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Center for Reducing Health Disparities

Center for Reducing Health Disparities

Our Team

Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, M.D., Ph.D.

Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine; Director of CRHD
Phone: (916) 703-9211
Email: sergio.aguilar-gaxiola@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu

Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis. He is the Founding Director of the Center for Reducing Health Disparities at the UC Davis Health System, the Director of the Community Engagement Program of the UCD Clinical Translational Science Center (CTSC), the co-Director of the UC Davis Latino Aging Research and Resource Center (LARRC), and co-chair of the NIH’s Community Engagement Key Function Committee for the NIH-funded Clinical Translational Science Awards (CTSAs). In 2007, he completed a four-year term as a member of the National Advisory Mental Health Council (NAMHC), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). He was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mental Health America (MHA) for a two year-term (2008-2010).  He is currently a Steering Committee and Research Scientist member of the National Hispanic Science Network (NHSN), a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Autism Speaks, a member of the International Advisory Committee of the Carlos Slim Health Institute, a member of the Board of the Latino Physicians of California, First Vice President of NAMI California, and a member of the California Medical Board’s Cultural and Linguistic Competency Program Workgroup.  He has held several World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) advisory board and consulting positions and is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health Surveys Consortium (WMHSC) and its Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola’s applied research program has focused on identifying unmet mental health needs and associated risk and protective factors to better understand and meet population mental health needs and reduce mental health disparities primarily in underserved populations. Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola is the author of over 110 scientific publications. He is the recipient of multiple awards including the Vanderbilt University Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Medal of Congress (“Medalla de la Cámara de Diputados”) of Chile for work related to mental health research, the DHHS' Office of Minority Health's 2005 National Minority Health Community Leader Award (Hispanic Community), Washington, DC, the 2007 UC Davis Academic Senate Scholarly Distinguished Service Award, the 2008 Latino Mental Health Conference Excellence in Science and Research Award from NYU Univ., the 2009 National Award of Excellence in Blending Research and Practice from the National Hispanic Science Network, and the 2012-2013 UC Davis Chancellor's Achievement Award for Diversity and Community in the Academic Senate category.  Dr. Aguilar-Gaxiola was a member of the U.S. Institute of Medicine/National Research Council (IOM/NRC) Committee on Depression, Parenting Practices, and the Health Development of Young Children (2007-2009) report and the IOM/NRC Women’s Health Research: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise (2010) report. 

 

Hendry Ton, M.D., M.S.


Hendry Ton, M.D., M.S.
Director of Education
hton@ucdavis.edu

Hendry Ton received his A.B. degree in Psychology and Molecular Cell Biology at the University of CA, Berkeley. He graduated from the U.C. Berkeley-San Francisco Joint Medical Program where he attained a M.S. degree in Health and Medical Science, a Division of Public Health and an M.D. Degree and completed his residency at U.C. San Francisco. Currently, Dr. Ton is a Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He is also the Director of Education at the Center for Reducing Health Disparities at UC Davis, where he has authored “Providing Quality Care with CLAS: A Curriculum Toolkit For Healthcare Leaders.” Dr. Ton is the co-founder and Medical Director of the Transcultural Wellness Center, an Asian and Pacific Islander focused community mental health clinic. He has received the UC Davis Chancellor’s Achievement Award for Diversity and Community in 2005 and the 2007 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Community Engagement for his work with communities, ethnic minorities, and cultural competence. Dr. Ton is also the Director of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry and he leads the UC Davis medical school curriculum on cultural competence. This effort helped the Department of Psychiatry receive the prestigious American College of Psychiatrist’s Award for Creativity in Psychiatric Education for its work on cultural competence in resident and medical student education. Dr. Ton has also received teaching awards for his work with medical students, residents, and faculty.

 

 Linda Ziegahn, Ph.D. 

Linda Ziegahn, Ph.D.
Community Engagement and Research Program Manager
Phone: (916)703-9210
Email: linda.ziegahn@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu

Linda Ziegahn, Ph.D., is currently the Community Engagement Coordinator with the Center for Reducing Health Disparities and the Clinical and Translational Science Center. She earned a doctorate in Adult Education from Michigan State University. Through her work at UC Davis Medical Center, Dr. Ziegahn is able to apply her academic preparation in adult learning, community development, and intercultural communication to the many training and coaching situations that arise when clinical researchers, practitioners, and the community at large come together to engage in dialogue around the translational research process. Prior experience includes teaching and administration for 12 years at Antioch University, where she directed the Individualized Liberal and Professional Studies program and chaired the Intercultural Relations Master of Arts program; three years at Syracuse University in the Department of Adult Education; and consultant work in Rwanda, Lesotho, Ivory Coast, and Bangladesh.