Patient Safety Clinical Specialist, Department of Quality and Patient Safety 

  Here is what Julie's nominator had to say about her:

 "Julie has been an essential member of the Patient Safety Department for several years. Much of her work is behind the scenes, but has  been so important in making UCSF a safer place for patients and staff. Patient Safety calls for her to work with departments across the  organization. In all of these partnerships, Julie goes above and beyond to collaborate effectively and develop sustainable solutions. Her  commitment to excellence is apparent in everything that she does. She never hesitates to take on new projects, learn a new skill or lend a  hand to a colleague. Julie maintains calm and thoughtful demeanor even when the job is stressful, which creates a positive atmosphere for  all around her.  She serves as a role model to so many through her commitment to excellence, leadership and positivity. Julie’s leadership  and collaborative spirit have helped so many redefine possible."

 - Paige Porter, Patient Safety Coordinator, UCSF Health 

Julie's Bio:

I started my professional career a Pharmacy Informaticist and was driven to build systems that bring the best out of people to provide the highest quality of care. I was fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity expand beyond pharmacy and medication safety when I joined UCSF Health as a Patient Safety Clinical Specialist 6 years ago. In my UCSF journey, I learned that Patient Safety is incredibly hard work; it requires systems thinking, attention to detail, difficult conversations and overcoming obstacles. While these elements are all important, I have learned that compassion and empathy for our patients and our people are essential to finding meaning in this hard work. I am grateful to the mentors, leaders and role models who have helped me on my UCSF journey and continue to guide me to this day.

If you could go anywhere for a day where would you go?

Back to Maui and Star Noodle to enjoy their delicious udon.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Dance party with my kids. Will be dancing as much as possible while they will still do it with me.

Can you tell us about an important role model or mentor in your life?

I was fortunate to have had a very strong mentor, Bonnie Levin, in my early years as a Pharmacist. Bonnie has seen me grow from a student, to a professional, and was influential in my development as a leader. Although her guidance in my development was profound, I truly valued how she let me grow, make mistakes, and supported me as I learned from them. I hope to someday provide that same mentorship to others.

What advice would you give yourself early on in your career? To a woman entering your field today?

Change is constant; don’t be afraid of it. Use it to your advantage.

Meet other outstanding women of UCSF Health through Our Spotlight.