Congratulations to Clarissa Ferguson on her promotion to PREPARE Project Coordinator!

Clarissa Ferguson has been working with Dr. Rebecca Sudore and her PREPARE Team in the Division of Geriatrics since 2017!  She first joined as a Volunteer, supporting research functions such as learning to schedule appointments, interview patients, collect research data and create surveys.  She then joined us as a staff member (Program Assistant) in 2019, and has been an integral part of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation funded project where she interviewed, collected and analyzed data from participants in 11 states (in English and Spanish) for this Medical-Legal Pilot Study to collect data about PREPARE’s updated easy-to-read Advance Directives.  Working closely with the PI and the study team, Clarissa was also an important part of a multi-site PCORI UC System research trial with UCLA, UC Irvine and UCSF.  Prior to joining our Division, Clarissa worked with Dr. Robert Rodriguez in the UCSF Department of Emergency Medicine as an Undergraduate Researcher.  In that role, she recruited and interviewed participants in English and Spanish, as well as trained other junior Researcher Assistants on protocols and methods when interviewing participants.  She also completed the SF BUILD Student Training Program Fellowship in 2020 under Dr. Audrey Parangan-Smith.  SF BUILD is a joint program between UCSF and SF State focused on enhancing the diversity of the biomedical research workforce that works with underserved populations and reducing health disparities, by transforming the teaching and research environments at SF State.  Last but not least, Clarissa worked as a Clinical Volunteer for the Mission Neighborhood Health Center from 2017-2018 on a project that collaborated with UCSF, San Francisco Cancer Initiative and the American Cancer Society that focused on colorectal cancer helping to reduce language barriers in an underserved community.

Clarissa is currently enrolled at Cal State University, Fullerton (CSUF) in their Master’s of Public Health program, and was a graduate of SF State with a B.S. Biology, Physiology and a minor in Chemistry.  Clarissa is fluent in Spanish (in case not already obvious!), had advanced skills in Microsoft Suite, Google Drive, excellent marketing and conflict management skills and is no stranger to UCSF or the PREPARE Team!  In her new role as PREPARE Project Coordinator, she will continue to be an essential part of the PREPARE studies and will no doubt, make a lasting impact on improving the care of older adults as well as other vulnerable populations that we serve!  On behalf of Dr. Rebecca Sudore and the PREPARE Team, please join us in congratulating Clarissa Ferguson on her promotion!