Steering Committee

Fe Mikey Damian | 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 | Programming
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.

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.

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.

Darlene Mergillano, MS | Advisor
I grew up in the Central Valley, and my roots are in Zambales and Pangasinan, Philippines. Growing up, I did not see as many faces who looked like me, and I found myself gravitating to learn more about my Pinay identity in college by joining the Fresno State Magkaisa Filipino Club and in my professional career as a club advisor for UC Berkeley’s Pilipino American Alliance (PAA) through the Pilipino Information Network at Cal (Pin@Cal).  At UCSF, I currently serve as the Graduate Affairs Officer for the Institute for Global Health Sciences. Becoming a part of UFA is another opportunity for me to embrace my culture and be inspired by my UCSF Filipinx family.

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. 

Kristan Olazo, MPH | Communications
Kristan (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Pittsburg, CA (Bay Miwok Territory) and has been living in Daly City/SF for the past 11.5 years. Her ancestral roots are in Pampanga (maternal side), Batangas and American Samoa (paternal side). Currently, Kristan is a Research Data Analyst in the UCSF Division of General Internal Medicine at ZSFG supporting research in health information technology in the safety-net setting. Kristan’s intersecting identities (e.g. 2^nd generation Pinay American) have shaped how she moves and views the different spaces she’s in.

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. He joined the steering committee to help promote and build UFA membership.