Associate Professor, Division of Prevention Science in the Department of Medicine

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

“Dr. Saberi has taken a painful, heartbreaking moment in time – difficult for both those who live inside Iran, as well as those who watch from a distance or have families who are directly impacted – and helped galvanize the energy and emotion into something positive.”  Another nominator summed it up well: “Dr. Saberi is a true leader and an inspiring scientist and activist. She is a role model for future generations of female scientists, activists, and leaders.”  

Parya’s Bio: 

Dr. Saberi is an Associate Professor at UCSF’s Department of Medicine. She joined UCSF in 2005 for her second-year residency and her fellowship, and continued as faculty in the Division of Prevention Science where she is the Principal Investigator of multiple NIH grants and the Director of the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies’ Developmental Core. She conducts behavioral research on HIV treatment and prevention with a focus on improving healthcare delivery to increase access for all and reducing health disparities among people with HIV. Dr. Saberi is an expert clinical consultant for the CDC/HRSA-funded National Clinician Consultation Center (HIV Warmline, PEPline, PrEPline, and Perinatal HIV Hotline), which has the mission of promoting health equities in the US by supporting healthcare professionals through evidence-informed, person-centered clinical consultation and education. In addition to founding the UCSF WomanLifeFreedom group, Dr. Saberi has an MFA in dance. 

What do you like to do outside of work?  

I am a performer, choreographer, and instructor of dance. I first started Iranian dancing at age 6 with performances ranging from classical Iranian to folkloric dances from various regions of Iran. After moving to the US, I joined a New York-style Mambo dance company and later, a belly dance company. In 2021, I graduated with an MFA in Dance at Saint Mary's College of California. In September 2023, I directed, produced, choreographed, and performed in my first contemporary Iranian dance production, "Dancing with Hafez” at Dance Mission Theatre in San Francisco. It was an immersive experience that included an all-woman cast of musicians, dancers, and designers and honored the Woman Life Freedom movement.

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