
Thomas es un autodefensor con una licenciatura en Relaciones Internacionales de la Universidad del Estado de San Francisco y una especialización secundaria en Justicia Penal y Política de Seguridad Nacional. Ha recibido los servicios del sistema de centros regionales durante más de 40 años y ha participado en el Programa de Autodeterminación durante más de tres años. Thomas se desempeña como copresidente del comité asesor local del San Andreas Regional Center, practica la toma de decisiones con apoyo con sus círculos de apoyo y orienta a otros autodefensores para que lleven vidas autodeterminadas. Durante varios años también ha participado en actividades de asesoría y políticas públicas en materia de discapacidad en el ámbito estatal.
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.


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Now more than ever, DVU’s advocacy and resources are critical for our community. Please consider helping amplify our voices with a tax-deductible donation today.