Our Team
Helena Hansen, MD, PhD
Helena Hansen, an MD, Ph.D. psychiatrist-anthropologist, is Professor and Interim Chair of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, and Interim Director of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. She is an international leader in the field of social medicine, and of integration of rigorous social science into academic medicine as well as into research on social determinants of health and health equity. She popularized the term “Translational Social Science” by launching UCLA medical school’s research theme in Health Equity and Translational Social Science as its inaugural chair from 2020-2023 . She is the author of three books: Whiteout: How Racial Capitalism Changed the Color of Opioids in America (with Jules Netherland and David Herzberg, University of California Press 2023); Structural Competency in Medicine and Mental Health: A Case-Based Approach to Treating the Social Determinants of Health (with Jonathan Metzl, Springer Press 2019); and Addicted to Christ: Remaking Men in Puerto Rican Pentecostal Drug Ministries (University of California Press 2018). She is the author of over 100 articles and chapters in leading clinical and social science journals, serves or has served on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Psychiatry, American Anthropologist, Milbank Quarterly and Medical Anthropology Quarterly among others, serves on the governing boards of the International Society for Addiction Medicine, the Lancet Commission on US Health Policy, the National Academy of Medicine Opioid Action Collaborative and the Drug Policy Alliance among others, and has received numerous awards, including an honorary doctorate from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, and election to the National Academy of Medicine in 2021.
Yvonne Phelan
Community Support Advocate
Yvonne Phelan, MS Ed. Senior Socio-Clinical and Public Engagement Manager. MS Ed University of Southern California. Concentration in cognitive learning with experience in underserved communities. Conducted fieldwork in Spanish and French-speaking countries. A lifetime advocate of social justice and community engagement.
Roxana Cruz
Community Support Advocate
Growing up in a studio apartment with my three siblings and parents in the impoverished underfunded Westlake, Los Angeles. I had to go out of my comfort zone, to find resources or assets. I’ve always strived for higher education. My educational goals and interests are Research experience and internships/fellowships that will have me shadowing and investigating issues in my community. As someone who is starting to traverse through University as an Undergrad, I want to take advantage of as much mentorship as I can get, to build my network and knowledge. Some of my hobbies include making Yelp reviews in foodie spots and going through the many books in LAPL in Downtown LA, which is basically my backyard.
Han Legaspi
Community Support Advocate
“Hannah, or “Han”, Legaspi is a dedicated professional who is passionate about reducing health disparities at the administrative level and driving systems change. She graduated from UCSD with a Bachelors of Science in Public Health (emphasis in Community Health) and a minor in Ethnic Studies. With expertise in health equity and community engagement, they have contributed to various initiatives promoting community well-being. Currently, Han is pursuing a Master of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Management at UCLA. She is continuing her involvement with the Charles R. Drew Medical University and UCLA Social Medicine Collaboration where she engages with key experts and stakeholders to develop a social medicine mobile clinic focused on promoting the well being of transitional age youth. Han applies strategic initiatives based on human-centered design to facilitate the progress of this project and continuously engage with local, community stakeholders.
Dannae Martin
Community Support Advocate
Hello! My name is Dannae Martin. I am a first-generation bilingual Latina with aspiring goals. One of them is to become a physician assistant. After graduating from California State University Northridge with a degree in Biology, I was blessed with the opportunity to join the Summer Urban Health Fellowship. Here, I learned about health disparities and issues that evolved in underserved communities. I collaborated with fellows and researched social justice topics impacting the healthcare system.
I have also been working as a research study coordinator for almost three years, completing visits in accordance with COVID-19 and HIV studies. In addition, I volunteered for the Harbor-UCLA free clinic, where I gained insight into street medicine. I found my passion for providing equitable and accessible healthcare through research and volunteer work for underserved communities and infectious disease patient visits. Thus, my commitment to the Social Medicine Collab team compels me to support and advocate for communities facing health inequities while navigating the anxiety-inducing healthcare system.
I am thrilled to continue to grow and make a substantial positive impact on the youth. And to end with a quick but fun fact: my favorite hobby is dancing. I became a Zumba instructor about three years ago and was invited to teach Zumba classes for various healthcare pipelines and college programs.
Taaliyah Tucker
Community Support Advocate
Laila Velasquez
Community Support Advocate
Laila Velasquez, Second-Year Computer Science major at Cal State LA. I am passionate about coding and advocating for the environment and my community. I’ve been a part of this program for the past 2 years, and I’m excited to see what’s next!