Optimism and hope are great ways to start the year, and right now I feel both. There is no question that the past year brought many challenges. But we were strong and resilient, and we continued the excellent work we have always done.

I was proud to see the people I work with remain consistent and constantly positive despite the obstacles. Much of this is from the human-centered experience at UCSF. This is the way we have designed the systems, interactions, and culture that influence how people experience being here. This helps us achieve success in education, research, and patient care.

More Than Showing Up

Being part of UCSF is more than just showing up and doing a job. It is also how we feel when we work here. Our PRIDE values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Excellence were intended to highlight how our shared values contribute to a collaborative and successful culture. Ten years after the PRIDE values were adopted UCSF-wide, it is clear that they helped us through many challenges, and they've demonstrated how ideas can change our perceptions in lasting ways. As we move into our second decade with PRIDE, we might begin to interpret these values through a more human-centered lens, not just as ideals of inclusivity, but as experiences we actively create for one another.

How We Experience PRIDE

Professionalism is more than conduct or credentials; it's about being equipped to meet the demands of our role. Having the tools to do our jobs and the knowledge to use them is just the start. We also have to be agile and adapt as situations change—because they always will! Curiosity is the pathway to lifelong learning, which creates professionalism that won't grow stale. Welcoming new ideas, tools, and methods defines the atmosphere that surrounds us.

Respect is the ability to work well with different teams and disciplines. We demonstrate this by valuing the contributions of our colleagues and understanding that their expertise is something that benefits all of us. That extends beyond technical skill or the ability to use specific tools. It also applies to the unique perspectives that people bring to finding solutions to problems. More than just something we offer to others, it is something we feel when it is extended to us. When we offer respect to others, and when we feel respected, we become more engaged. We are more likely to take on challenges when we believe others see us as being capable.

Integrity is more than doing the right thing when no one is looking. It extends to the way that we build authentic connections with our colleagues. Consistency is a key to integrity. It demonstrates that our values and commitments are not easily changed and that we are reliable, predictable, and truly knowable as a person. That predictability allows for reliable work relationships where we feel safe around each other, and don't have to be afraid that we may encounter a different version of someone each time we meet them. Clear demonstrations of integrity build trust among individuals and throughout teams.

Diversity requires actively designing systems that include and empower everyone. The central value of diversity is that it creates stronger, more complete organizations. Excluding groups robs organizations of the value that they would bring and deprives the individuals in those groups of opportunities and respect. Exclusion makes us weaker and creates blind spots when seeking solutions or designing successful projects. But together we have a much broader perspective, with complementary strengths. Unless we include everyone, we cannot be complete.

Excellence is frequently viewed as individual achievement, but more often it is the result of many people collaborating to make each other extraordinary. It happens when people combine their strengths and achieve things greater than the sum of their parts. We see this when we mentor individuals who go on to perform at higher levels than they may have reached on their own. Clinical teams demonstrate this when members provide each other with encouragement and support, creating environments where patients get the best care and have better outcomes. Most importantly, excellence is contagious! When we inspire and challenge each other, it becomes natural to strive for something difficult, and subsequently more rewarding, rather than taking routine or easy paths.

Building a Shared Experience

The values we share have become more than just a set of guiding principles or abstractions. With these inclusive and aspirational ideas, we have built a shared experience where we prize each other and all the things we each bring to the pursuit of our goals. The buildings, the clinics, the lecture halls, the labs: these are simply locations. The people working together, collaborating with and seeing each other, are what elevates this into a lasting and excellent institution.

I am optimistic and hopeful about what we will build together in 2026 and the years to come.