Skip to main content
Department of Family Medicine Department of Family Medicine
  1. HOME
  2. Centers
  3. Center for Learning Health Systems Science
  4. LHSS Center Faculty and Patient Mentors

Faculty and Patient Mentors

Our mentors at the UC San Diego Center for Learning Health Systems Science include a diverse group of faculty, physicians, and patient partners. Together, they bring unique perspectives and expertise to guide transformative projects, foster innovation, and support the development of future leaders in learning health systems.

Faculty Mentors

  • Matthew Allison, MD, MPH

    Matthew Allison, MD, MPH

    Department of Family Medicine
    Professor and Chief, Division of Preventive Medicine

     
  • Jennifer Anger, MD, MPH

    Jennifer Anger, MD, MPH

    Professor and Vice Chair of Research, Department of Urology
  • Julie Cullen, PhD

    Julie Cullen, PhD

    Chair and Professor, Department of Economics
  • Robert El-Kareh, MD, MPH

    Robert El-Kareh, MD, MPH

    Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine
    Associate Chief Medical Officer, Transformational Health and Learning
  • Itzik Fadlon, PhD

    Itzik Fadlon, PhD

    Associate Professor, Department of Economics
  • Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD

    Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD

    Chair and Professor, Department of Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
  • James Killeen, MD

    James Killeen, MD

    Clinical Professor, Department of Emergency Medical Services
    Clinical Professor, Hyperbaric Medicine Department
    Chief Medical Officer, San Diego Health Connect
    UCSD Clinical Informatics Fellowship Director

     
  • James Murphy, MD

    James Murphy, MD

    Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Science
    Co-Director of the Center for Health Equity, Education and Research (CHEER)
  • Amy Sitapati, MD

    Amy Sitapati, MD

    Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine
    Chief Medical Information Officer of Population Health
    Interim Chief, Division of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI)

    Sitapati Lab
  • Florin Vaida, PhD

    Florin Vaida, PhD

     LHSS Center, Senior Biostatistician
    Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science

Patient Mentors

  • Betty Garbutt

    Betty Garbutt

    Patient Advisor
    UCSD Retirement Association

    Growing up in the UK meant my initial exposure to health care was within a national health system and the closeness we felt to our local physician. My nursing and nurse midwifery training was also in that system so even now 50 years later I still find myself making comparisons.

    As I reach 85 years old my views are now formed by the current system I am served by and find that despite all the wonderful advances some of the simple things are missing. Time spent with patients is very limited during visits and the various opportunities that may help us are so scattered over various sites. For seniors that appears to be a barrier to obtaining care which may result in becoming sicker and eventually placing bigger costs to the system. Obviously real estate costs are high but proximity does not appear to feature in the selection of locations.

    I am personally able to advocate for myself but feel the system is not geared to that for everyone and I would like to see that incorporated into future decisions, and a stronger home care system that works with each health care system. I hope that will be one of the benefits of the advances we see in IT communications.
  • Brennon Hope

    Brennon Hope

    Patient Advisor
    Vice President of Programs, Burn Institute
    Owner, Coastal Contracting Inc.
  • Ariana Quiban, CPM

    Ariana Quiban, CPM

    Patient Advisor

    Ariana is a patient mentor with over 16 years of professional experience in the healthcare industry as a Senior Account Manager. She also brings a powerful lived experience as both a burn survivor and cancer survivor. Following a life-changing week where she faced both diagnoses, Ariana credits the exceptional, compassionate care she received through UC San Diego Health for her healing and recovery.

    Now three years cancer-free and fully recovered from her burn injury, Ariana is committed to supporting healthcare improvement by sharing her story and partnering with researchers and clinicians to advance patient-centered care. She is especially passionate about fostering supportive care environments and strengthening the patient-provider relationship.
  • Jeffrey Schaffer, DVM

    Jeffrey Schaffer, DVM

    Patient Advisor