Join us in celebrating Doctors' Day on March 30th!
Join us on Monday, March 30th, as we announce the 2025-2026 winners! Take a look at last year's Exceptional Physician Award recipients by tuning in to the virtual awards presentation. This was an opportunity to acknowledge the unwavering dedication and extraordinary contributions of these exceptional physicians, who have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of their patients and the communities they serve.
Recognition Toolkit
Join us for a series of events in honor and celebration of our UCSF Doctors
March 30 - April 3, 2026
Monday, March 30
7:00 - 9:00am
Breakfast will be held at Parnassus, Mount Zion, Mission Bay, and BCH Oakland
All UCSF attending physicians and GME trainees are welcome to join for a grab-and-go breakfast.
Monday, March 30
11:30am - 1:30pm
Lunch will be provided at Stanyan Hospital
Tuesday, March 31
11:30am-1:30pm
Lunch will be provided Hyde Hospital
Date: Monday, March 30
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
In-person Only - Limited seating Available
Sign Up Here
Presenters: Diane Sliwka, MD, Chief Physician Experience Officer, will interview prominent UCSF Physician Leaders
In-Person Dinner Event: Your "Life's Work" for Physicians
Physicians spend years building remarkable careers-yet many of us rarely pause to ask a deeper question: What is my life's work, beyond my job title?
The intimate dinner event is an opportunity to step out of the daily rush and into a honest, human conversation about purpose, meaning, and the evolving arc of a medical career. Join a small group of colleagues for an evening of good food and thoughtful dialogue as Diane Sliwka, MD, interviews Dr. Dan Lowenstein and Dr. Denise Davis about the paths they've taken, the choices they've made, and the lessons they've learned along the way.
Panelist will reflect on how their sense of "life's work" has changed over time - through success, setbacks, transitions, and seasons of burnout and renewal.
Attendees will have a chance to reflect on their own experiences and to consider how their values, motivations, and aspirations may be evolving at this stage of their careers.
Whether you're early in your career, mid-journey, or contemplating what comes next, this evening is designed to help you reconnect with the values and motivations that first brought you to medicine - and imagine how they might guide you forward.
Date: Tuesday, March 31
Time: 12:10-1:00pm
Zoom Only: Sign Up Here (session will be recorded)
Presenters: Ilse Larson, MD
Permission to Pause: The Power and Rest and Play
Rest and play are essential, but often undervalued. During this session, we will explore why they matter, clarify your individual style of rest and play, and brainstorm practical ways to integrate more rest and play into your life.
About the Speakers: Dr. Larson is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and the Director of Coaching for the Department of Pediatrics. She is married to a physician and is the mother of two tween/teens. She is an avid knitter and loves exploring hiking trails, libraries, and coffee shops.
Date: Wednesday, April 1
Time: 12:10-1:00pm
Zoom Only: Sign Up Here (session will not be recorded)
Presenters: Michael Policar, MD & co-presenter Joseph Hager, CPRC
Beyond the White Coat: Financial Wellness and Retirement Strategies for Physicians
The number of financial decisions that must be made can be daunting, especially in financial planning, which is an unfamiliar skill. This session will describe the anatomy and physiology of financial management for physicians, with a focus on available instruments for retirement saving. The talk will focus on the University of California Retirement System, but the concepts will be applicable to a variety of employment circumstances. Many of the recommendations will focus on ways to achieve tax savings, in particular reviewing the benefits of a Roth IRA as a method of producing tax-free income after retirement.
This session will include a Q&A portion with Dr. Policar and Joe Hager.
Information provided in this session is intended for informational purposes only and not as financial advice. Participants are responsible for seeking expertise for their personal financial situations and are responsible for their own financial decisions.
About the Speakers: Dr. Michael Policar is a Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF School of Medicine. Joseph Hager is a UCSF Fidelity Workplace Financial Consultant.
Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 12:10-1:00pm
Zoom Only: Sign Up Here (session will be recorded)
Presenters: Aric Prather, PhD
Sleep for Doctors
The interactive discussion will provide insights into evidence-based techniques for better sleep.
About the Speakers: Dr. Prather is a psychologist and Director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine Research Program at the University of California, San Francisco. He is the author of the book, "The Sleep Prescription".
Date: Friday, April 3
Time: 12:10-1:00pm
Zoom Only: Sign Up Here (session will be recorded)
Presenters: Kavita K. Mishra, MD, MPH
Jennifer Lai, MD, MBA
Candy Tsourounis, PharmD,
Integrative Health: Practical Strategies for Physicians
The interactive discussion will offer evidence-based practical integrative health strategies for busy physicians, with high-yield tops across key domains, including nutrition, movement, supplements, and mind-body medicine.
