Faculty and Staff

UCLA Center for Clinical
AIDS Research & Education

Clinic:

1399 S. Roxbury Drive
Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90035
310-557-2273
Research line:
310-557-9062

Administration:

9911 W. Pico Blvd.
Suite 980
Los Angeles, CA 90035
310-557-1891

Faculty and Staff of the UCLA CARE Center
Faculty
	PETER ANTON, M.D. Dr. Anton is the Director of the UCLA Center for Prevention Research (CPR) and co-director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center at UCLA. Dr. Anton is active in the NIH-sponsored AIDS Clinical Trials Group Mucosal Immunology Focus Group and is involved in the group’s efforts to clarify the role of various compartments in HIV pathogenesis. Dr. Anton graduated from Harvard University in 1977 and received his M.D. from Case Western Reserve University in 1983. He did fellowship work at the Cholera Hospital in Bangladesh. He performed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Anton began his work at UCLA in 1986 and has been on faculty since 1989.
	DEBIKA BHATTACHARYA, M.D. Dr. Bhattacharya graduated from the Seven-Year Accelerated Medical Program at Boston University, receiving her MD in 1997. She trained in Internal Medicine at Baylor University in Houston, Texas and completed an infectious diseases fellowship at Stanford University. She joined the UCLA faculty in 2006 where she specializes in the management of HIV and HIV/viral hepatitis coinfection. She has HIV clinics at the CARE Center and HIV/viral hepatitis coinfection clinics at the CARE, Olive View Medical, and the West Los Angeles Veteran’s Affair Medical Centers. Her research involves identifying the determinants of viral hepatitis outcomes in HIV coinfection, including the influence of gender. Beginning in 2007, she begins a two-year term on the NIH AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) Hepatitis Committee.
	MARGRIT CARLSON, M.D. Dr. Carlson is currently conducting a variety of clinical trials through the UCLA CARE Center. She is responsible for the primary care of HIV infected adults and for the education of housestaff in the care of persons with HIV both at UCLA and a community based clinic. Her research interests include the neurologic complications of HIV, novel therapies and treatment of acute infection.
	EMERY CHANG M.D. Dr. Chang received his MD from the University of Minnesota and completed a dual residency in Internal Medicine & Pediatrics at Tulane University. In New Orleans, he worked at the Charity and University hospitals, the Veteran Affairs Hospital, Tulane Medical Center, and the Ochsner Clinic Foundation. He joined the UCLA CARE Clinic as an HIV fellow in 2005 and joined the faculty in 2006. His concentration is HIV primary and preventative care in adults and adolescents.
	JUDITH CURRIER, M.D., M.Sc. Dr. Currier is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine. She is also the Division Chief for Infectious Diseases and the Associate Director of the UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education (CARE). Dr. Currier is trained both in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Epidemiology, and her research interests include the treatment and prevention of complications of antiretroviral therapy, gender-related issues in HIV therapy and the evaluation of antiretroviral treatment strategies in resource limited settings.
	RISA HOFFMAN, M.D., M.P.H. Dr. Hoffman graduated from Stanford University and received her M.D. from UCLA, and M.P.H. from the Harvard School of Public Health. She completed Internal Medicine training at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. Her research focus is in optimizing care for HIV-infected pregnant women. She has developed research collaborations with the Reproductive Health/HIV Research Unit in Johannesburg, South Africa, and FioCruz University in Brazil. She has also joined the team of the PROMISE study, an international trial designed to improve strategies for HIV treatment in postpartum women. In addition to her research activities, Dr. Hoffman has developed a program in Malawi to offer HIV training to Malawian clinicians and UCLA resident physicians. She continues to work in the field of pediatrics with a Malawian non-governmental organization (Children in the Wilderness), to develop nutrition and food security programs for orphans and vulnerable children in rural northern Malawi.
	JORDAN LAKE, M.D. Dr. Jordan Lake is a Clinical Instructor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. She completed her Infectious Disease Fellowship in 2009 at UCLA. Prior to that, she completed Internal Medicine residency and medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Lake cares for patients at both the CARE Clinic and the Valley Community Clinic. Her primary research interest is metabolic complications of anti-retroviral therapy. An additional focus is the specific needs of HIV-infected women, immigrants, and commercial sex workers. Dr. Lake is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Clinical Research from UCLA.
