Andrea Jackson, MD, MAS: New Chair of Ob, Gyn & RS Department
Dear School of Medicine Community,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Andrea Jackson, MD, MAS, as Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, effective October 1, 2023.
Dr. Jackson, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Chief of the Obstetrics, Gynecology and Gynecologic Subspecialties (OGGS) Division, joined the UCSF faculty in 2013, following a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital Integrated Program and a fellowship in complex family planning at UCSF. She also has a master of advanced study degree in clinical research from UCSF.
Dr. Jackson is an obstetrician and gynecologist who specializes in providing Black-identifying patients with reproductive health care that meets the needs of the whole person. She also specializes in complex contraception and abortion services, with a particular focus on caring for women who have chronic illnesses.
Dr. Jackson's research focuses on the reproductive health of Black women throughout their lives, and is highlighted by 33 peer-reviewed publications, publication in high impact journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Contraception, and serving as a co-investigator on the process and outcome evaluations of SisterWeb: San Francisco Community Doula Network, a multi-year, mixed method study funded by UCSF PTBI-CA that spanned 5 clinical sites.
Dedicated to the principles of health equity, inclusion, and justice, Dr. Jackson is a nationally sought out leader and speaker on workforce diversity, clinician health equity education, advocacy, and most recently, Black perinatal health. She is co-director of the UCSF Black Women's Health and Livelihood Initiative, a clinical and leadership program that centers the wellness and leadership of Black women, and of EMBRACE, an innovative UCSF perinatal program for Black families that provides racially conscious prenatal and postpartum physical and mental health care. Dr. Jackson also served as a UCSF School of Medicine Dean’s Differences Matter Leader from 2016-2019, helping shape the multi-year initiative designed to make UCSF a university that is home to people with diverse identities and backgrounds, all of whom are committed to advancing equity, belonging, and anti-oppression in medicine in science.
Throughout her career, Dr. Jackson has had a diversity of experience in medical education, participating at the undergraduate and graduate medical education level as an educator and leader. Her teaching niche is the education of both future and current providers on how systemic racism has affected the care of racial and ethnic minorities, specifically Black identifying patients. Dr. Jackson’s work has included both elective and required lectures in this field, leadership positions, medical education committee memberships, and serving as a faculty director of elective courses. As a clinical educator, Dr. Jackson participates in the medical education of advance practice clinicians, midwives, medical students, and residents in both the clinic and hospital settings.
I would like to thank the search committee, chaired by Julie Ann Sosa, MD, MA, FACS, for their work in considering an exceptional pool of candidates for this role. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to Rebecca Jackson, MD, who has served as interim Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences since July 1, 2022.
Dr. Jackson’s previous leadership experiences and commitment to health equity across all of our mission areas provide her with a strong foundation to succeed as Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. I have no doubt she will work tirelessly to promote UCSF, the department, and its faculty, staff, and learners, both on and off campus. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Jackson on her new leadership role.
Sincerely,
Talmadge E. King, Jr., MD
Dean, UCSF School of Medicine