Erika Simpson joined the staff of Ravenswood Family Health Center (RFHC) located in East Palo Alto, California, three years ago on December 18, 2003. From her inception with RFHC Erika has demonstrated a tremendous natural gift for leadership that renews ones faith that we will be succeeded in clinic administration by a passionate, committed and capable new generation of leaders.

Erika came on staff as a half time Volunteer Program Coordinator. She was also going to college part time to get her prerequisites to be able to obtain a Master’s degree. As the volunteer coordinator she was responsible to set up the program from scratch. We had no forms, or system or process for integrating volunteers. Erika created the entire program within 3 months, working collaboratively with management staff to ensure that volunteers would be well matched and would benefit rather than detract from clinic services. In coordination with Stanford University’s Public Service Medical Scholars program, and the Haas Center for Community Service, Erika set up a Patient Advocacy program and trained volunteer undergraduates for specific projects. Bilingual Patient Advocates were trained to be utilized by our providers to complete medical history forms, advanced directives, and some instances teach basic health information about screenings, diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and safe sex.

In September of 2006, facing the opening of a new satellite expansion site without finding a clinic coordinator to hire, Erika agreed to assume the role of interim clinic coordinator for our new satellite, Belle Haven clinic. She worked day and night for 6 weeks, writing policies and procedures, making forms, creating HIPPA compliance documents, and stocking and organizing the new space so that we could open on time. Up to this time, while at RFHC she has put her education on hold.

Recently, Erika received national recognition as the first recipient of the 2007 Geiger Gibson Emerging Leader Award bestowed by the George Washington University School of Public Health on a young leader in community health. In three and half years at RFHC she has played many roles. In the nomination, RFHC CEO said, “One of her most notable abilities is to empower those that she works with, enabling them to perform their tasks more effectively. She is never inclined to focus on her own achievements, but consistently represents the achievements of the team as a whole.”

Erika manages to meet challenges with quiet composure and good sense, always staying focused on the needs of patients and staff. For this reason, she has the confidence and trust of staff at all levels – from the newcomer at the front desk to seasoned medical providers.