Alicia Fernandez, MD

Professor

Alicia Fernandez, M.D., is Professor of Medicine at UCSF and a general internist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. She is the founding Director of the UCSF Latinx Center of Excellence, a HRSA and UCSF funded initiative to increase academic diversity. Dr. Fernandez directs the Latinx and Immigrant Health Research Program at the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations which generates actionable research to increase health equity and reduce health disparities in at-risk populations in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and nationally

Dr. Fernandez' research expertise includes language and literacy barriers in health care, health care equity in chronic disease, and racism in medicine. Most recently, her NIH funded research has focused on improving diabetes care among immigrant populations. Dr. Fernandez has served on the National Academy of Science Roundtable on Health Literacy since 2014. Dr. Fernandez is on the Board of Governors and Chair of the Science Oversight Committee at the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Center. Since 2020, she serves on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

At UCSF, Dr. Fernandez is a member of the UCSF Academy of Medical Educators. She received the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Professorship for Humanism in Medicine (2009-2013). Along with colleagues at UCSF, she edits the textbook, Medical Management of Vulnerable and Underserved Patients (Lange,2nd edition)
Education
2017 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
Websites
Publications

  1. Luis A Rodriguez, Stephen Shiboski, Patrick Bradshaw, Alicia Fernandez, David M Herrington, Jingzhong Ding, Ryan D Bradley, Alka M Kanaya. Abstract P282: A Simple Clinical Scoring System Using Readily Available Clinical Measures for Prediction of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Evidence From the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). 2020. PMID:


  2. Wheeler M, de Bourmont S, Paul-Emile K, Pfeffinger A, McMullen A, Critchfield JM, Fernandez A. Physician and Trainee Experiences With Patient Bias. 2019. PMID: 31657839


  3. Glaser J, Pfeffinger A, Quan J, Fernandez A. Medical Students' Perceptions of and Responses to Health Care Disparities During Clinical Clerkships. 2019. PMID: 30640262


  4. Beck AL, Iturralde EM, Haya-Fisher J, Kim S, Keeton V, Fernandez A. Barriers and facilitators to healthy eating among low-income Latino adolescents. 2019. PMID: 30954634


  7. Ignatius Bau, Robert A. Logan, Christopher Dezii, Bernard Rosof, Alicia Fernandez, Michael K. Paasche-Orlow, Winston W. Wong. Patient-Centered, Integrated Health Care Quality Measures Could Improve Health Literacy, Language Access, and Cultural Competence. 2019. PMID:


  8. Marpadga S, Fernandez A, Leung J, Tang A, Seligman H, Murphy EJ. Challenges and Successes with Food Resource Referrals for Food-Insecure Patients with Diabetes. 2019. PMID: 30939269


  9. Erik J. Rodriquez, Alicia Fernández, Jennifer C. Livaudais-Toman, Eliseo J. Perez-Stable. How Does Acculturation Influence Smoking Behavior Among Latinos? The Role of Education and National Background 2019. PMID:


  10. Bergallo P, Castagnari V, Fernández A, Mejía R. Regulatory initiatives to reduce sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Latin America. 2018. PMID: 30339667


  12. Fernandez A, Warton EM, Schillinger D, Moffet HH, Kruger J, Adler N, Karter AJ. Language barriers and LDL-C/SBP control among Latinos with diabetes. 2018. PMID: 30222919


  13. Garcia ME, Ochoa-Frongia L, Moise N, Aguilera A, Fernandez A. Collaborative Care for Depression among Patients with Limited English Proficiency: a Systematic Review. Volume 33 of Issue 3. 2017. PMID: 29256085


  14. Fernandez A, Rodriguez RA. Consequences of Recent Anti-Immigration Policy-Reply. 2017. PMID: 28973280


  16. Beck AL, Fernandez A, Rojina J, Cabana M. Randomized Controlled Trial of a Clinic-Based Intervention to Promote Healthy Beverage Consumption Among Latino Children. Volume 56 of Issue 9. 2017. PMID: 28553726


  17. Mao AY, Willard-Grace R, Dubbin L, Aronson L, Fernandez A, Burke NJ, Finch J, Davis E. Perspectives of low-income chronically ill patients on complex care management. 2017. PMID: 28447834


