Meet the 2022–2024 HEAL Fellows
Welcoming in the 8th cohort of global health leaders into the HEAL community.
Each year, The UCSF HEAL Initiative welcomes a cohort of fellows into the 2-year Global Health Equity Fellowship. This year’s cohort is comprised of 15 highly-skilled health providers from diverse backgrounds and professions. Each fellow holds a deep commitment to making healthcare a human right and providing care to medically underserved communities.
Our cohort includes 10 site fellows who are deeply embedded into the communities they serve. From Navajo Nation, three Dinè women and Indigenous health advocates who are working in IHS hospitals in Chinle, Arizona and Shiprock, New Mexico join the HEAL cohort.
Internationally, HEAL welcomes a Malawian physician and Nurse and who are community health leaders at Apwenzi Pa Za Umozo (Partners in Health). A community mental health supervisor, as well as a research and impact coordinator working in Chiapas, Mexico at Compañeros en Salud (Partners in Health) bring their expertise to the cohort. HEAL also welcomes a Malian Government Partnerships Manager working with our partners at Muso in Mali along with a Nepalese physician leading a District Hospital in a rural community.
These domestic and international site fellows will accompany 5 rotating fellows, U.S. trained physicians, who serve for up to a year at a time at HEAL’s domestic and international partner sites.
As the pandemic continues on and health disparities widen in resource denied places around the world, we look to leaders and community health advocates like those in the 2022–2024 HEAL cohort who are leading on the ground changes.
Learn more about this incredible group who are joining a community of over 170 health professionals committed to transforming global health and practicing social medicine.
Scroll through the cards below to learn more about the fellows, and click for their bios.
Alimata Sangare
‘’My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
— Desmond Tutu
Alimata is originally from Mali. She is a Human Rights Lawyer & holds a Master degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame, USA. Currently, she works as a Government Partnerships Manager at Muso Health Organization, a Nonprofit Organization that advocates for social justice and equity in global health. Read more.
Donna Dineyazhe
“My grandchild, education is the ladder. Tell our people to take it.”
— Hastinn Ch’il Haajiin (Chief Manuelito)
Donna Dineyazhe is originally from Shiprock, New Mexico, a small community located on the Navajo Reservation. She is a member of the Navajo Tribe and works in the community where she was born and raised. She is currently practicing as a Certified Nurse-Midwife at Northern Navajo Medical Center (NNMC) in Shiprock and has been with Indian Health Service (IHS) for almost 18 years. Read more.
Erika Gutiérrez
“My actions are my only true belongings.” — Thích Nhất Hạnh
Erika Valtierra was born and raised in Mexico City, where she pursued undergraduate studies in psychology and a Master’s degree in counseling at Universidad Iberoamericana. After a couple of years believing that she’d dedicate her life to neurosciences, she chose to work with underserved populations after a weekend as a volunteer in a rural community near home. Read more.
George Limwado
“Nothing is invented, for it’s written in nature first. Originality consists of returning to the origin.” — Antoni Gaudi
George Dalitso Limwado from Malawi, studied Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at Kamuzu University Health Sciences formerly the University of Malawi, College of Medicine. He is an integrated chronic care clinic (IC3) medical officer where he provides comprehensive assessments and care planning for individuals with chronic conditions such as Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, chronic lung diseases, mental health diseases and HIV and AIDS. Read more.
Ivonne Chavez
“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” — Mother Teresa
Ivonne Vasquez is originally from Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. At the age of nine, her family immigrated to California. During her high school years, Ivonne aspired to become a nurse but due to her legal status she was not able to pursue her goal.
Once DACA was approved, at the age of 24 Ivonne completed her Medical Assistant certification. Her first job as a Medical assistant was at an OB/GYN private practice, where her interests in Obstetrics and Gynecology grew more. After 2 years in that role, Ivonne made it her goal to work at La Clinica, where she received care as a young child and experienced first-hand diversity in a community clinic. Read more.
Katherine Fu
“You are not a drop in the ocean; you are the entire ocean in a drop.” — Rumi
Katherine Fu is originally from West Windsor, New Jersey, the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Her interest in global medicine started during college, in a Global Health and Developmental Policy program in Geneva, Switzerland. There, she completed a field project interviewing women on their birth experiences in varying healthcare systems. She then went on to conduct infectious disease research in medical school as a Doris Duke International Research Fellow in Peru and Bolivia. Read more.
