Interviewed by Jackie Buente over Zoom.

About Nandini’s Role/Ongoing Projects
Nandini is working on the CPR3 study, researching the effectiveness of peer support programs for older adults during the pandemic and how to learn from these findings to support older adults experiencing isolation. Having recently graduated from UNC Chapel Hill's Graduate Public Health School, she is excited about this project as she can put into practice her public health skills. Nandini is also working on establishing the Coalition for Social Connections, a local coalition of community-based organizations that support older adults in socialization. She believes that it is an essential part of public health to connect academia with the community to create shared best practices.

Nandini believes that her work helps shed light on how important peer support programs can be for older adults. Further, working to create a bridge between UCSF and the community is important to combine resources that UCSF has with the expertise of community partners.

She enjoys that she "can wear two big hats," working on the community engagement, as well as community focused research projects. It allows her to bring two different lenses to her work.

What is a professional goal you would like to accomplish by the end of this year?
Nandini's professional goal for the year is to kick off the Coalition of Social Connections with their first coalition meeting at the end of March and round out the year with a large symposium for the coalition.

More about Nandini
What’s one “fun fact” about you that not many people know? (e.g., hidden talent)
Nandini enjoys listening to classic and punk rock. Her favorite band is Green Day. 

What are you happiest doing in your free time?
She loves to decompress each night by listening to a podcast and cooking elaborate recipes.

What is the best advice you've ever heard?
"You don't always have to have things figured out, you can just enjoy the moment."

Who is someone you admire, and why?
Nandini admires her mom who is an ED Medicine Doctor by day and an artist who owns her own business crafting scarves by night. She describes that getting to see her mom invest in her passion for art showed her that "it's never too late to follow your passion. Check out these beautiful scarves, they will inspire you to also want to create!

What are some causes you care about?
She is interested in Food Justice and Food Equity. In grad school, she worked at a farmer's market and helped support people by providing education and outreach to let them know how to access SNAP and WIC benefits and how these benefits were accepted at the farmer's market.

What would your back-up career be?
She loves baseball and, in a back-up career would like to work somehow with the game, whether that is in operations or analytics.

What else would you like us to know about you?
She just started working in the division in October so she would love to get to grab a coffee or get to know more folks in the division. Feel free to reach out!

Interviewed by Nandini Singh over Zoom.

About Jackie’s Role/Ongoing Projects
Jackie is actively involved in developing an application for the CMS-supported initiative known as GUIDE, resembling an Innovation award. This initiative aims to secure funding for a dedicated dementia care team within the SF health network. The prospect of enhancing systems to better support individuals living with dementia and their families, or chosen families, is particularly exciting for her. The anticipated award could pave the way for a revamped reimbursement framework spanning the next eight years. Should this structure prove successful, there is potential for expansion through Medicare, ultimately reaching a national scale. In addition to her involvement in the application process, Jackie plays a crucial role in delivering clinical care to patients of the SFHN as part of the Dementia Care Aware team. The overarching objectives of these initiatives are twofold: to heighten the detection and provision of specialized care for dementia and to mitigate health disparities. As an illustration, they collaborate with primary care clinics, guiding them in adopting cognitive health assessments to facilitate early detection of dementia.

Before transitioning to a Social Worker, Jackie served as a community engagement manager/organizer in DC, contributing to the development of local partnerships among academics, communities, and health systems. Recognizing a gap in her understanding of the experiences of Older Adults, she pursued a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The journey revealed her preference for hands-on involvement, and her current role seamlessly blends both aspects. In her current position, Jackie dedicates 50 percent of her time to working directly with patients. The remaining time is devoted to enhancing processes, refining systems, securing additional funding, and engaging in research—a well-balanced hybrid role that allows her to make a meaningful impact on multiple fronts.

What is a professional goal you would like to accomplish by the end of this year?
Jackie's is taking a project management course in February, aiming to further enhance her skill set. In preparation, she is eager to refresh her knowledge of the latest tools in project management. 

More about Jackie
What’s one “fun fact” about you that not many people know? (e.g., hidden talent)
Jackie loves to paint!

What are you happiest doing in your free time?
Jackie is the happiest when she is painting.    

What is the best advice you've ever heard?
At the end of grad school, an alumni told her that she will lose her job at some point and that it's not personal. This perspective has been a transformative realization for her, empowering Jackie to navigate career transitions with resilience and a focus on things within her control.

Who is someone you admire, and why?
Jackie holds great admiration for her mom, who not only raised her but also served as the Director of Operations at the Children's Science Center in Nashville. Jackie gets a lot of advice from her about nonprofit management and operations. 

What are some causes you care about?
Jackie is passionate about the Loveland Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing eight-week therapy sessions for Black women by Black women. She recognizes the critical importance of addressing the lack of access and representation in mental health support.

What would your back-up career be?
Jackie would be a window washer.