Department Business Manager, Clinical Technologies, UCSF Health

Here is what Lauren’s nominator had to say about her:

"Lauren is one of the single most important individuals within our Clinical Technologies Engineering department. She is responsible for the Business Administration of our whole department and her work far exceeds the traditional responsibilities of someone with this job description. She has been an anchor and mentor helping to develop many team members whether they be our young woman and men as new employees as well as our experienced members in assisting them in developing new skills. She provides so many intangible contributions to the whole department with her steadfastness, positive disposition, patience, and dedication to our institution. A true example for the department, I cannot stress how important Lauren is to our continued success. Be it hiring and interviewing, working on brand new standards and practices, developing never thought of off the cuff ideas, which are not only for UCSF but also for the whole of the organizations in the state. Her budget management and training are provided to new managers as they develop into their new positions and roles. Working with project managers, vendors, UCSF customers, and integration ideas are just normal day to day for Lauren. Her willingness to participate and be involved with all aspects of the purchasing process and sharing during meetings to the departments outside of her scope is invaluable and brings the whole picture of the Clinical Technologies Engineering business into focus for both our customers and upper management which is priceless. Lauren takes on challenges where the whole of ClinTech relies on her insights and ability to coordinate managers and staff in finding and then implementing solutions. We could not have developed an in-house imaging program so quickly if not for her in-depth detailed knowledge of our institution. Lauren deserves recognition as an outstanding crucial UCSF asset. Yes, to Woman of the Month, heck, she should be Woman of the Year."

Nominated by: Harold ‘Doug’ Shearer and her supporters at Clinical Technologies

Lauren’s Bio:

I started my career in healthcare at another San Francisco hospital as the secretary in the facilities and environmental services department. This was my introduction to the vital staff behind the scenes who provide support services to nursing floors and the Medical Center. After five years in this position, the hospital completed a merger, and this position was unfortunately eliminated; just as one door closed a few minutes later, another door opened. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to become the Clinical Technologies/Biomed coordinator at this facility.

I loved working at my previous hospital but always wanted to work for UCSF. In 2007, my mom suffered a stroke and was admitted to UCSF for her initial care. Having a loved one in critical care is scary on its own. However, the compassion we saw from the Doctors, Nurses, and students put us at ease, knowing she was in good hands. It was a feeling I never felt in any other hospital.

In 2014, I was hired as an Analyst within Clinical Technologies overseeing the health center Medical Equipment service contracts at UCSF. I have worked my way up as the Business Manager. I now oversee the Business Operations for the whole department, which supports the entire UCSF Health system and remote clinics stretching from North Bay down to Monterey Bay. Climbing the ladder throughout my career, I have learned that each step is vital to one’s development, and each experience, good or bad, can be developed into a learning experience. One of the most complicated challenges in my career I had to learn was how to silence the impostor syndrome. We sometimes focus on what is before us instead of stepping back and seeing how far one has come. I hope to show and remind others that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and celebrate all wins- big or small. 

I take pride in working within the Clinical Technologies department. Being involved with Capital Equipment procurement, helping organize UCOP-wide service agreements, and collaborating with other UC (University of California) sites for best practices are just the tip of the iceberg of what our department does for the system. Each day brings something new. Seeing the advancements of medical devices and the innovation of the latest technology is quite exciting. Our technicians/engineers work day in and day out, ensuring medical devices are safe for patient use and are readily available for procedures for our Patients. They are indeed the ones who deserve a spotlight for all their hard work and dedication. 

Can you tell us about a significant role model or mentor in your life?

I was fortunate to be raised and surrounded by many strong women role models. They taught me to keep my feet firmly on the ground, my head held high, and my voice steady. Watching them achieve goals with no college degrees and advancing in the workplace showed me that anything is possible with dedication and pride in oneself.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I was born and raised as a SF Giants fan, so catching a game is one of my favorite past times.

Meet other outstanding women of UCSF through Our Spotlight.