Cynthia comenzó su carrera profesional como coordinadora de servicios para sordos en un centro de vida independiente, donde descubrió su pasión por ayudar a personas con discapacidades y sus comunidades. Comenzó con Disability Rights California en 2006, donde atendía a personas que recibían apoyo del sistema de centros regionales, y más adelante trabajó en asuntos de educación especial a nivel estatal. Cynthia también llevó a cabo revisiones e investigaciones con la Oficina de Revisión de Beneficiarios y Asistencia a Beneficiarios para proteger a las personas y fortalecer los programas. Actualmente se desempeña como Defensora del Pueblo interina de SDP, un cargo neutral centrado en la mejora de programas, la rendición de cuentas y la colaboración en todo el sistema.
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, MD, PhD
Director, UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities, Parent
As a clinical professor of internal medicine and founding director of the Center for Reducing Health Disparities (CRHD) at UC Davis Health, Dr. Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola has spent nearly three decades promoting equitable and culturally competent health care for underserved populations. He has led initiatives to collect and analyze racial, ethnic, and language data from patients and integrate them into electronic health records, improving both the quality and accessibility of care.
Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola also directs the Community Engagement Program at the UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC), where he fosters partnerships between academic and community stakeholders to address local and regional health needs. He has held leadership roles in the NIH’s Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program and is a member of the National Advisory Councils for NCATS and SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services.
A leading expert in mental health and population health outcomes, Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola has authored over 200 publications, earned numerous awards, and is actively involved in the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Surveys Consortium.