1. < Announcements

As the department of medicine’s ambulatory care practice continues to grow, the department is pleased to announce that we have revised the titles and responsibilities of our ambulatory care leadership. These changes reflect leadership’s expanded roles which now include serving as associate clinical chiefs in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research at UCLA. These leaders will work alongside the department’s ambulatory clinical vice chair to identify areas for strategic growth, engage the communities served by UCLA Health, and collaborate with DoM division clinical chiefs to ensure quality clinical care for all ambulatory medicine services. We express our gratitude to these leaders for their commitment to the faculty and staff of the department of medicine, the ambulatory care practices, and the patients of UCLA Health.

JEFF E. BORENSTEIN, MD, MPH

Regional Ambulatory Medical Director, Northeast Region, Department of Medicine at UCLA Health
Associate Clinical Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research

Dr. Jeff E. Borenstein graduated from the Mount Sinai Medical School in New York, completed internal medicine residency and fellowship in general internal medicine and health services research at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and obtained a master’s degree in public health from UCLA. A fellow of the American College of Physicians, he is board-certified in both internal medicine and medical informatics, has published 33 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, was a principal investigator on multiple research grants, and is a professor of medicine in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Borenstein was also a principal in two successful health informatics start-up companies. His primary interests are in team-based, interdisciplinary care, primary and secondary prevention through the application of evidence-based medicine, and quality improvement facilitated by electronic health records. Dr Borenstein has served as a UCLA regional medical lead since 2018. His administrative geographical purview currently includes Porter Ranch, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Encino, Burbank and Pasadena.

ADAM F. CAVALLERO, MD

Regional Ambulatory Medical Director, Northwest and Central Coast Region, Department of Medicine at UCLA Health
Associate Clinical Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research

Dr. Adam F. Cavallero is an associate clinical professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine primary care physician who practices at Moody Court in Thousand Oaks. Dr. Cavallero worked as a primary care physician and hospitalist in the Central Coast for three years before joining UCLA Health in 2015. He was appointed lead physician of the Thousand Oaks practice later that year and became a regional lead physician in 2018. His administrative geographical purview currently includes West Hills, Calabasas, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Montecito, Santa Barbara, Goleta, and San Luis Obispo. He is the medical director of the PCC Nurse Triage Program. He created and helps administrate the CareConnect in-basket physician model of care to assist primary care physicians with in-basket burden. He previously served as secretary, vice president, and president of the DMPG Executive Board. In 2022, he directed a physician burn-out task force that contributed to significant changes to help restore work-life balance in the department of medicine. 

Dr. Cavallero currently serves on multiple committees and is actively involved with strategic expansion, physician recruitment, and physician onboarding in his region. He regularly teaches UCLA nurse practitioner students and medical students. He was instrumental in launching two undergraduate interdisciplinary courses for pre-medical students at UCSB and serves as co-director of the UCSB Student Health-UCLA Health CME Lecture Series.

EVELYN A. CURLS, MD, MBA

Regional Ambulatory Medical Director, South Region, Department of Medicine at UCLA Health
Associate Clinical Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research

Dr. Evelyn A. Curls is a native of Los Angeles and obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California, her medical degree and master in business administration at UCLA. In tandem with her medical practice, Dr. Curls has held numerous administrative roles, most notably as the regional lead physician for the department of medicine’s South Bay and Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) community practices. Her administrative and geographical purview currently includes DTLA BLOC Primary Care and Specialty Care, Torrance SkyPark Primary Care, South Bay GI Peninsula Specialty Care, South Bay Endocrinology and Nephrology, Torrance Lomita Multi-Specialty M100, Torrance Lomita Primary Care, East/West Medicine Torrance. Her responsibilities encompass supervision and operational oversight of the department of medicine's ambulatory healthcare delivery for multi-specialty and primary care clinics in her region. She plays a key role in building and optimizing clinical infrastructure, physician recruitment, professional development, and community engagement through local and regional representation of UCLA Health's clinical and strategic interests. Dr. Curls served on the Executive Board of the Department of Medicine Practice Group (DMPG), being elected as secretary, vice president, and finally president during her tenure. As DMPG President, she prioritized enhancing physician wellness. One of her main initiatives was the implementation of department-wide sustainability blocks, providing clinical faculty with increased autonomy and flexibility in their clinic schedules.

MINA W. MA, MD  

Regional Ambulatory Medical Director, Santa Monica Region, Department of Medicine at UCLA Health

Associate Clinical Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research

Dr. Mina W. Ma grew up in the Bay Area and obtained her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, and her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. She completed her residency training at UCSF Mount Zion. She is passionate about primary care, mentorship, and medical education and serves as the director of the UCLA Primary Care Program, as well as an associate program director in the UCLA Department of Medicine Training Program. Her vision for the regional ambulatory director role is to ensure that UCLA is well-positioned for providing outstanding value-based patient care as we navigate changes in healthcare that include advancing technology, translational research, plus new delivery models and other innovations, while continuing to remain a premier academic institution.

JANET P. PREGLER, MD

Regional Ambulatory Medical Director, Westwood Region, Department of Medicine at UCLA Health

Associate Clinical Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research

Dr. Janet P. Pregler is a primary care physician who serves as the director of the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women’s Health Center, which provides clinical care, promotes women’s health research, and collaborates on community initiatives to improve women’s health. Previously, she served as medical director of the Internal Medicine Suite and ambulatory medical director for Westwood, as well as president of the Department of Medicine Professional Group (DMPG). She is co-chair of the Ambulatory Policy Committee for UCLA Health and is chair of the Department of Medicine Professional Education Committee, which is responsible for new physician onboarding programs and the DMPG Annual Retreat. Her administrative geographical purview currently includes the Westwood campus primary care practices and Medical Subspecialty Suite.

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