	RAPHAEL LANDOVITZ, M.D. Dr. Landovitz graduated from Princeton University in 1992 and received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1996. He trained at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts in Internal Medicine, and completed subspecialty training in Infectious Diseases and HIV at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Landovitz additionally served as Chief Resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and stayed on staff in the Division of Infectious Disease as an Infectious Disease and HIV care provider and clinical researcher. He also served as Medical Co-Director of the Vietnam-CDC-Harvard Medical School-AIDS-Partnership (VCHAP), helping to train Vietnamese physicians in HIV care and treatment. Dr. Landovitz relocated to Los Angeles in 2006, and is currently Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases at UCLA.
	MATTHEW LEIBOWITZ, M.D. Dr. Leibowitz completed his clinical fellowship in Infectious Diseases at UCLA and is completing a doctorate in the Department of Epidemiology. His research focus is immunology and prognostic markers in patients with HIV infection and multidrug-resistant virus. As a recipient of a CDC STD Faculty Expansion Program Award, he is developing curricula and clinical rotations for medical students and residents to improve training in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases as well as collaborating with the L.A. County Department of Health Services in STD clinical and epidemiological research. He provides primary care for patients with HIV infection in the CARE clinic. He also sees general hospital patients with infectious diseases, including those whose infections are related to organ transplantation.
	RONALD MITSUYASU, M.D. Dr. Ronald Mitsuyasu is Professor of Medicine/Hematology-Oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Director of the UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education (CARE Center). Dr Mitsuyasu is Associate Director of the UCLA AIDS Institute and oversees its programs in Clinical Therapeutics and Biomedical Prevention. He is an established clinical investigator with over 25 years of experience in HIV clinical trials research and patient care. He established one of the first clinics for Kaposi’s sarcoma and AIDS malignancies at UCLA in 1983. He is the Group Chair of the NCI-funded AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) and is director of the State of California UCLA Collaborative Center for HIV/AIDS Research, which is known as the Network for AIDS Research in Los Angeles. Dr. Mitsuyasu’s research interests include clinical trial investigations of cytokines, immune-based therapies, biologic response modifiers, vaccines and gene therapies for HIV and treatments for AIDS-related malignancies. He has an extensive background in the use of cytokines, other biologic interventions, bone marrow and stem cell transplants and other novel therapies approaches for HIV. He has also pioneered the use of gene therapy for HIV infection.
	ARDIS MOE, M.D. Ardis Moe did her residency and Chief Residency at LAC/USC Medical Center and was an Infectious Disease fellow on the NIH-sponsored AIDS Training Grant at UCLA. She has a dual appointment as an AIDS specialist physician at UCLA and at a Ryan White funded HIV clinic in South-Central Los Angeles, T.H.E. Clinic, Inc. She is interested in complications of HIV and HIV therapies, hepatitis C and in research in women with HIV. Her current research projects include: (1)Treatment options for lipodystrophy due to HIV medications (2) hepatitis C treatment in HIV infected adults and (3) organ transplantation in HIV.
	ALEN VOSKANIAN, M.D. Dr. Alen Voskanian graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 1996 with a B.A in Molecular and Cell Biology. He completed medical school at U.C. Irvine in 2000, followed by residency training at UCLA. He completed a one year HIV fellowship at AIDS Healthcare Foundation where he participated in clinical and pharmaceutical research in addition to providing medical care and antiretroviral management. He received further training in high resolution anoscopy and management of anal dysplasia at UCLA. He started a high resolution anoscopy clinic at AIDS Healthcare Foundation and currently oversees the high resolution anoscopy clinic at UCLA CARE Center.
