Communication and Engagement Manager, Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor 

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

“Kim LaPean is an ally for all women of color. She always advocates for those who are not typically seen or heard. She makes space for women of color and sponsors us when we are not in the room. Kim is an advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She definitely should be celebrated!"

- Ailene Estalilla, Organizational Development Manager Finance, Administration & Operations 

Kim's Bio: 

I joined UCSF Finance & Administration as their first communications and engagement manager in January 2018. My role is to support internal communication and employee engagement within the Senior Vice Chancellor’s office, as well as support a network of department communicators. Before that, I spent 14 years at the University of California, Berkeley in communications roles for the health center and Student Affairs.  

What’s on your reading list?

I’m an avid reader but I’ve had a hard time breaking out of non-fiction content for the last several years, especially with the national turmoil. I recently stumbled upon Swedish author Frederick Backman and burned through his books Anxious People and My Grandmother Said to Tell You She’s Sorry. His writing style is hilarious with a bit of melancholy. His intergenerational stories of human connection really speak to me.  

What’s your ideal weather?

Nobody obsesses about talking about the weather like folks in Bay Area! I lived in the south for the first half of my life but I have completely acculturated to our microclimate. I hate the heat and I never want to live where it snows again. I thought our basic weather here was my dream—temperate and mostly sunny in the daytime and chilly at night. Until I went to Kaua’i for the first time last month. It’s hard to beat mid-70s all year, although I still prefer it a little colder for sleeping.  

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

Invest in yourself. Most of the professional women I know, myself included, put their own development and wellbeing at the bottom of the list. Especially during COVID, it feels like a luxury to dedicate time for yourself to learn and grow. No one is going to do it for you. Do it for yourself. Keep yourself in motion.  

What brought you to healthcare? Can you tell us about your professional journey?

I come from a restaurant family, so I was born into the service sector. I fell in love with higher education while working at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Career opportunities brought my family to Bay Area and UC Berkeley in 2003 and a few years later I accepted a newly created communications job at the health center at the University of California, Berkeley. I was interested in the intersection of nutrition and wellness in public health, naively thinking these were the core health needs of the modern student population. While those are important, I spent most of my crisis-laden ten years helping a community of more than 30,000 navigate infectious disease outbreaks, mental health challenges, tumultuous sexual assault incidents, health disparities, and a rapidly evolving health insurance environment. I am in awe of the dedication of all levels of patient care providers and supporters. Health care and restaurant service are similar in that you never know what you are going to face that day. A key difference is that food tends to bring people together, while health care can divide unless we nurture our systems carefully. Most people seeking care are vulnerable and how well we serve them can be the difference between life and death. I have a less hectic role here at UCSF, working on internal communications and staff engagement for the 2,000 employees who work in Finance & Administration. No matter how far removed I am from patient care, my whole heart is in this work. It’s a privilege to work in service to our UCSF mission.  

Meet other outstanding women of UCSF Health through Our Spotlight.