defines our DoM community.
“I see this recognition as both a privilege and a responsibility to continue striving for excellence in how we teach and mentor the next generation of physicians,” she said.
Dr. El-Farra has long held high-impact leadership positions in medical education here at UCLA. She served as associate program director of the UCLA Internal Medicine Residency Program for 14 years before stepping down in 2023 when she transitioned to her role as vice chair of inpatient and hospitalist services. She also served as associate dean for curricular affairs at DGSOM from 2014 to 2019.
Across all of her teaching roles, Dr. El-Farra’s favorite part of teaching has been the chance to connect with learners as individuals and witness their growth over time.
“There is something deeply rewarding about helping someone build confidence, develop clinical reasoning and discover their own voice as a physician. Teaching is not just about transferring knowledge: It is about fostering curiosity, modeling kindness, compassion and empathy,” she said. “It is about creating an environment where learners feel supported and inspired to reach their full potential and understand the profound impact they have on their patients and their families.”
To those who want to become better teachers, Dr. El-Farra recommends staying curious about their learners.
“Take the time to understand their perspectives, their goals and the challenges they face. The most impactful teaching often happens in small, authentic moments — at the bedside, in a question asked with genuine interest or in feedback that is both honest and encouraging,” she said. “And importantly, remember that how we teach is just as important as what we teach. Leading with respect, humility and kindness leaves a lasting impression."
Dr. El-Farra feels the DoM is an exceptional place to teach because of its strong culture of collaboration, intellectual curiosity and commitment to excellence in patient care and medical education. Learners and educators also benefit from the diverse patient population and myriad clinical experiences, which create a rich learning environment. Furthermore, the dedication of faculty and trainees “fosters a true sense of community,” she added.
“It is a place where education is deeply valued and where innovation in teaching is encouraged and supported,” she said. “We care deeply about our patients and about training the next generation of physicians. That shared purpose makes teaching here especially meaningful.”
Dr. El-Farra feels it is a great privilege to learn alongside trainees in the DoM.
“They challenge me to be better every day — not just as a clinician, but as a teacher and a person,” she said. “I am continually inspired by the learners I work with, and this recognition only deepens my gratitude for the opportunity to be part of their journey.”
Congratulations, Neveen!
Four Faculty Honored with Kaiser-Permanente Awards for Excellence in Teaching
I am delighted to share that four of our exceptional faculty were honored this year with Kaiser-Permanente Awards for Excellence in Teaching. These awards are given to faculty who teach medical students and have met at least three of the four criteria outlined below:
- Carried an exceptional teaching load, including medical school teaching, with sustained excellence over the years
- Created educational innovations
- Managed an educational component with skill, innovation, enthusiasm and success
- Played a key role in interdepartmental educational activities
This year’s Kaiser-Permanente Award winners are Nupur Agrawal, MD, MPH; Alexandra M. Glaeser, MD; Jiyeon M. Jeong, MD; and Mark T. Munekata, MD, MPH. Read on to learn more about them!
Nupur Agrawal, MD, MPH
Pediatrics | Internal Medicine
UCLA Medicine-Pediatrics Comprehensive Care Clinic
Dr. Agrawal is a med-ed trailblazer who is advancing health equity through physician education. She serves as co-director of the UCLA Internal Medicine Residency Program Health Equity and Advocacy Pathway and is the creator of a unique health care advocacy curriculum for DGSOM medical students that is being adopted by institutions across the country — a project that is currently being funded through a prestigious fellowship from the Macy Faculty Scholars Program. A graduate of the DGSOM medical education fellowship, Dr. Agrawal views teaching as a core part of her personal and professional identity.
“I feel deeply humbled to receive the Kaiser Permanente Award for Excellence in Teaching,” she said. “To have my work recognized by colleagues and learners I deeply respect is incredibly meaningful."
Dr. Agrawal believes her role as a teacher is to help her learners – medical students, residents, fellows and junior faculty – grow into their best selves, both personally and professionally, so they can go on to positively impact their patients, the communities they serve and all the lives they touch beyond healthcare. She loves connecting with learners during this formative time in their careers and guiding them to connect the patient stories and science, science and clinical care, clinical care and the healthcare system and more.
“It is a joy watching learners challenge the status quo and think critically about building stronger, more effective healthcare systems,” Dr. Agrawal said. “I value the rich relationships we form with one another in the learning environment.”
To those who aspire to teach, Dr. Agrawal suggests taking the time to understand their learners’ backgrounds, skills, goals, questions and vision for the future of medicine.
