David Acosta, M.D.
Associate Dean for Multicultural Affairs at the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSoM), and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine

He completed his medical school training at the University of California, Irvine College of Medicine in 1979, and completed his residency in Family Medicine at the Community Hospital of Sonoma County (an affiliate of the University of California, San Francisco) where he served as Chief Resident. After residency, he developed and practiced in a rural community health center, Northeastern Rural Health Clinics, in Susanville, CA for 8 years where he provided care for a large underserved, rural and migrant farmworker population. He then spent 16 years on the faculty at Tacoma Family Medicine Residency Program (affiliate of the University of Washington) where he initially served as Associate Director, and subsequently Residency Director and Director of the Rural Health Fellowship Program. He is the Principal Investigator for a new NIH/NHLBI grant that will allow the integration of cultural competency into the medical school curriculum. With this grant, the UWSoM is developing a new Center for Cultural Proficiency in Medical Education (CC-PriME) which will be the SOM's first cross-cultural resource center. He has been certified as a diversity trainer by the National Multicultural Institute, and has taught a number of cultural competency/diversity workshops for medical students, residents, faculty and staff.

Victoria Gardner, M.Ed., Ed.D.
Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs

I have a personal commitment to inclusion, empowerment, and diversity at all levels. I enjoy working with students on the pathway to medicine, and collaborating with colleagues on ensuring that the doors to medicine are wide open. We have many challenges right now, especially when it comes to social justice, economic mobility, and the reduction and elimination of health disparities across all communities. I believe that one of the ways we can do this is through respect for self and others, community empowerment and engagement, resource allocation, and cultural competency. Let's stay connected.

Amen Tsegai, M.A.
Project Director, Center for Cultural Proficiency in Medical Education

I joined the OMCA family in 2002. I was born and raised in Eritrea, East Africa. I earned my Bachelors and Masters degree from San Francisco State University in mass media with an emphasis on the social impact of mass media. I wrote my thesis on how immigrants used the internet to sustain and maintain a sense of community with those abroad and at home. I am the project director for the Center for Cultural Proficiency in Medical Education (CC-PriME) in the Office of Multicultural Affairs at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Vicki Pinkham, B.A.
Program Coordinator, Native American Center of Excellence

Gunalchéesh áyá xÕaxwdataan’ ("Thank you for allowing me to speak"). My name is Vicki Pinkham, and I am Tlingit (and Mexican). I am the Program Coordinator for the Native American Center of Excellence (NACOE). My academic background focused on Society & Justice and the social movements of youth. However, my primary focus at the COE is see that more minorities (and females) graduate with a medical degree. My interests are primarily in Native and Migrant health disparities and social injustice of all groups. At the COE I am available to assist medical students in the Certification process for Indian Health Pathways. Our mission is to help students fulfill their graduation requirements, achieving both academic success and cultural awareness. ÒGu.aal kwshé yakÕéi itáakw ijeet wugood’kÓ (May a good year come to you).

Dan Olson, M.S.
Program Coordinator, Student Resource Center and SMDEP

Who am I? I enjoy helping students through the pipeline to be successful in their student careers. I support the office and the School in a variety of capacities, including technical support and being available for the students. I counterbalance that with exercise outdoors in the Northwest.

Pam Racansky, M.A

My main role in the Office of Multicultural Affairs is to coordinate the Summer Medical & Dental Education Program (SMDEP). I recently joined the OMCA team in June 2007 and began work right away on the summer program. I am also tasked with coordinating (assisting?) the Center for Cultural Proficiency in Medical Education (CC-PriME) program. My academic background is medical anthropology with a concentration in cultural competency. My professional interests include but are not limited to medical anthropology, pubic and international health, social justice, reducing health disparities, increasing the number of underrepresented health care providers, and the development of culturally proficient health programs in social service agencies and academic institutions.

Felicity Abeyta, B.A.
Program Coordinator, OMCA

Welcome/Bienvenido to OMCA! "The end of all knowledge should surely be service to others". Cesar Chavez wrote this quote and it reminds me daily the importance working with community. Everyday you need to live passionately loving your self, family, community and your education. My name is Felicita "Felicity or Fefe" Abeyta. I grew up in the Northwest, when I go home to see family I travel to Arizona and New Mexico. My Mexican heritage comes from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. I'm passionate working for OMCA. We are here to increase and enhance underserved and underrepresented minorities into Medicine. To be effective, I'm a Program Coordinator actively involved with student organizations. I outreach to K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, health fairs and national minority conferences. I recruit students for our pipeline programs and medical school. In the summer time, I coordinate the UDOC high school summer enrichment program. I truly believe mentoring is a key to success for students to attend higher education and their professional career. I teach Latino children and youth in Monroe and Everett, WA for Deaconess Children Services. I participate in Mission trips to Mexico. My interests is in health disparities, higher education for all, social injustices and domestic violence. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Washington, Bothell majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies in Society, Ethics and Human Behavior. I'm a mother of one child name Cynthia. Please come by and visit us. We love for you to be a part of our familia!

Mary Walls, M.P.H.
Research Adviser

I'm Mary Walls. I have been with OMCA four years as the research advisor -assisting medical students with their Independent Investigative Inquiry projects. I also coordinate our Prematriculation program and teach Epidemiology to high school students in UDOC. My primary professional interests are health disparities and public health research. Feel free to contact me if you have questions or just want to talk.

Margaret (Peg) Pattee M.Ed.
Learning Specialist

Originally from Iowa, I received my B.A. from the University of Iowa in Social Work with an emphasis in counseling. I received my Masters in Adult Education and Training with an emphasis in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Seattle University.

I provide advice and support in the areas of time management, knowledge organization, testing, and effective learning strategies. I coordinate tutorial services for the Human Biology classes and organize Step 1 board review for second year medical students. I am the Communication instructor for the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program.

Together with my colleagues from the Office of Multicultural Affairs, I work to support underrepresented minority students in their quest to become physicians. My commitment to diversity and social justice stems from my training and work in education and counseling. My interest in cross cultural communication is a result of living and working overseas.

I am a certified trainer for Cross Cultural Health Care Program and True Colors.

I enjoy helping students discover how to balance wellness activities with their busy academic life. Feel free to stop by.

John Moreno

Welcome to OMCA! My name is John Moreno and my role with OMCA is multi-faceted. I serve as a Program Assistant to the many events and programs we host over the course of the year, including summer programs, and provide admistrative support for the Associate Dean and Director of our office and serve as the front line for visitors to our office. I look forward to assisting your visit to OMCA and providing any and all information and/or resources you may need!