APP SPOTLIGHT

Behind the Grand Rounds

Submitted by Megan Schoettler, APP Manager

Janet Wu successfully lead the APP Grand Rounds Committee in 2025, which welcomed over 400 attendees to APP Grand Rounds. For the first time, the committee expanded the speaker lineup to include a diverse range of multidisciplinary professionals, such as APPs, Nursing PhDs, PharmDs, MDs, PT/OT colleagues and more fostering a collaborative and inclusive learning environment. The APP Grand Rounds Committee looks forward to continuing the multidisciplinary approach in 2026.

Pediatric Heart Transplant Center Earns National Recognition

Submitted by Tara Valcarcel, Director of Pediatrics, OAPP

The Pediatric Heart Transplant Society has recognized BCH with a Vanguard Center for Excellence National Award. This is the third consecutive year of recognition for BCH's Pediatric Heart Transplant Center — a testament to sustained excellence and unwavering commitment to patients and families. Congratulations to the Pediatric Heart Transplant Center team, which includes fantastic APPs, Megan Keating and Kun Lu.

PNP Kimberly Moffattt-Bazile Publishes in JAMA

Submitted by Megan Schoettler and Molly Szumiski, APP Manager

What is the association of reproductive health assessment among female patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and menstrual-related sickle cell pain and hormonal therapies. Kimberly Moffatt-Bazile, PNP and her colleagues conducted a multisite survey and published their findings in JAMA. Click here to read the article.

Positive Impact with UCSF Anticoagulation Practice

Submitted by Francisco Cruz, Anticoagulation Program

Clarissa Calderon-Meza impacts patients and colleagues with her can-do attitude and energetic spirit. This has directly translated into improved patient care and higher patient satisfaction. As a bilingual provider, Clarissa has instilled tremendous confidence in the Spanish-speaking patients. She has built a strong foundation of trust with these patients which has significantly improved both their anticoagulation management and their overall healthcare experience.

NP's Shape The Interventional Cardiology Program

Submitted by Manvir Nijjar, Adin Director CTTC

NP's Lauren Halden (in photo: left) and Katy Leeds (in photo: right) are integral members of our Interventional Cardiology team. They provide advanced clinical support across Structural Heart and Complex Coronary care. Their work spans the full continuum of care—from pre-procedure evaluation and patient education to inpatient consultation and post-procedure follow-up—ensuring safe, coordinated, and high-quality care for some of our most complex patients. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, Lauren and Katy help drive efficiency, continuity, and patient-centered decision making. We’re excited to have them leading the way as the interventional cardiology program continues to launch and grow.

Caring Beyond UCSF

Submitted by Ivette Becerra-Ortiz, Chief of Advanced Practice

Matt White, an NPIII in the Cancer Center Infusion Center extends his commitment to health and service beyond UCSF. He is the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Good Vibes Only (GVO) Charity Fund, a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. GVO supports individuals working to improve their lives, with a special focus on mental health and veterans and their families. Through community events and partnerships, GVO continues to make a meaningful impact. Most recently, GVO partnered with Pearl River Community College to provide full tuition for three students entering the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program in January 2026, an inspiring investment in both people and the future healthcare workforce. Read more here.

Rita McCowan Nominated for PRIDE Experience Award

Submitted by Hani Gutierrez, APP Manager

Congratulations to Rita McCowan, an NP on the Pediatric Trauma Surgery team for being nominated for the PRIDE Experience Award. Rita has elevated the nursing profession by serving as a lead strategist, clinical advocate, and bridge-builder. Her work meets UCSF standards and also sets a new one for how the team handles, with grace and expertise, complex, multi-specialty trauma cases.

Annika Ehrlich Co-Authors a National Consensus for Standardizing Onboarding of APPs into Headache Medicine

Submitted by Ivette Becerra-Ortiz, Chief of Advanced Practice

Annika Ehrlich, the APP lead for UCSF Ambulatory Neurology and Board President of the Alliance for Headache Advocacy, co-authored a National Consensus for standardized process of APP onboarding in Headache Medicine. She currently chairs UCSF’s APP Onboarding Committee and is spearheading the transition from zoom to in-person onboarding and orientation program for new APP hires. Read more.

