HIV Learning Network Team
Mona Bernstein, MPH
Principal Director
Mona first joined the PAETC staff in May 2001 as PAETC’s Assistant Director. In 2008 she became the Program Director, providing leadership and oversight for the 15 local performance sites throughout the four-state region. Her current focus on quality improvement projects are designed to enhance the overall management, administration, and capacity support aspects of the PAETC, leading to more focused outcomes and broadening the scope of work. Mona works closely with other AETC regional directors, is a member of the advisory board of the AETC National Resource Center, is a member of the Program Committee of the National Alliance for HIV Education and Workforce Development (formerly the National Association of AETCs), and serves on many national planning committees and work groups. Before joining the PAETC, Mona was a Program Manager with the F.J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center at UCSF, a CDC-funded model of TB excellence. She previously developed and managed occupational and environmental health and safety programs for 12 years at community health centers and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. She started her public health work in 1976 at a women’s health collective. Mona has her MPH degree from the University of California at Berkeley.
Kirsten Balano, PharmD
HIVLN Clinical Faculty
Dr. Balano is a clinical faculty member of University of California, San Francisco, School of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, the San Francisco Area AIDS Education and Training Center (SFAETC), the East Bay AETC, and the North Coast AIDS Education and Training Center. She trains physicians, nurses, pharmacist and other members of multidisciplinary teams via lectures, workshops, case discussions and case conferencing utilizing adult learning principles. Additionally, she provides patient care at
San Francisco General Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient HIV programs and directs the client-centered adherence program for the Vista Community Health Center’s HIV Network in Sonoma County. Her primary clinical, educational and research issues are in the areas of adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy, drug interactions, and adverse effects.
Daniel Lee, MD
HIVLN Clinical Faculty
Southern California Node
Dr. Daniel Lee is one of several physicians working at UCSD Owen Clinic, providing specialized health care to those infected with HIV and directs the Clinic’s Lipid/Lipodystrophy Clinic. Additionally, Dr. Lee is active on the Corrections Committee for the AIDS Education Training Center and provides clinical care for HIV+ inmates at the San Diego County Jail.
Dr. Lee’s philosophy in providing quality, compassionate care to those affected by HIV includes building a strong rapport with patients and furnishing them with information that will assist them with decision-making. He has been providing care to patients for over 13 years and is dedicated to continue his mission through clinical care, research, and educating medical students and residents.
Wm. Chris Mathews, MD, MSPH
HIVLN Clinical Faculty
Southern California Node
Dr. Mathews founded UCSD Owen Clinic in 1982 and the clinic has become the largest comprehensive HIV clinic in San Diego with approximately 3,000 patients. His research interests include HIV health services research, quality of life assessment, medication adherence measurement, and screening for HPV associated anal dysplasia. Most recently, Dr. Mathews has been intensely involved with two projects in Africa. Through a grant with Department of Defense, he has been working with military in Africa, trying to curtail HIV transmission rates. The second project has been working with HRSA, setting up HIV treatment programs under the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control.
Greg Melcher, MD
HIVLN Clinical Faculty
Northern California Node
Greg Melcher is the Principal Investigator and Clinical Site Director of the UC Davis AETC. He provides primary-care and specialty care for HIV infected patients at the UC Davis Medical Center and at the CARES Sacramento clinic. He has extensive experience in clinical research in HIV care and treatment, spanning a career of 27 years in Infectious Diseases. As a faculty member of the UC Davis AETC and UC Davis Division of Infectious Diseases, he has extensive experience in mentoring and training clinical providers regarding the management of HIV infected patients.
Christian Ramers, MD, MPH
HIVLN Clinical Faculty
Southern California Node
Dr. Ramers is the Assistant Medical Director for Research and Special Populations at the Family Health Centers of San Diego, a large Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving nearly 200,000 medically underserved individuals throughout San Diego county. In this role he serves as a primary care physician and consultant for patients living with HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV), and for those who are homeless or in residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. Prior to this, he served as the founding Medical Director for NW AETC ECHO, an innovative HIV telehealth program in the Pacific Northwest, and was on faculty in the Divisions of Infectious Diseases & Global Health at the University of Washington. Dr. Ramers is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Infectious Diseases, and is particularly interested in HIV, HCV, and service of medically underserved, immigrant, and refugee populations.
Moira Mar-Tang, MPH, CHES
HIVLN Program Coordinator
mmartang@ucsd.edu
Moira Mar-Tang is a Training and Evaluation Manager at UCSD Owen Clinic where she develops, implements, and evaluates various HIV training programs. As the coordinator for the HIVLN program, she provides programmatic and technology support for staff and participants. Please contact Moira if you are interested in participating in HIVLN and/or have questions.
Judy Vang, MSW
HIVLN Program Manager
Judy Vang is the Program Manager for the UC Davis AETC. She is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the UCD AETC HIV/AIDS projects, inclusive of project management and oversight, as well as the coordination and supervision of the implementation of project goals.
Nancy Warren, MPH
Evaluator
Nancy joined PAETC in January, 2009. She has over 15 years experience working in applied research and evaluation, including many years working specifically with HIV/AIDS programs in California and New York, as well as Mozambique. Nancy has also performed research, evaluation and strategic planning with groups around health and environmental issues. These settings have ranged from national programs to city programs to specific sites such as clinics and jails. In addition, she has managed programs and taught at the university level.
CME accreditation
The University of California, San Diego School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of California, San Diego School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of one credit per hour AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.