“Creating an environment in which our learners feel comfortable being themselves, asking questions and engaging in authentic discussion is the foundation for impactful medical education,” she said. “It's also important for us as educators to remain curious and flexible — the most impactful lessons I have learned have been from my learners.”
Alexandra M. Glaeser, MD
Hospital Medicine
Ronald Reagan Medical Center | Santa Monica Medical Center
Dr. Glaeser is passionate about helping medical students and residents thrive in their careers as physicians. She serves as the co-chair of the fourth-year capstone course at DGSOM and as the co-director of the procedure service, performing a variety of bedside procedures and facilitating transitions of care. She is also a beloved mentor within the Specialty Advisors for Career Exploration (ACE) Program at DGSOM, a program that pairs third- and fourth-year medical students with practicing physicians in a specialty they are pursuing and guides them through the residency application process.
When she learned she had received an award, Dr. Glaeser said her main reaction was gratitude to all of her own mentors and others who helped her over the course of her career through teaching, giving her feedback, developing curricular materials and organizing complex logistics.
“I am also so grateful to the internal medicine residents and medical students who approach learning in an engaged and curious fashion,” she said. Her favorite part about teaching is witnessing learners make tangible progress in grasping new concepts and difficult learning objectives. She also finds it rewarding to watch learners pass that knowledge on and positively influence future leaders.
For those who wish to get involved in medical education, Dr. Glaeser recommends starting with taking an inventory of what they love most in medicine, then connecting with others who share it.
“If there is a certain topic or modality of teaching, like simulation, that sparks your interest, then reach out to those involved in that arena,” she said. “There is an openness to new ways of structuring educational content and latitude to be creative in our educational environment. Even if you don’t have an idea, getting involved and seeing the inner workings can prompt creativity in the future.”
Dr. Glaeser finds that teaching at UCLA is particularly special because of the supportive, collegial environment.
“UCLA medical students and internal medicine residents are accomplished, inquisitive and eager to learn,” she recalled. “I routinely learn from my students, which helps to expand my medical knowledge and continually reassess how to best meet their educational goals.”
Jiyeon Monica Jeong, MD
Internal Medicine
Ronald Reagan Medical Center | Santa Moncia Medical Center
Dr. Jeong cheered on several of her mentors as they received Kaiser-Permanente Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Now, she has joined them.
“I’m so pleasantly surprised and honored,” she said.
As a primary care physician in the UCLA Health Extensivist Medicine Program — a program that provides coordinated care to people with complex health issues — Dr. Jeong is an expert in teaching patients how to improve their health. She is eager to pass best practices on to the students she teaches at DGSOM — and, with both patients and medical students, finds that learning is a two-way street.
“Imparting new knowledge and skills gives me so much joy, but I always learn so much myself in the process,” Dr. Jeong said. “Watching learners grow over time is such a gift and a privilege.”
She added that perfection is not a prerequisite to being a great educator.
“Learners don’t need you to be perfect,” she said. “They need you to show up, stay curious and genuinely care about their growth as physicians and as human beings.”
Dr. Jeong loves teaching in the DoM because of our commitment to creating a safe, welcoming learning environment.
“Every person on the team counts, from the medical student to the attending,” she said. “Everyone is valued.”
Mark T. Munekata, MD, MPH, FACP
Internal Medicine
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
There are many fantastic educators at DGSOM, and Dr. Munekata is proud to be one of them.
“When I learned I was chosen for a Kaiser-Permanente Award for Excellence in Teaching, my reaction was gratitude and humility for being selected among all the great teachers at DGSOM,” he said. Dr. Munekata serves as the chair of the medicine clerkship and sees patients as an internist at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He is also a senior physician for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.
For Dr. Munekata, one of the best parts of working with learners is witnessing the “aha moment.” He adheres to a philosophy that emphasizes long-term progress and encourages other educators to do the same.
“Teaching is the easy part,” he explained. “Ensuring learning should be the ultimate goal.”
Dr. Munekata has been described by learners as always emphasizing the “why.” He is known for creating a comfortable learning environment that fosters intellectual curiosity; he models the kind of physician that his students aspire to become. He loves educating medical students at UCLA because of those who surround him.
“The DoM is a great place to teach because we are part of a large family of like-minded people whose purpose is to optimize patient care through research, education and innovation,” he said.
Dr. Munekata takes his job very seriously — even when it is fun and games! Here he is as an attending, coaching a team of Harbor-UCLA residents to Jeopardy victory!
Meet the Z-Pack Chiefs!
