It is hard to find words for the grief, the fear, and the anger that our Black brothers and sisters are feeling at this moment. The outrage and despair so many are experiencing right now are natural responses to the perpetual and unaccountable killing of innocent Black men and women at the hands of the police.
All of us have a role to play in addressing this deadly strain of racism and inaction — in our communities and in the nation as a whole. Whether it’s police killings or the disproportionate deaths from COVID-19, no one should tolerate a system that diminishes the value of Black lives. We must stand united for the health, safety, and just treatment of all.
Sandra R. Hernández, MD, is president and CEO of the California Health Care Foundation. Prior to joining CHCF, Sandra was CEO of The San Francisco Foundation, which she led for 16 years. She previously served as director of public health for the City and County of San Francisco. She also cochaired San Francisco’s Universal Healthcare Council, which designed Healthy San Francisco. It was the first time a local government in the US attempted to provide health care for all of its constituents.
In February 2018, Sandra was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the Covered California board of directors. In December 2019, she was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Healthy California for All Commission, which is charged with developing a plan to help California achieve a health care delivery system that provides coverage and access through a unified financing system. She also serves on the UC Regents Health Services Committee and the UC San Diego Chancellor’s Health Advisory Board. Sandra practiced at San Francisco General Hospital in the HIV/AIDS Clinic from 1984 to 2016 and was an assistant clinical professor at the UCSF School of Medicine.
Sandra is a graduate of Yale University, the Tufts School of Medicine, and the certificate program for senior executives in state and local government at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.