Clinic Staff
	STE’VON AFEMATA Ste'von is the Lab Manager for the UCLA CARE Center. She started working at UCLA in 2000, in Lab and Pathology. She then transferred to the CARE Center in 2004. She is responsible for all laboratory functions for the center including but not limited to PCR, processing and storage, histology, cryopreservation, quality management and all other assays as defined in protocol-specific guidelines of the trials. She also performs experimental procedures involving the isolation of HIV and participates in the development of new techniques. She went to school at Southern California Regional Occupational Center, where she received her training as Medical Assistant/Lab Tech in 1996. Ste'von also attended the University of Phoenix. Ste'von has a true passion for research and is very devoted to the time she spends here at the UCLA CARE Center.
	MIKE MARCIAL Mike has worked in the UCLA CARE Clinic since 1997, starting as a temp and charming his way to full time status. Mike is responsible for greeting patients, making appointments, scheduling special ancillary appointments for patients, updating demographic information, assisting patients in obtaining outside medical records, collecting all cash payments and obtaining authorization on all HMO's. In the last year he has become a gym bunny, and is trying really hard to bring sexy back. He enjoys traveling, museums and painting and he laughs every day, because he has found that laughter is the fountain of youth.
	SONIA SALAS-JAMES Sonia joined the CARE CLINIC in March 2008. She went to school at American Career College, where she earned her certification as a Medical Assistant in 2000. In her free time, she enjoys any outdoor activities with her four children.
Research Staff
	VANESSA CAJAHUARINGA Vanessa began working at the UCLA CARE Center as an undergraduate in 2003. Her work here was primarily translating patient consent forms from English to Spanish to help in the recruitment of monolingual patients. Vanessa is currently a Study Coordinator. She graduated from UCLA in 2005, and ever since has been working full-time with us. Being from Peru, she brings the South American touch to this multicultural location.
	MARY CROWE Mary has been with the CARE Center since she was a 4th year student at UCLA in 2006. She now coordinates clinical trials and does administrative work with the AIDS Malignancy Consortium, seeing patients for an HPV Vaccine study, along with various chemotherapy studies for patients with HIV/AIDS and cancer. She also coordinates a trial with the Network for AIDS Research in LA, as well as a prevention trial looking at the feasibility of implementing Pre and Post-Exposure Proxphylaxis (PEP and PrEP) in Los Angeles with Dr. Raphy Landovitz. Mary's newest role is as the CARE Center's "compost captain", collecting biodegradable waste and adding it to her home compost pile. When she's not at CARE, Mary enjoys cooking, going to farmers' markets, and spending time with her two dogs. She also swims with the So Cal Aquatic Masters Swim Club.
	MARICELA GONZALEZ Maricela joined the UCLA CARE Center in March 2001. She is currently working as a study coordinator. She gets most of her clever ideas from her TV role model, Lucille Ball.
	ELIZABETH KIM Elizabeth joined the UCLA CARE Center in August 2011 as Research/Lab Assistant, right after graduating from the University of Minnesota. She loves music, basketball, and shopping. Elizabeth is glad and honored to be working at the UCLA CARE Center.
	MELINDA KUO Melinda is the Data Queen for the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. She is in charge of patient enrollment, keeping track of patient visits, data entry and quality assurance. Melinda has been working at the UCLA CARE Center since 1996. She is a baseball fan and loves to travel.
	MARIA PALMER, PA-C Maria is a physician's assistant and study coordinator for the UCLA CARE Center. She graduated from UCLA in 1982 with a B.S. in Kinesiology followed by physician assistant training at the USC School of Medicine in 1984. Prior to coming to UCLA in 1999, she coordinated clinical trials and provided care for HIV related-maliganicies at USC-LAC Medical Center. She has 12 years experience in family medicine. Maria is an avid cyclist and ride leader for the AIDS Life Cycle and has particiapted in the California AIDS rides in 1997 and 1999 and the AIDS Vaccine ride in 2000.
	ALEJANDRO PONCE Alex been working in the HIV field for the last five years doing prevention case management in the city of San Diego. He has a background as a physician in Mexico. He has also been an HIV counselor and tester and has been working as a Health Educator and Treatment Educator. He has experience as a community speaker and has been trained as a consultant for the California Statewide Treatment Education Program (CSTEP). He is certified as a trainer for the Stigma Program and participates as a volunteer for various support groups in Southern California. Alex is the Outreach Coordinator at the CARE Center and screens candidates for studies at the CARE Clinic and develops strategies for recruitment of new volunteers for research studies. And BTW, he loves ice cream.
