APP SPOTLIGHT

Cares for Kids Radio-thon

Submitted by Tara Valcarcel, Director of Operations, Pediatric Services Cross Bay

The Pediatric GI and Renal Team (pictured: Maura Howe, Jessica Brennan, Meghan Finn, Marilyn McEnhill, and Meg Schoettler) participated in the KOIT Cares for Kids Radio-thon on December 8, 2025. During the event, live broadcasts shared inspiring patient stories, encouraging donations to support Bay Area kids. The APPs raised over $18,000 by answering phones during their shifts, contributing to direct patient care. Funds for the Peds Renal team help cover transportation for dialysis patients and provide pillbox training kits for transplant preparation. In partnership with 1st Norcal Credit Union, the event raised a total of $311,271 for Benioff Children’s Hospital.

Annika Ehrlich Wins Advanced Practitioner Award

Annika Ehrlich, DNP, FNP-C, CNRN, AQH, (in photo: middle) was recognized with the American Headache Society's Advanced Practitioner Award at the annual December Scottsdale Symposium. The criteria for the award is long-standing contributions to advancing clinical practice in the field of Headache. Annika demonstrated substantial contributions in the area of practice expertise, leadership, mentoring, education, advocacy and/or collaborative activities with impact at the state, regional, national, or international level. As the award recipient, Annika has been invited to attend the Scottsdale Headache Symposium® and submit an editorial in Headache®, along with options to record a virtual educational lecture and promotional materials highlighting her work.

Fabienne Hollinger Receives Certificate of Appreciation

Submitted by Megan Schoettler, APP Manager

The Department of Pediatrics awarded Fabienne Hollinger, FNP, in pediatric oncology, a certificate of appreciation for her "exceptional care and collaboration for liver tumor patients." Please join the department in recognizing her dedication to the oncology outpatients across the solid tumor, retinoblastoma, Pediatric Hereditary Cancer Center (PHCC), and Phase I cohorts.

BCH Living Donor Liver Transplant Program Makes the News

Lisa Gallagher, NP, MSN, is a Pediatric Liver Transplant Nurse Practitioner and is pivotal in the UCSF Living Donor Transplant Program. The program made the NBC Bay Area News as UCSF continues to encourage for more living to save lives, Click here.

Craniofacial NP named as a Strategic Plan Implementation Hero

submitted by Megan Schoettler, APP manager

The Craniofacial Center team, which includes Eve Rorison, NP, was experiencing increased median schedule lag for new patients. So they designed a new clinic specifically for 22.q11.2 deletion syndrome patients and identified clinic space with an adjacent community room that enhanced care delivery and peer support. Congratulations to all the team members including Drs. Glenn Rosenbluth, Jason Pomerantz, Nicole Brown, RN, and Eve Rorison, NP.

APP Grand Rounds

Tuesday January 13, 2026 12noon

Topic: Acute Right Ventricular Failure

Presenter: Michael Parsley, NP

Zoom link meeting ID: 93273511179 Password 599853

APP Town Hall

January 21, 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, January 13, 2026

“Chest Pain in Children" Presented by Walter Li, MP, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology and Electrophysiology, UCSF

Multidisciplinary Journal Club--January 13th

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 4-5pm, zoom link

Location: Parnassus M919 Conference Room

Topic: Evidence behind peri-procedural nutrition practices in critically ill patients--FEEDS Trial RCT at Parnassus ICU

Facilitators: ICU Nutritionist, Critical Care NP, Critical Care Medicine Fellow

Applications Open: Osher Collaborative Faculty Fellowship

This evidence-based fellowship is designed for clinicians practicing at academic medical centers, particularly individuals affiliated with the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health (ACIMH) or institutions offering integrative health clinical services to support local mentorship.The program is remote and includes weekly live sessions, mentored case discussions, a scholarly project, and optional opportunities such as health coaching and Lifestyle Medicine certification. Application deadline: January 15, 2026. Program start: 2026–2027 academic year. Tuition: $14,000. For more information click here.

Integrative Ayurvedic Medicine Training for Clinicians

Applications open for UCSF Osher Center Integrative Ayurvedic Medicine Training for Clinicians 2026–2027 cohort. This year-long, virtual program offers a structured, clinically oriented foundation in Ayurveda, combining live instruction with self-paced coursework to support practical integration into patient care. Click here for more information. Application deadline: March 30, 2026. Program dates: September 2026 – August 2027. Time commitment: ~12 hours/week. Live class schedule: Thursdays, 3-5p.m. PST (Zoom). Tuition: $9,500. Application deadline: March 30, 2026. Eligible healthcare professionals include MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, RNs, and others.

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!

Stay Current with All Epic Changes

Inpatient Provider APEX Updates January 2026

• Default pharmacy for discharge prescriptions at Parnassus and Mission Bay hospitals 
• Order tracking now available for all lab tests

Ambulatory APEX Updates January 2026

• Order tracking now available for all lab tests
• eRmoval of STAT priority option in some lab tests

Renew your DEA and BLS/ACLS

Reminder: 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. 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).

Patient No More: People with Disabilities Securing Civil Rights

All UCSF students, staff, faculty and members of the general public are invited to experience this pivotal chapter in US civil rights history. The Patient No More exhibition highlights the historic 504 Sit-In, in April 1977, people with disabilities occupied the San Francisco Federal Building for 26 days, helping secure the signing of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. More information on the Patient No More Website.

The exhibition is on the Main Floor of the Parnassus Library, 530 Parnassus Ave Monday through Friday 9am-4pm. Exhibition is on view Dec 8, 2025 through February 1, 2026.

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, 026 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.

Announcing UCSF Expanded Pharmacy Care Services 

UCSF now has expanded pharmacy services at Parnassus, Mission Bay (Bayfront), and Stanyan Hospital and our Specialty Pharmacy. They are more than a dispensing pharmacy. They provide comprehensive, integrated care. The system is integrated with Apex, providing providers with real-time visibility into your patients' prescription status. Plus, you can easily reach our clinical teams via MyChart, Voalte, or Teams for immediate support. 

Explore their enhanced clinical programs and encourage patients to get their meds filled with UCSF Pharmacy. Read more here and see their flyer.

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).

New Job Postings for January 2026

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

Falls Prevention

Many of UCSF reported falls have occurred when high-risk patients were left unattended during ambulation, transfers, or toileting. As always, patient safety remains our highest priority, and we want staff to feel confident offering assistance—even in situations when patients may initially decline help. Consider using this scripting tool when communicating with your patients to enhance patient safety and reduce falls.

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.

Press Ganey Comments about NPs, PAs, CRNAs, Midwives

Pediatric GI: "My daughter had a GI concern and had an appointment with Maura Howe PNP. Maura was so kind, listened to all of the concerns, asked great questions, created a plan to address and had excellent follow-up after appointment. My daughter said it was the best medical experience they had ever had.”

Melanoma Cancer Center: Christine Kim - good listener; answered questions and addressed all concerns; did not feel rushed at all.

General Surgery: Always impressed by Sara Palilla's knowledge and professionalism

NeurosurgerySpine: Crystal [Bravate] has been caring and has always addressed my concerns.

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

Kidney Transplant Care with Mental Health Support

The Pediatric Renal Transplant Team, including NPs Jessica Brennan and Marilyn McEnhill, advocated for incorporating mental health support alongside clinical care with the liver and heart transplant teams. For a full description of the robust program, read this newsletter.

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 Dates

Reappointment due February 27, 2026 (Last business day in February)

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.

Correction to December 2025 Newsletter

An additional graduate of the 2025 LEAP Leadership Institute Program is Shawna Ward, NP

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