It is an honor to introduce you to our new class of internal medicine chief residents, who call themselves the Z-Pack. They decided on the name Z-pack to suggest a sense of community since as a chief group, they run together as a pack and are here to support the residency first and foremost. The role of a chief resident is one of high esteem — and great responsibility. Chief residents are at once peers, guides and mentors; they steer residents through challenges and celebrate their triumphs during one of the most intense periods of their professional lives. As always, the DoM chiefs are the best of the best, and I know they will do a wonderful job supporting our trainees.
Without much further ado, meet the Z-Pack!
Allie Kaufman, MD, MPH
Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (VA) Inpatient Chief
Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.
What motivated you to become a chief resident?
I went to UCLA for medical school and UCLA was my top choice for residency. I was so impressed by the culture of our program even as a medical student. Getting to work with amazing residents who were kind, compassionate, smart and dedicated to taking great care of patients was the reason I chose to go into internal medicine! I am planning to pursue a career as an academic hospitalist and am interested in medical education, so becoming a chief resident felt like a natural next step for me. It combines many of the things I enjoyed most about residency, including teaching and mentoring, and is a great opportunity to keep building on the culture of our program!
What are you most excited about for the coming year?
I’m excited to continue strengthening our clinical education and didactics. We have a really strong focus on learning that is driven by our residents through our morning reports and noon conferences, and I’m excited to keep building on that. I’m also looking forward to welcoming our new interns and helping them make the transition from medical student to doctor!
What is the best piece of advice you received from a past chief resident?
From a chief resident I worked with several years ago (who is now an attending!): You will never regret showing up, being present and doing right by your patients. Medicine is really demanding, and it can be easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day tasks, but taking the extra few minutes to get to know your patients and understand what matters to them makes it worth it even on the toughest days.
What is your best piece of advice for residents?
Never be afraid to ask for help! There are so many times that residency can feel overwhelming, but it’s so important to remember that you’re never in it alone. Whether it’s a tough night shift where you just need some extra reassurance or a big life event where you really need to lean on your co-residents, there are always people around to support you.
What’s one fun fact about you that your DoM colleagues might not know?
I had a very winding path to medicine! I took four years off between finishing my undergraduate degree and starting medical school. I was an AmeriCorps member for a year, received my MPH, and then spent a year working on a Native American reservation in rural Arizona. Even though it took me a little longer to get here, I’m really grateful for all of those experiences and how they’ve shaped me as a physician.
Esther Kim, MD
VA Quality Improvement Chief
Hometown: Cypress, CA
What motivated you to become a chief resident?
I've had some wonderful mentors who have been so invested in helping me grow from medical school to residency and now in my next steps as chief resident. Through this chief year, I'm excited to grow as a thoughtful and supportive mentor for future trainees I will work with as an academic hospitalist.
What are you most excited about for the coming year?
I'm most excited to work with such an amazing group of co-chiefs and to support our residents in everything from celebrating their accomplishments to being there to talk through difficult times they encounter in residency.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a past chief resident?
Everyone has different leadership styles, and there's no "correct way" to be a great leader.
What is your best piece of advice for residents?
To prioritize sleep! If you're stressed about something, sleep 8 hours and then think about it again.
What's one fun fact about you that your DoM colleagues might not know?
I grew up working at my family's diner, and it's where I found my love of cooking. I think my alternate career path could have been opening a bakery/cafe.
Jeemin Kwon, MD
Ambulatory Chief Resident
Hometown: San Jose, CA
What motivated you to become a chief resident?
I've always been drawn to academic medicine, and the chief year felt like a natural opportunity to grow as a teacher while giving back to a residency community that has given me so much.
What are you most excited about for the coming year?
I'm excited to build on the incredible work of my predecessors and keep pushing to improve the outpatient experience for our residents.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a past chief resident?
Keep asking "why" until you reach the true root cause — don't stop at the first answer.
What is your best piece of advice for residents?
Mistakes are inevitable. Residency is one of the few places where you have a real safety net, so use it to reflect on mistakes as they happen and let them teach you something.
What's one fun fact about you that your DoM colleagues might not know?
I have a growing collection of frog paraphernalia and am always accepting donations.
Katya Lavine, MD
Primary Care Chief
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
What motivated you to become a chief resident?
I wanted the opportunity to support residents through a deeply rewarding, exhilarating and at times challenging three years. I was inspired by the Primary Care chief residents who were unwavering in their support and guidance (shoutout to Sarah Takimoto, Marcus Muñoz, and Sophie Rosenmoss) throughout my residency, and I hope to do the same for the PC residents this upcoming year.
Throughout residency I’ve also found immense joy in teaching. I knew that being a chief would allow me to continue to develop as a teacher, find new ways to engage learners and give me the opportunity to design new curriculum.
What are you most excited about for the coming year?