	CARA O'CONNOR Cara joined the CARE Center in June 2011 as the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) Coordinator. She is responsible for coordinating research projects across the four sites in the UCLA AIDS Prevention and Treatment Clinical Trials Unit – CARE Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, AIDS Research Alliance, and UCLA Family Medicine's Vine Street Center. She does quality assurance work, which has earned her the nickname "Eagle Eyes O'Connor". She also works with the outreach teams and helps coordinate the sites' Community Advisory Boards (CABs). Cara graduated from the University of Arizona in 2004 and from UCLA School of Public Health in 2008. She is an avid traveler who has worked overseas in Thailand and in South Africa. Outside of work she can either be found at bar trivia, at the dog beach with her ridgeback Zissou, or out rock climbing.
Administrative Staff
	AIDA ALVAREZ Aida has been with the CARE Center since 2004. She is an Administrative Assistant and is part of the research administration and financial team at the CARE Center, assisting with grant writing and pre-award and post-award set-up. She assists the MSO and Fund Manager with everything including: accounting, human resources, invoice processing, reimbursements, and purchasing. She loves her beautiful family, her husband, and three handsome boys.
	IRMA FRANCO-GONZALEZ Irma has been working at the UCLA CARE Center since 1998. She is currently the Regulatory Manager for the center’s clinical trials unit. She is also the Program Coordinator for the UCLA CARE Center’s annual HIV symposium. Enjoys drinking, smoking, cursing and complaining.
	FAITH LANDSMAN Faith is the Administrator of the HIV Research Facilitation Core which provides assistance to junior faculty and fellows doing HIV-related patient-oriented research. She was previously the Administrator of the UCLA AIDS Institute Vaccine Initiative and the Southern California HIV/AIDS Hotline. Faith has been working in the HIV field since 1990. She moonlights as the UCLA CARE Center Webmistress and has been with the UCLA CARE Center since March 2006.
	JILL NARCISO Jill recently joined the CARE Center after working at UCLA’s Extramural Fund Management department since 2009. As the new Fund Manager, she assists faculty with their federal, state and private industries contracts and grants during the pre- and post-award stages, and she is primarily responsible for monthly reconciliation and financial reporting for all CARE Center accounts. When she’s not crunching numbers, Jill enjoys reading, writing, traveling, spending time with her dog, and bugging her brother to graduate already so they can move closer to the beach. For this new position, she would like to thank God, the Academy, her former EFM supervisor for teaching her the accounting ropes, her former EFM director for her unwavering support, both her official and unofficial Filipino family, her psychologist, and last but not least, her fans.
	CHARLIE PRICE Charlie is the Division Administrator for the CARE Center and oversees grant, financial, human resources and institutional aspects of the program. He has been involved with many aspects of HIV/AIDS research, prevention, and service delivery since the disease was first identified in the early 1980’s. He joined the CARE Center in 2008 and has been at UCLA since 1997 working in various HIV immunology and biomedical prevention trials as a coordinator or administrator. In the past he ran a needle exchange program, an HIV prevention program for homeless, runaway and incarcerated youth as well as provided HIV counseling and testing all in his native city of Seattle. He and his partner Rod moved to Los Angeles by accident after and extended vacation turned into an extended visit of 14 years and counting. They have a son, Afi who is attending school at the University of Redlands. Afi has a serious girlfriend and Charlie hopes to be a grandfather any year now.
	KATHRYN ROGERS, M.Sc. Kat joined the CARE Center in September 2010 as Assistant to Dr. Currier. She specializes in scheduling meetings with Doodle polls, navigating automated airline reservations systems to find human representatives, and tracking down doctors for signatures. She also assists with regulatory reporting for ACTG protocols. With her background in Health Communication and Advertising, she often finds herself editing manuscripts, designing outreach materials, and crafting PowerPoint presentations. In her free time, Kat plays co-ed soccer, experiments with gluten-free recipes, and rides the waves at Venice Beach. She feels honored to be working with the passionate CARE Center staff in the noble effort to improve the lives of patients with HIV/AIDS.