A longtime San Francisco resident and former chief of staff to Nancy Pelosi, who chaired the city’s Board of Health, has been named vice president for community and government relations at the University of California, San Francisco, the university said.
Throughout his 25-year career in public service, Dan Bernal worked on health policy at the local, state, and federal levels, served on the board of directors of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and served as political director in the White House under President Bill Clinton. , worked. He served as a senior adviser to Pelosi during the HIV/AIDS crisis.
In his new role at UCSF, he will succeed interim vice chancellor Ellie Rossiter, who was appointed in February.
“I am deeply grateful to the Honorable Speaker Pelosi for her life-changing leadership that broke down barriers on health care, education, equity, justice, and more,” Bernal said. “Personally, her solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and her commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS has meant so much to me and to our city.”
Bernal has been living with HIV since 1990 and has been an advocate on HIV/AIDS issues for many years. He also frequently collaborated with UCSF medical experts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
University of California, San Francisco President Sam Hawgood said his experience and the networks he built over decades in public politics and policy laid the foundation for his new role.
In announcing his appointment, Hawgood said, “Dan’s experience at all levels of government and productive relationships in the community will be invaluable as we pursue our core mission of research, patient care, education, and public service.” It will be a great asset to the world.” “He values inclusivity and equity for all people, and he knows the value that research plays in improving people’s lives. We have already had the privilege of working with him in government. We know he will be a great fit for his UCSF community.”