  19. Fernández A, Rodriguez RA. Undocumented Immigrants and Access to Health Care. 2017. PMID: 28166329


  20. Fernández A, Quan J, Moffet H, Parker MM, Schillinger D, Karter AJ. Adherence to Newly Prescribed Diabetes Medications Among Insured Latino and White Patients With Diabetes. 2017. PMID: 28114642


  21. Parker MM, Fernández A, Moffet HH, Grant RW, Torreblanca A, Karter AJ. Association of Patient-Physician Language Concordance and Glycemic Control for Limited-English Proficiency Latinos With Type 2 Diabetes. 2017. PMID: 28114680


  22. Konfino J, Fernandez A, Penko J, Mason A, Martinez E, Coxson P, Heller D, Moran A, Bibbins-Domingo K, Pérez-Stable EJ, Mejía R. Comparing Strategies for Lipid Lowering in Argentina: An Analysis from the CVD Policy Model-Argentina. 2016. PMID: 27853916


  23. Sánchez-Romero LM, Penko J, Coxson PG, Fernández A, Mason A, Moran AE, Ávila-Burgos L, Odden M, Barquera S, Bibbins-Domingo K. Projected Impact of Mexico's Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Policy on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: A Modeling Study. 2016. PMID: 27802278


  24. Chaufan C, Karter AJ, Moffet HH, Quan J, Parker MM, Kruger J, Schillinger D, Fernandez A. Identifying Spanish Language Competent Physicians: The Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE). 2016. PMID: 27773981


  25. Young CA, Stookey J, Patel AI, Chan C, Evans J, Cohn K, Agana L, Yen IH, Fernandez A, Cabana MD. San Francisco childcare centers' preparedness in the prevention and management of asthma among preschool-aged children. Volume 53 of Issue 7. 2016. PMID: 27164036


  26. Ngai KM, Grudzen CR, Lee R, Tong VY, Richardson LD, Fernandez A. The Association Between Limited English Proficiency and Unplanned Emergency Department Revisit Within 72 Hours. 2016. PMID: 27033142


  27. Paul-Emile K, Smith AK, Lo B, Fernández A. Dealing with Racist Patients. 2016. PMID: 26933847


  29. Chaufan C, Fielding H, Chesla C, Fernandez A.. Research in the Sociology of Health Care 2015. PMID:


  31. Young CA, Chan C, Stookey J, Patel AI, Evans J, Cohn K, Agana L, Yen IH, Fernandez A, Cabana MD. Development of a Tool to Evaluate Asthma Preparedness and Management in Child-Care Centers. Volume 28 of Issue 2. 2015. PMID: 26155370


  34. Seligman R, Mendenhall E, Valdovinos MD, Fernandez A, Jacobs EA. Self-care and Subjectivity among Mexican Diabetes Patients in the United States. 2014. PMID: 24942832


  35. Gandhi M, Fernandez A, Stoff DM, Narahari S, Blank M, Fuchs J, Evans CH, Kahn JS, Johnson MO. Development and implementation of a workshop to enhance the effectiveness of mentors working with diverse mentees in HIV research. 2014. PMID: 24735004


  37. Naranjo DM, Jacobs EA, Fisher L, Hessler D, Fernandez A. Age and glycemic control among low-income Latinos. 2013. PMID: 22843322


  38. Hudson DL, Karter AJ, Fernandez A, Parker M, Adams AS, Schillinger D, Moffet HH, Zhou J, Adler NE. Differences in the clinical recognition of depression in diabetes patients: the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE). 2013. PMID: 23781889


  40. Stern RJ, Fernandez A, Jacobs EA, Neilands TB, Weech-Maldonado R, Quan J, Carle A, Seligman HK. Advances in measuring culturally competent care: a confirmatory factor analysis of CAHPS-CC in a safety-net population. 2012. PMID: 22895231


  41. Slean GR, Jacobs EA, Lahiff M, Fisher L, Fernandez A. Aspects of culturally competent care are associated with less emotional burden among patients with diabetes. 2012. PMID: 22895234


  42. Fernandez A, Seligman H, Quan J, Stern RJ, Jacobs EA. Associations between aspects of culturally competent care and clinical outcomes among patients with diabetes. 2012. PMID: 22895235


  43. Seligman HK, Fernandez A, Stern RJ, Weech-Maldonado R, Quan J, Jacobs EA. Risk factors for reporting poor cultural competency among patients with diabetes in safety net clinics. 2012. PMID: 22895232