I’m excited to plan our Primary Care Didactics - to draw in topics from clinical medicine, health systems and health equity, and to highlight the amazing work our residents are doing.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a past chief resident?
If it can be done in under two minutes, do it now.
What is your best piece of advice for residents?
Don’t be afraid to reach out to other residents, especially those in classes above you. If you’re dealing with something, chances are someone has dealt with something similar and would be happy to help you.
What’s one fun fact about you that your DoM colleagues might not know?
I have a black belt in Taekwondo!
Nancy Miles, MD
VA Quality Improvement Chief Resident
Hometown: Seattle, WA
What motivated you to become a chief resident?
I have benefited and grown so much from this program over the past three years. My main desire in becoming a chief resident was wanting to support what this program excels at and help shape responses to new needs as they arise.
What are you most excited about for the coming year?
The physicians I have worked with have been formative in the physician I have become. I admire and respect my co-chiefs a great deal and am excited to continue to learn from them as clinicians, leaders and educators! I am of course probably too excited to help facilitate friendly competition for retreats or within firms, as I always enjoyed those opportunities as a resident.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a past chief resident?
To lean on my co-residents and chief when I need help. I had/have a tendency to try to “do it all” myself. However, medicine is a team sport and not only are we better physicians when we seek help, but our patients get better care!
What is your best piece of advice for residents?
To continue to find time for what brings you joy outside of the hospital or the clinic, whether that is beach day, art studio, board games or playing a musical instrument. Rest is what allows us to connect with curiosity and joy, which is crucial for living and for being a doctor!
What’s one fun fact about you that your DoM colleagues might not know?
After rowing in college, I competed in the 2016 Olympic Trials for rowing. I now enjoy rowing once or twice a month in the Marina when my schedule allows.
Tyler Morad, MD
Ronald Reagan & Santa Monica Chief Resident
Hometown: Valencia, CA
What motivated you to become a chief resident?
I wanted to become a chief resident to give back to the program that has given me so much. I am excited to support the residents through each stage of residency and hopefully leave this amazing program better than where I found it, particularly in recruitment, mentorship and medical education.
What are you most excited about for the coming year?
I am excited to teach residents, whether it is during morning report/noon conference or attending on the wards.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a past chief resident?
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
What is your best piece of advice for residents?
Find an opportunity for growth in every patient encounter. Enthusiasm and curiosity for learning are infectious to everyone around you!
What’s one fun fact about you that your DoM colleagues might not know?
I play ice hockey twice a week!
Harveen K. Sekhon, MD
Ronald Reagan/Santa Monica Inpatient Chief Resident
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
What motivated you to become a chief resident?
I have been incredibly fortunate to have worked with supportive mentors and educators during residency and am excited to be able to give back to the program.
What are you most excited about for the coming year?
I'm so excited to meet all of our new interns and help support our residents throughout their journey. I hope to continue to foster a supportive and collaborative environment that allows each of our residents to succeed.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a past chief resident?
Residency goes by fast, make sure to cherish it!
What is your best piece of advice for residents?
Lean into the hard times. Residency is challenging and you'll be faced with countless difficult stories and challenges. Take the extra 5-10 minutes and spend that time with your patients, their loved ones, lean into the difficult moments. That is where you'll grow the most and remember why you chose this field.
What’s one fun fact about you that your DoM colleagues might not know?
I'm an ice cream snob, ask me about my favorite LA ice cream spots!
Sneha Sharma
Ronald Reagan/Santa Monica Outpatient Chief Resident
Hometown: Columbus, OH
What motivated you to become a chief resident?
I was excited to contribute to our amazing program from a leadership perspective - especially serving in a mentorship capacity for our trainees. I am also eager to help grow our health equity and advocacy pathway/program.
What are you most excited about for the coming year?
Getting to know all of our residents more!
What is the best piece of advice you received from a past chief resident?
Find a passion project during your chief year that you are excited to work on within the residency program.
What is your best piece of advice for residents?
Residency is tough, but enjoy this unique experience with your co-residents (during both dark times and bright times) — some of these people will become your best friends for life!
What’s one fun fact about you that your DoM colleagues might not know?
I was in the top 0.01% of Hans Zimmer's fans on Spotify for several years. It's a long story...
Will Stringer, MD
Ronald Reagan/Santa Monica Hospital Chief Resident
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
What motivated you to become a chief resident?
First and foremost, it was about the people: I wanted to be able to help fellow residents as they navigate residency. Training can at times be difficult and tiring, so I wanted to be in a position where I could interact with every resident on a regular basis and be a friendly face who was ready to advocate on their behalf. Similarly, I felt a strong pull towards working with our wonderful faculty leadership to help make the residency program better for residents and our patients.
What are you most excited about for the coming year?
Getting to see and interact with everyone in the program, from fellow chiefs to faculty to residents.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a past chief resident?
The best way to lead is by being a friend first.
What is your best piece of advice for residents?
To trust the people around you enough to lean on them when things feel difficult or overwhelming.
What’s one fun fact about you that your DoM colleagues might not know?
I consider myself to be an extremely skilled whistler — most melodies or songs I can pretty immediately whistle.
Abhinav Thummala, MD
VA Inpatient Chief Resident
Hometown: Dallas, TX
What motivated you to become a chief resident?
I love teaching, and I was inspired by the medical educators in our program to invest in the development of clinical reasoning in trainees. I also feel a debt of gratitude to our program and wanted to pay that forward.
What are you most excited about for the coming year?
Morning report! Those sessions were incredibly formative in building my clinical reasoning, and I can't wait to lead them with many of my closest mentors at the VA.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a past chief resident?
If you can make the program even 1% better, your year will have been a success.
What is your best piece of advice for residents?
Invest in your relationships with your peers, faculty and mentors. I’ve learned so much from the community at UCLA, and much of it was outside the hospital.
What’s one fun fact about you that your DoM colleagues might not know?
I couldn’t whistle for the longest time until I taught myself a couple years ago.
Yusuke Tsugawa, MD, MPH, PhD Visits Japan with Chancellor Julio Frenk
Our LEADERS in the DoM take on many roles beyond research and clinical care, and as such I was motivated to share that Yusuke Tsugawa, MD, MPH, PhD, an all-star health services researcher who also serves as associate director of the UCLA Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies, in early March accompanied UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk and a group of UCLA representatives to Japan. The DoM was also represented by health services researcher and Associate of the Chancellor Felicia Marie Knaul, MA, PhD. They were joined by Cindy Fan, vice provost for international studies and global engagement; Hitoshi Abe, director of the Terasaki Center; Terasaki Center Executive Director Noei Shimizu and Program Manager Christian Rodriguez.
While the visit was in part to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the UCLA Japan Alumni Association in Tokyo, it was also meant to strengthen the relationship between UCLA and Japan. The leaders met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass, Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Iwoa Horii, Japanese Olympic Committee President Seiko Hashimoto, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science President Tsuyoshi Sugino and Asian Population and Development Association President Keizo Takemi.
“By bringing together UCLA’s top leadership with the Terasaki Center’s deep expertise in U.S.-Japan relations, we were able to present a cohesive and compelling vision for UCLA’s role in Asia,” Dr. Tsugawa said. “Ambassador Glass was extraordinarily engaged, and the Chancellor and Ambassador reached a meaningful consensus on the vital role that UCLA should play in strengthening the U.S.–Japan relationship. That shared sense of purpose gave the meeting real momentum and set the stage for future collaboration.”
Dr. Tsugawa noted that Ambassador Glass was very interested in U.S. universities taking a more active and visible presence in Japan, and Chancellor Frenk offered a compelling vision for how UCLA can contribute concretely. Dr. Tsugawa added that his and Dr. Knaul’s presence naturally opened avenues relevant to the DoM’s missions.
“Dr. Knaul brought deep expertise in global health equity to the discussion, and I contributed perspectives from my research in both domestic and international health policy,” Dr. Tsugawa said. “This visit reinforced that the DoM's education, research and global health missions have a meaningful role to play in UCLA's broader international strategy in Japan.”
Dr. Tsugawa was particularly struck by Ambassador Glass’ enthusiasm for the idea that universities play important roles in international diplomacy and mutual understanding between nations. Chancellor Frenk’s leadership was instrumental in elevating the conversation, he added, and in securing a shared commitment to UCLA’s role in Japan.
“I am also proud that the DoM played an important role in this visit — Dr. Felicia Marie Knaul and I both brought complementary perspectives from our work in global health policy, and our presence demonstrated that the DoM is an active and valued contributor to UCLA's international engagement,” Dr. Tsugawa said. “I look forward to the partnerships and opportunities that I hope will emerge from these conversations.”
Read more about the UCLA delegation’s trip to Japan in the UCLA International Institute newsletter. Thank you to Dr. Tsugawa and Dr. Knaul for representing the DoM on a very productive trip.
Dale
P.S.
One of the nice things about my job, is when colleagues stop and say hello as I am wandering around campus. Last week Gabriella (Gaby) Ortiz, a senior technologist in our sleep center stopped me to say hello. Thanks for the work that you do, to support our patients at UCLA Health!
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