Steering Committee | United Filipinx Association (UFA)

Fe Mikey Damian | Founding Member, Advisor
I was born in Cavite, Philippines, and moved to California in 1976. I am the middle child of a big family with 7 sisters and 2 brothers. It’s always been my desire to be a midwife but unable to afford to take the course. I still get the chance to work with children in my current role as Practice Manager for Primary Care Pediatrics, Acute Care and Adolescent Medicine Practice. It is a great pleasure to be part of UFA, the UCSF family of Filipinos standing for our roots and culture with the opportunity to celebrate where we stand.

Jody A. Diala, BA | Co-Chair
Jody (she/her/hers) is heavily involved in mission-driven nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area that address several cultural and systematic conditions among historically vulnerable and neglected communities because as an Oakland, CA native with family roots from Pampanga and Ilocos regions, she seized opportunities to enhance her knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in others’ livelihood. As a Public Health Specialist at UCSF, she contributes operational efforts for the Technical Hubs of UPIEA dept., SFDPH, and CDPH, co-developing and leading alongside the UPIEA Technical Hub Director a learning collaborative series for local health jurisdictions on school reopening plans during the COVID-19 pandemic and more! She also looks forward to contributing and expanding her networks and skills as one of UFA’s newest Steering Committee members. In 2016, she received her BA in American studies, with an emphasis in Public Health and Education at the University of California, Berkeley.

Emily Danuco, BSN
I currently serve as a Lung Transplant Coordinator at UCSF, bringing nearly 30 years of nursing experience across diverse clinical settings, including Medical-Surgical/Oncology, Home Health, Case Management, and Transplant Coordination. I am deeply committed to both nursing practice and community outreach, with a focus on advancing health equity and creating inclusive spaces for our Kababayans. I previously served as President of the Philippine Nurses Association of Northern California (PNANC) from 2020 to 2022. Over the past five years, I have held multiple leadership roles within the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA), including Circle of Presidents Representative for the Western Region and leadership positions in Membership, Global Affairs, and Community Outreach. I currently serve as Adviser to the Philippine Nurses Association Bay Area (PNABA) and am the immediate Past President of the Far Eastern University Nursing Alumni Foundation, Inc. USA. I am honored to support organizations dedicated to developing nurse leaders and delivering medical missions and outreach to underserved communities locally and in the Philippines.

Jose “Errol” Feria, LMFT
Errol (he, him, they) is a proud Filipino-American, born in Iloilo City and raised in Manila where he inherited a rich familial heritage from an Ilocano father and a Visayan-Ilongga mother. Thus, he carries with him a strong sense of identity and an appreciation for the colorful tapestry of Filipino culture. As a Licensed MFT and a Clinical Case Manager at UCSF Student Health and Counseling Services, he centers his work on supporting students and learners from a cultural humility framework and intergenerational/cross-cultural/trauma-informed lens. For fun, he enjoys traveling and recently, he discovered the skill and art of traditional and modern quilting.

Francesca Leung, MAT
Francesca (she/her/hers) is a 1.5-generation Filipina American, born in Kuwait and raised in the Bay Area. With a background in student affairs and curriculum management, she currently oversees the Breast Care Center’s Post-baccalaureate Internship Program. In her previous and current role(s), she’s built bridges for younger professionals to collaborate with experienced faculty mentors. She enjoys locating the generative space where fresh perspectives meet seasoned expertise, working together and learning alongside one another. For fun, she enjoys reading and is interested in deepening conversations in Filipino American theology, creating space for its voices and stories to shape broader theological reflection.

Ernesto Llamado, BA | Communications
Ernesto is a graduate of San Francisco State University and has transitioned from a successful career in the music industry to serving as the Lab Operations Manager for UCSF's Derm Research Department. Being a true native of San Francisco, he has a deep appreciation for the city's rare sunny days while juggling family time and global adventures. Ernesto's passion is savoring delectable cuisines, embarking on leisurely bike rides, and always working to transform his golf swing from slapstick to sophistication.

Henry Ocampo, MPH | Events/Programming
I am the bunso in my family and grew up in the Bay Area. My career has spanned over 30 years in minority health beginning with managing HIV prevention programs targeting Asians and Pacific Islanders in San Francisco. Eventually, I led national minority health initiatives for over 14 years at the Office of Minority Health Resource Center in partnership with community-based organizations, regional and state health departments, and federal health agencies throughout the US and US Pacific territories. Currently, I serve as the Program Manager on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. In my free time, I enjoy new adventures, whether it’s eating at new restaurants, traveling the world, scuba diving, hiking, or meeting new people.

Kyle Nikko Sasai, MA
Kyle (he/him/his) was raised in Pinole, CA, and serves UCSF as an EEO and Title IX Compliance Analyst with the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination. Raised by a Filipina immigrant mother (originally from Pangasinan) and a Japanese-American father whose parents were in internment camps during World War II (at Tule Lake and Jerome), Kyle’s work centered on equity, advocacy, and education is rooted in his family’s sacrifices and struggles. Knowing UFA was a strong presence was a key reason Kyle joined UCSF, and he is looking forward to serving and being a part of the UFA and UCSF community.

Vic Sanvicente, MPA
Vic (he/him/his/siya) was born and raised in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. He migrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 16 years old. He used to be a Member Action Team (MAT) leader for 3,299 AFSCME service workers at UCSF. In 2016, he received his master’s degree in public administration at San Francisco State University. Currently, he serves as the Academic Recruitment Coordinator for the Chairs and Directors searches for the School of Medicine.

Jilene Domingo Sturgess, MS | (Co-Chair)
Jillene (she/her/hers) is a bi-racial Filipinx-American, born and raised in Northern California. She attributes her continued curiosity for Filipinx culture to her mother who immigrated from the Ilocos Norte Region to the USA, in search of the “American Dream” Jillene is interested in providing underserved/underrepresented populations with resources, education and outreach in Clinical Research to bridge gaps in quality medical care created by health disparities. She holds a Master’s of Science Medical Health Sciences from Touro University of California and a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Biology and Minor in Nutrition from University of California, Davis. Currently, she works with the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as the Clinical Research Coordinator Supervisor. In Jillene’s spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities, sports, travel, and spending quality time with family and friends.

UFA ALUMNI