  44. Mendenhall E, Fernandez A, Adler N, Jacobs EA. Susto, coraje, and abuse: depression and beliefs about diabetes. 2012. PMID: 22539060


  45. Schenker Y, Fernandez A, Kerr K, O'Riordan D, Pantilat SZ. Interpretation for discussions about end-of-life issues: results from a National Survey of Health Care Interpreters. 2012. PMID: 22788909


  47. Lynch EB, Fernandez A, Lighthouse N, Mendenhall E, Jacobs E. Concepts of diabetes self-management in Mexican American and African American low-income patients with diabetes. 2012. PMID: 22641792


  48. Reuland DS, Slatt LM, Alemán MA, Fernandez A, Dewalt D. Effect of Spanish language immersion rotations on medical student Spanish fluency. 2012. PMID: 22328477


  49. Seligman HK, Jacobs EA, López A, Tschann J, Fernandez A. Food insecurity and glycemic control among low-income patients with type 2 diabetes. 2011. PMID: 22210570


  50. Schenker Y, Smith AK, Arnold RM, Fernandez A. "Her husband doesn't speak much English": conducting a family meeting with an interpreter. 2011. PMID: 22107068


  51. Vijayaraghavan M, Jacobs EA, Seligman H, Fernandez A. The association between housing instability, food insecurity, and diabetes self-efficacy in low-income adults. 2011. PMID: 22080709


  53. Seligman HK, Jacobs EA, Lopez A, Sarkar U, Tschann J, Fernandez A. Food insecurity and hypoglycemia among safety net patients with diabetes. Volume 171 of Issue 13. 2011. PMID: 21747017


  54. Moffet HH, Parker MM, Sarkar U, Schillinger D, Fernandez A, Adler NE, Adams AS, Karter AJ. Adherence to laboratory test requests by patients with diabetes: the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE). Volume 17 of Issue 5. 2011. PMID: 21718081


  56. Rosenthal A, Wang F, Schillinger D, Pérez Stable EJ, Fernandez A. Accuracy of physician self-report of Spanish language proficiency. 2011. PMID: 20151191


  57. Wang S, Quan J, Kanaya AM, Fernandez A. Asian Americans and obesity in California: a protective effect of biculturalism. 2011. PMID: 21153765


  58. Fernandez A, Ettinger KM, Lo B. Case 34-2010: A woman with an incorrect operation. 2011. PMID: 21366488


  59. Hauer KE, Fernandez A, Teherani A, Boscardin CK, Saba GW. Assessment of medical students' shared decision-making in standardized patient encounters. 2010. PMID: 21108048


  60. Fernandez A, Schillinger D, Warton EM, Adler N, Moffet HH, Schenker Y, Salgado MV, Ahmed A, Karter AJ. Language barriers, physician-patient language concordance, and glycemic control among insured Latinos with diabetes: the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE). 2010. PMID: 20878497


  62. Hauer KE, Boscardin C, Gesundheit N, Nevins A, Srinivasan M, Fernandez A. Impact of student ethnicity and patient-centredness on communication skills performance. 2010. PMID: 20636584


  63. Prakash S, Rodriguez RA, Austin PC, Saskin R, Fernandez A, Moist LM, O'Hare AM. Racial composition of residential areas associates with access to pre-ESRD nephrology care. 2010. PMID: 20558541


  64. Mendenhall E, Seligman RA, Fernandez A, Jacobs EA. Speaking through diabetes: Rethinking the significance of lay discourses on diabetes. 2010. PMID: 20550094


  65. Ross PT, Wiley Cené C, Bussey-Jones J, Brown AF, Blackman D, Fernández A, Fernández L, Glick SB, Horowitz CR, Jacobs EA, Peek ME, Wilkerson L, Lypson ML. A strategy for improving health disparities education in medicine. 2010. PMID: 20352512


  66. Glick SB, Fernandez L, Irby DM, Harleman E, Fernandez A. Teaching about health care disparities in the clinical setting. 2010. PMID: 20352501


  67. Schenker Y, Fernandez A, Sudore R, Schillinger D. Interventions to improve patient comprehension in informed consent for medical and surgical procedures: a systematic review. Volume 31 of Issue 1. 2010. PMID: 20357225