Ka Yi Li
“Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt.” — Grace Lichtenstein
Ka Yi Li (Kiki) was born in Hong Kong. At the age of twelve, her family immigrated to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. Growing up in a working class environment, Kiki witnesses firsthand her non-English speaking parents face significant barriers to access health care services. She was inspired to pursue medicine and made a resolute mission to serve the most vulnerable communities in the United States and abroad. Read more.
Lemekeza Namwali
“Have no fear in perfection, you will never reach it.” — Salvador Dali
Lemekeza Namwali was born and raised in Lilongwe Malawi, she did her primary school at Bambino primary schools in Lilongwe and completed her secondary school at Lilongwe girls secondary school. she works as a Nursing officer with Ministry of Health at Neno District hospital in the southern part of Malawi. Her work as a Nursing officer, global health related issues have always been her passion to reach utmost vulnerable population with essential health equity services around Malawi, such as; communicable and non-communicable diseases, Quality Improvement projects, primary health care programs and social economic support in rural Malawi. Read more.
Michaela Sous
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane.”
–- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Michaela Sous is originally from northern California. She received her undergraduate degree in French from Cornell University and her medical degree from Des Moines University in Iowa. She participated in the Global Health Pathways of Distinction program completing research internships at the World Health Organization. She gained valuable clinical experience in India, Dominican Republic, Uganda, and Rwanda. Michaela led diversity health and social justice training through her medical school’s Multicultural Affairs department where she met her now husband (Waseem Sous — also a 2022–2024 HEAL fellow). Read more.
Noelani Sells
“You can’t stop the waves but you can learn how to surf.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn
Noelani Sells is from Rough Rock, Arizona. Her clans are Chishi (Chiricahua Apache), born for Tlogi (Weavers Clan), her maternal grandfather is Tsi’naajinii (Blackstreak clan) and her paternal grandfather is Honaghaahnii (One of walk around clan). She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Fort Lewis College. Noelani currently works for Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Facility in the Integrated Behavioral Health Department as a Behavioral Health Coach. Read more.
Raj Kumar Dangal
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever!”
— Ghandi
Dr. Rajkumar Dangal, A General Practitioner, born in rural Nepal, has been working for rural populations for more than 10 years. He completed his undergraduate medical school from Hebei Medical University, China, in year 2010; and Post-graduate training in MDGP from Institute of Medicine (IOM), Nepal. His growing up in rural areas till high school brought him up to intend to serve most for rural communities from early childhood. Later on, it became a passion, more than anything. Read more.
Shanna Nez
“Nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.” — Denzel Washington
Shanna Nez is of the Red House people clan, born for Water edge people clan. She is originally from Rock Point Arizona. She lives in Chinle, Arizona with her family. Currently she is doing her pre-requisitions for her nursing degree. Shanna works for Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare facility with the Public Health Nursing Diabetes program. She has been with the Diabetes program for 10 years working as a Diabetes health coach. Read more.
Timothee Fruhauf
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” — Mother Teresa
Timothee was born in France and grew up in the CA Bay Area. In undergrad, he discovered the reach of public health interventions for resource restricted settings and shifted his focus from political science towards health as a means to international development. His commitment to international health was confirmed when he joined a team to develop and launch a data collection platform that focused on getting real-time, accurate data directly into the hands of stakeholders in several countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia with the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute. Read more.
Waseem Sous
“I truly believe the only way we can create global peace is through not only educating our minds, but our hearts and our souls.” — Malala Yousafzai
Waseem Sous grew up in Amman, Jordan. He moved to the United States at age 18 to pursue his dream of practicing medicine. As a first-generation college student, he received his B.S. in Biology from North Park University in Chicago. Waseem received his medical degree from Des Moines University in Iowa, where he met his wife (Michaela Sous — also a 2022–2024 HEAL fellow!) and developed an interest in global health. Waseem advocated for awareness of health disparities and led discussions about culturally preconceived notions. Read more.
Zeus Remon
“Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction.” — Francis Picabia
Zeus Aranda, originally from Vidreres, Spain, studied Biotechnology at the University of Girona. Subsequently, he completed Master’s programs in Biomedical Research, International Business Administration, and Global Health. In 2017 he started collaborating with diverse governments, health facilities, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations to assess the impact of social determinants on health outcomes, conduct implementation research, and perform monitoring and evaluation activities in Spain, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, and Mexico. Read more.