APP Grand Rounds

Tuesday February 10, 2026 12noon

Topic: Bloody Good Diagnoses: Unraveling Hematologic Malignancies

Presented by: Laura Zitella, NP

Zoom link meeting ID: 943 7266 1764 Password 108727

APP Town Hall

February 18, 2026 1210-1pm topic TBD.

View the recordings and review the slide decks from prior Town Halls. Click here

• Pharmacy Update, Standardized Procedure, EBP Fellowship
• Inpatient Documentation
• Optimizing wRVU (outpatient focused)
• Patient care optimization

Pediatric Grand Rounds (East Bay)



Every Tuesday 8-9AM

For Zoom login information, contact: Cristina Fernandez crfernandez@ucsf.edu, 510-428-3885 ext 4343. Full schedule and archived videos (Password: CHRCO).

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

“Ankyloglossia: Speech, Feeding, Dentition" presented by Heidi Hennig-Hance, Jaclyn Kukoff and Ray Stewart

Teach for UCSF Certificates

UCSF offers opportunities for you to earn certificates in Educator Essentials, Clinical Teaching, Education Leadership, Interprofessional Teaching, Quality Improvement and Patient Safety and many more. Courses are day long and CME credit is available. Click here for more information.

Comprehensive Cancer Care Training Program for Visiting Japanese Nurses

Submitted by Motoko Ishii, NP

Five Clinical Nurse Specialists from Japan received training at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. The training program consisted of three components: a didactive workshop, hospital visit, and clinical shadowing. The program offered firsthand insight into oncology and geriatric care at UCSF. It highlighted how CNS, NP and Nursing Professional Development (NPD) drive system level change through evidence based, and team based practice. The experience inspired participants to reflect on their own roles as CNSs and career development, emphasizing the importance of role clarity, outcome measurement, quality improvement, interdisciplinary collaboration, advanced care planning and leadership. Overall, the program broadened their perspectives and equipped them with practical strategies to strengthen oncology nursing practice, education, and organizational impact in their institutions in Japan.

Documenting is the Foundation of Quality Care--Best Practices Inpatient Setting

• Always adjust your APeX login department to an inpatient service (SVC)
• Always use .APPNOTE
• Document each patient encounter completely, accurately, and on time
• Document using these note types: consult, H&P, progress, procedure, significant event or discharge
• Document regardless of the shift you work
• Document regardless of whether you may bill for the encounter/procedure

To learn more about inpatient documentation, click here for slide deck. To view APP Town Hall presentation by Office of Compliance and Privacy and Office of Advanced Practice Provider about inpatient documentation, click here.

New Features in APEX: AI-Generated summaries of a hospitalization and recent events and also AI text assistant

For inpatient APPs, use this feature for currently admitted patients using a tool called "Inpatient Insights" in APEX. This new tool is part of a pilot program at UCSF.

Watch this training video (my access login) and view this tip sheet. There is also AI text assistant features that refine formatting, adjust tone and summarize text. Click for tip sheet.

Most importantly, sign up for AI scribe for inpatient setting here (login MyAccess)

We appreciate your feedback on this "Inpatient Insights" tool – it's essential to help us monitor the accuracy and reliability of the summaries generated. Please keep an eye out for a quick survey in the upcoming months so we can hear how well this tool works for you!

Sign up For Power User APeX Courses

Want to work more efficiently in APex? Go to this website and learn more about all the online courses you can take for free. Once on the website, go to Training Home -> Course Catalog -> Role -> SmartUser -> Start with the Introduction Course then you can add the SlicerDicer course (MD212) -> Select course date/time -> got to Cart -> Registering self-> leave Cost Center blank -> Submit request. There is no cost. Email advancedpractice@ucsf.edu if you are asked for cost center to charge. There is no fee and available to all APPs.

This Month's Epic Changes

Inpatient Provider APEX Updates February 2026

• Draft of hospital course for discharge summary
• Template update for Peds Discharge Summary Note

Ambulatory APEX Updates February 2026

• Expand tuberculosis risk screening to all primary care patients
• Consolidate and standardize referrals

Renew your DEA and BLS/ACLS

DEA: UCSF employees are exempt from paying the $888 DEA registration fee for new or renewal applications. Instructions are found here. Also, learn about the one-time DEA education requirement (effective in 2023) to complete 8 hours of continuing education on the topics of treatment and medication management of patients with opioid and other substance use disorders.

BLS/ACLS: If you have a BLS/ACLS expiring in January or February, please contact kurstan.delrosario@ucsf.edu for information on registering for the course(s).

Due within 90 days: Regulated Waste Disposal Training

On behalf of Sheila Antrum, Senior VP and COO

At UCSF Health, we are committed to protecting our patient and employees across all functions of our mission. This includes the proper handling and disposal of regulated waste. Regulated Waste Disposal training is mandatory and serves as a crucial part of our preparation for regulatory waste audits in 2026. Past audits in the UC system have found instances of hazardous waste, medical waste and patient health information being placed in incorrect disposal streams. By taking this training you will help UCSF Health remain in compliance and support best practice for waste management. Be on the lookout for an email from the UCSF Learning Center (training@ucsf.edu), which will have instructions on how to access and complete this new requirement. You can also login to the UCSF Learning platform to find the training. Please prioritize completing the training within 90 days of it being assigned.

Win $50,000 to Fund Your Improvement Idea

On behalf of Josh Adler, MD CCO, UCSF Health

The UCSF Center for Healthcare Value (CHV) and UCSF Health are pleased to announce the FY27 Caring Wisely Project Contest. We invite the submission of any proposal that improves healthcare value at UCSF Health. UCSF Health is also particularly interested in proposals that address value improvement opportunities in one of the following areas. All submissions must have a plan to evaluate and improve health equity: 

• Improve Hospital Throughput and Reduce Excess Inpatient Bed Days 
• Improve Outpatient, Inpatient, or Perioperative Clinical Access 
• Reduce Hospital-Acquired Conditions and Infections 
• Reduce Unnecessary Testing 
• Readmission Reduction 

Click here to learn more. Application Due February 27, 2026. Email rasmyah.hammoudeh@ucsf.edu with any questions about this opportunity.

2026 Nursing Grand Rounds--Friday, February 19, 2026

The Shared Nursing Governance Magnet Recognition and Professional Development Council invites you to the first Nursing Grand Rounds of 2026 on Friday February 19, 2026 from 9-11am, focused on celebrating wound care. Register on Nursing Connect and two contact hours are available. Training questions contact Rosa.weed@ucsf.edu.

UCSF Health Risk Management Bulletin

On behalf of Kim Dimino, Executive Director Medical Center Risk Management

At UCSF we have a Threat Management Team (TMT). What do they do?

Click here for more information.

Do I have to still see that patient? We have a policy that contains a workflow for handling verbally abusive and/or threatening behavior and/or excessive MyChart messages. Click here to learn more.

Remember that all patient care communications (email, text, voalte, etc) are discoverable; providers should maintain professional, objective and respectful language in all documentation and messaging.

Leadership Institute Offers Multiple Programs

Looking for leadership development? The Leadership Institute provides intentional and outcome-driven leadership development programming for APPs. Wherever you are on your leadership journey, there is a program to take you to the next level. Click here to learn more (multiple start dates).

20 New Job Postings for February 2026

Click here for the most up-to-date list of APP job postings.