  68. Schenker Y, Karter AJ, Schillinger D, Warton EM, Adler NE, Moffet HH, Ahmed AT, Fernandez A. The impact of limited English proficiency and physician language concordance on reports of clinical interactions among patients with diabetes: the DISTANCE study. 2010. PMID: 20223615


  70. Schenker Y, Fernandez A, Lo B. Placebo prescriptions are missed opportunities for doctor-patient communication. 2009. PMID: 20013500


  71. Reuland DS, Frasier PY, Olson MD, Slatt LM, Aleman MA, Fernandez A. Accuracy of self-assessed Spanish fluency in medical students. 2009. PMID: 20183357


  72. Meyers K, Tang G, Fernandez A. Responding to the Language Challenge: Kaiser Permanente's Approach. 2009. PMID: 20740094


  73. Diamond LC, Schenker Y, Curry L, Bradley EH, Fernandez A. Getting by: underuse of interpreters by resident physicians. 2008. PMID: 19089503


  74. Schenker Y, Lo B, Ettinger KM, Fernandez A. Navigating language barriers under difficult circumstances. 2008. PMID: 18711157


  75. Grubbs V, Bibbins-Domingo K, Fernandez A, Chattopadhyay A, Bindman AB. Acute myocardial infarction length of stay and hospital mortality are not associated with language preference. Volume 23 of Issue 2. 2007. PMID: 18043984


  76. Smith WR, Betancourt JR, Wynia MK, Bussey-Jones J, Stone VE, Phillips CO, Fernandez A, Jacobs E, Bowles J. Recommendations for teaching about racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care. 2007. PMID: 17975188


  77. Saha S, Fernandez A. Language barriers in health care. 2007. PMID: 17924172


  80. Bibbins-Domingo K, Fernandez A. BiDil for heart failure in black patients. 2007. PMID: 17679712


  82. Grubbs V, Chen AH, Bindman AB, Vittinghoff E, Fernandez A. Effect of awareness of language law on language access in the health care setting. Volume 21 of Issue 7. 2006. PMID: 16808766


  83. Saba GW, Wong ST, Schillinger D, Fernandez A, Somkin CP, Wilson CC, Grumbach K. Shared decision making and the experience of partnership in primary care. 2006. PMID: 16449397


  84. Wilson E, Chen AH, Grumbach K, Wang F, Fernandez A. Effects of limited English proficiency and physician language on health care comprehension. 2005. PMID: 16117746


  86. Pletcher MJ, Fernandez A, May TA, Westphal JR, Gamez CA, Hersh DF, Gonzales R. Unintended consequences of a quality improvement program designed to improve treatment of alcohol withdrawal in hospitalized patients. 2005. PMID: 15828598


  87. Fernandez A, Goldstein L. Primary care physicians who treat blacks and whites. 2004. PMID: 15543658


  88. Fernandez A, Schillinger D, Grumbach K, Rosenthal A, Stewart AL, Wang F, Pérez-Stable EJ. Physician language ability and cultural competence. An exploratory study of communication with Spanish-speaking patients. 2004. PMID: 15009796


  89. Pontecorvo C, Mejía R, Aleman M, Vidal A, Majdalani MP, Fayanás R, Fernández A, Pérez Stable EJ. [Detection of domestic violence against women. Survey in a primary health care clinic]. 2004. PMID: 15637825


  90. Pignone M, Phillips CJ, Elasy TA, Fernandez A. Physicians' ability to predict the risk of coronary heart disease. 2003. PMID: 12857356


  91. Majdalani M, Mejia R, Fayanas R, Fernandez A, Perez-Stable EJ. Educacion Medica 2003. PMID:


  92. Fernandez A, Grumbach K, Vranizan K, Osmond DH, Bindman AB. Primary care physicians' experience with disease management programs. 2001. PMID: 11318911


  93. Fernandez A, Grumbach K, Goitein L, Vranizan K, Osmond DH, Bindman AB. Friend or foe? How primary care physicians perceive hospitalists. 2000. PMID: 11041896


  94. Schillinger D, Wheeler M, Fernandez A. The populations and quality improvement seminar for medical residents. 2000. PMID: 10824850


  95. Mejia R, Aleman M, Férnandez A, Pérez Stable EJ. [Awareness and detection of domestic violence by clinical physicians]. 2000. PMID: 11188898


  96. Fernandez A and Goldschlager N. Heart Failure 1997. PMID: