TAKE ACTION THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Students, Staff, and Faculty form #WomanLifeFreedom at UCSF group in support of the Iranian people's anti patriarchal uprising

Yalda Shahram, MD, MSc

Following the murder of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini by the “morality police” in September 2022, the movement for “Woman Life Freedom” spread across Iran and the globe. The oppression of women is a global tragedy, including in the United States where socioeconomic and racial characteristics intersect with structures of violence. In Iran, the feminist revolution has shocked many given the bravery of young men, women, and children, rising up against brutal security forces. At University of California San Francisco (UCSF), a number of students, staff, and faculty, many with Iranian heritage, came together with the aim of supporting the people in Iran.

The torture and death of a street medic, Dr. Ayda Rostami, galvanized the group to take action by starting a petition for accountability and justice. They partnered with @KimiyaSF (she/her), to create this video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/ CojGDPWgYoz/?utm_source=ig_web_ copy_link to promote the petition: Kimiya is a local Architect/Artist currently residing in the Bay Area; she grew up in Wales, UK and later moved to Mashhad, Iran, where she became a social rights activist from an early age. Her biggest inspiration is the extraordinary resilience of the Iranian people, and their ongoing fight for freedom. The petition on change.org/AydaRostami has been signed by over 1,000 people, with over 420 healthcare professionals and university faculty around the world, and at least 120 of whom identify UCSF at their Institution/Organization. To sign as a healthcare professional or university faculty, sign here: https://docs.google. com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceGGWYHzJ8Csorb3O_WiLBrrnShjr5ln0Ee017mQH9m0-Gjw/viewform

The WomanLifeFreedom at UCSF group has achieved so much in so little time; the Voice of America (VOA) News website describes their work to support the people in this recent article:https://ir.voanews.com/a/women-life-freedom-groupat-ucsf-to-support-protests-and-academics-in-iran/6945248.html

Upcoming events include a Norooz Celebration on March 25, at 2:00-5:00 pm in Mission Bay. All are welcome! Woman Life Freedom at UCSF group meets every Thursday. Email womanlifefreedom@ucsf.edu if you are interested to join us, or if you have any questions, comments, and suggestions.

The mission of the Woman Life Freedom at UCSF group is to partner with and learn from marginalized, immigrant, refugee, and undocumented communities to build a coalition in the struggle for freedom, justice, and human rights. They are (1) raising awareness among the UCSF community about the current uprising in Iran; (2) developing practical solutions to assist healthcare providers and protesters in responding to physical and mental health traumas; (3) supporting Iranian scholars by creating funds and advocating for universities outside of Iran.

Yalda Shahram, MD, MSc, is a hospitalist and clinician-educator investigating the impact of antiracist education and critical consciousness to address structures of oppression in health care. She is on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Marin Medical Society and was selected as a recipient of the UCSF Society of Hellman Fellows award, with the designation as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion award for her commitment to DEI and health equity at UCSF and beyond.

Kaiser Permanente

Maria Ansari, MD

Throughout its more than 75-year history, Kaiser Permanente has had a strong commitment to support the communities we serve, acting on the belief that where we live, learn, work and play has the greatest influence on our health. We are also driven by a commitment to improve health equity, recognizing the long-term effects of historical and systemic racism, economic inequity, and chronic disinvestment in communities most in need. For these reasons, Kaiser Permanente has chosen to direct our organizational resources towards improving conditions for health in the communities most impacted by health inequities.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires non-profit hospitals to conduct Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) and file Implementation Strategies (IS) with the IRS for each licensed hospital facility every three years.

To determine the best strategies for the San Francisco Service Area, we sought input from community partners to help us understand local needs. We also shared data with the San Fran- cisco Health Improvement Partnership (SFHIP), a collaboration that includes the San Francisco Public Health Department, local hospitals, and health equity coalitions, presenting early findings and incorporating their feedback. Our four key priority areas are:

• Access to Care: Provide coverage options, support eligibility screening and enrollment in public programs, strengthen safety net services, and build a diverse workforce.

• Mental and Behavioral Health: Improve access to community services, support workforce development, prevent and mitigate the impacts of trauma, and reduce substance misuse.

• Income & Employment: Reduce racial wealth gaps and improve financial well-being through college and career support, small and diverse business growth, and food security programs.

• Housing and Homelessness: Address affordable housing, prevent evictions, strengthen systems of care, and reduce homelessness.

We look forward to putting our 2023-2025 implementation strategy into action through grantmaking, access to care programs, and continued expansion of our community partnerships.