A Call To Action--Public Comment period Closes March 2, 2026

Submitted by Rubi Hickson, Policy and Advocacy Committee

The U.S. Department of Education is currently implementing new measures under the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” As part of this process, the Department has excluded nursing from the list of recognized “professional” degrees. This change would directly limit how future nurses are able to finance their education, with significant downstream effects on the healthcare workforce. Click here to learn more about this call to action and a template you can use.

Relationship-Centered Communication Training for all APPs.

Pediatric Focused Course too

Complimentary training for all ambulatory and inpatient APPs. Required training for all new APP hires, must complete within 2 years of hire. Understand the importance and value of effective communication, build rapport and relationships with others. Recognize others' perspectives and concerns. Listen reflectively and respond with empathy. Upcoming dates February 5, 20, 26. March 4, 13, 17. For more dates and info. Pediatric Providers course dates available April 7, May 7, June 2.

Emails and Press Ganey Comments about NPs, PAs, CRNAs, Midwives

Email from an adult patient seen in the Colorectal Surgery Department:

 " I want to share feedback about an exceptional experience with Diana Rego, NP. During my visit, Diana was thorough in her clinical assessment and unusually clear in her communication. She explained my situation in a way that left me with no ambiguity about next steps. What stood out most was her responsiveness after the appointment: she answered my multiple follow-up questions through MyChart quickly and directly, which meaningfully reduced my anxiety and prevented what likely would have been additional calls or messages to the care team. This kind of proactive communication is exactly what patient-centered care should look like, and it's rare. Diana seems to understand that access and responsiveness drive outcomes just as much as clinical skill does. Healthcare could use more providers who prioritize clarity and follow-through over process."

Look up your group or individual patient experience score and national benchmarks on this dashboard

Seeking APPs to Translate APP Titles For a Video

Submitted by WaiYee Kwong, NP

APPs comprise approximately 30–40% of the healthcare providers delivering care to our diverse patient community. In celebration and recognition of this, the APP Advisory Board will be producing a video for APP Week that highlights our titles (NP, PA, CNM, CRNA) translated into the top five languages spoken in San Francisco (Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, Vietnamese). We are looking for four APP volunteers that will be interested in translating the APP titles on video. We are looking for volunteers of all ethnicities, and you do not need to speak the languages as we will train you phonetically. If you are interested, please contact Waiyee.Kwong@ucsf.edu.

Campus Life Services Offers Many Discounts

Golden State Warriors discounted tickets click here.

Safeway stores are offering a 5% discount on each transaction to UCSF employees and students. Click here for more Safeway details.

Shopping Discounts: click here Activities, Sports , Event Ticket Discounts: click here

Free Tickets to Cobb's Comedy Club and The Punch Line (login MyAccess)

Click here to see the January dates and shows titles for free comedy tickets for Cobb's Comedy Club and The Punch Line SF

NPIII Promotional Opportunity Upcoming Due Date

NPIII Initial applications due March 27, 2026 (Last business day in March)

If seeking a mentor for the NPIII process, email advancedpractice@ucsf.edu.

To learn more about the NPIII Clinical ladder committee or NPIII promotional opportunity, click here.

The Office of Advanced Practice Providers is here to support you

Email us at advancedpractice@ucsf.edu

Archived APP newsletters

Visit the UCSF APP website

Submit content to this newsletter anytime with this link

Christian Sendaydiego Administrative Assistant

Kurstan Del Rosario Senior Operations Analyst

Tara Valcarcel, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, NEA Director, Pediatric Operations Advanced Practice Providers 

Roseanne "Rosie" Krauter, DNP, NP, NEA-BC, NI-BC, FNP-BC Director of Informatics & Clinical Systems

Brandon Sessler MMS,PA-C

Director of Professional Practice & Fellowship Program Director

Alisa Yee, MSN, ACNP-BC

Director, Adult Operations Advanced Practice Providers

Ivette Becerra-Ortiz, DNP, MPH, NP, RN, NEA-BC, C-PNP

Chief of Advanced Practice Providers

Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs, UCSF School of Nursing (SON)

Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF SON Department of Family Health Care Nursing