About the Speakers:
Dr. Mishra is a Professor of Radiation Oncology, Director of Proton Ocular Radiation Therapy Program, and the Osher Foundation Endowed Chair and Director of Clinical Programs at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health. She is a global leader in mind-body medicine and specialized oncology care.
Dr. Jennifer Lai, MD, MBA, is Endowed Professor of Liver Health and Transplantation, UCSF, Professor of Medicine in Residence, UCSF Division of Gastroenterology, DOM, and Integrative Hepatologist in the Osher Center for Integrative Health.
Candy Tsourounis, PharmD is Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Medication Outcomes Center at UCSF School Pharmacy and UCSF Health.
Previous Doctors' Day Celebrations!
Date: Monday, March 24, 5:10-6:00pm
ZOOM Only: Zoom Link With Registration
Presenters:
Russ Cucina, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine and Chief Medical Information Officer, and the UCSF Health Medical Informatics leadership team
Making Clinical Practice Better and Easier by Improving Physicians' Experience with Apex
Description: The UCSF Health Medical Informatics leadership team will provide an overview and update on the investments underway to improve physicians’ experience of clinical practice, by improving their experience with Apex. Topics include the Apex In basket, AI Scribes and other AI assistance, a comprehensive redesign of Apex training and support, increasing front-line physicians’ involvement in Apex decision-making, and significantly increasing Health IT’s ability to execute on improvement requests.
About the Speakers: UCSF Health Medical Informatics consists of UCSF Faculty who dedicate a part of their time to working with Health IT to advance the goals of the School and Health system. Dr. Cucina is Professor of Medicine and the Chief Medical Information Officer for UCSF Health.
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 4:10-5:00pm
ZOOM Only: Zoom Link With Registration
Presenter:
Paul Garcia, MD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
How UCSF Academic Affairs Supports Clincial Faculty
Description: This presentation will provide an overview of the UCSF Office of Academic Affairs efforts on behalf of clinician faculty, especially those in the HS Clinical series. Topics include faculty governance, advancement, compensation plan transparency, and leaves.
About the Speaker: Dr. Garcia is a neurologist specializing in the treatment of epilepsy. Much of his professional life has been dedicated to building the clinical programs of the UCSF Epilepsy Center. His research is aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of people with hard-to-treat epilepsy. In his role as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, he is involved with academic review and faculty development for the School of Medicine.
Date: Thursday, March 27, 12:10-1:00pm
ZOOM Only: Zoom Link with Registration
Presenter:
Lekshmi Santhosh, MD, MA
Optimizing the CV for Success: Tips & Tricks for Physicians
Description: This session is for physician faculty mentees and mentors interested in improving the style and content of their own and/or their mentees CVs/promotion packets. We will offer concrete tips for mentees on how to maximize your chances of advancement and promotion and for mentors to help educate and coach their mentees on how to improve the style and content of their CVs/promotion packets. Bring your own CV to get the most out of the session*.
About the Speaker: Dr. Santhosh is an Associate Professor in Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine and Hospital Medicine at UCSF. She serves as the inaugural Department of Medicine Associate Chair for People Development and Mentorship.
Date: Thursday, March 27, 5-7pm
In Person Only, Mission Bay Campus; Reserve Your Spot Here
Facilitated by: Diane Sliwka, MD and Starr Knight, MD
Featuring: Maga Jackson-Triche, MD, MSHS, UCSF Health Executive Advisor for Organization Culture and System Level Design, and Assistant Vice Chancellor, Office of Diversity and Outreach
The Role of Creativity in Life as A Doctor
An In-Person Connecting Dinner Event Featuring an interview with Dr. Maga Jackson-Triche
(This event has limited seating for UCSF attending physicians. You will receive a calendar invite if you RSVP while spots are still available.)
Description: This in-person connecting dinner event is just what you need if you desire new connections with colleagues and inspiration to spark your own creativity
About the Speaker: Dr. Maga Jackson Triche is a psychiatrist and UCSF Health Executive Advisor for Organization Culture and System Level Design, and Assistant Vice Chancellor, Office of Diversity and Outreach. As author of the book: Summoning the Spirit, Dr. Jackson-Triche shares her own creativity through her Haiku poems and paintings, suggesting moments of quiet appreciation of the beautiful and mystical world we inhabit.
This event will include dinner, connection and gifts for those who attend.
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 12:10-1:00pm
ZOOM Only: Zoom Link With Registration
Presenter:
Aric Prather, PhD
Sleep for Doctors
Description: This interactive discussion will provide insights into evidence-based techniques for better sleep.
About the Speaker: Dr. Prather is a psychologist and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Research Program at the University of California at San Francisco. He is the author of the book “The Sleep Prescription.”
Attendees will get a free copy of the book, “The Sleep Prescription” by Dr. Prather