Barbara Staggers MD, MPH ’80, FAAP is a pediatric adolescent medicine specialist at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. As a healthcare visionary, she has developed national healthcare delivery models for school-based and juvenile justice facilities providing services to adolescents from multi-cultural backgrounds. She is the co-founder of the award-winning CHAMPS Program, a career pathway, college-bound program for 10-12 graders aimed at increasing the diversity of professionals in the healthcare field. Dr. Staggers is still on the medical staff at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and is currently working as executive director of the Department of Community Health and Engagement.

Public health dream team

“My dream team would be Nelson Mandela because of his ability to maneuver within hostile populations. He took two very hostile populations and shaped them into a more fluid society. The Dalai Lama because of his spiritual insight and knowledge. He has brightened many peoples lives and has brought unity, peace and enlightenment to the world. My final dream team member would be Heinrich Blum because he proposed the systems theory of looking at health. He made people look at systems and service in a different way by looking at interconnections and continuity. His systems theory changed the focus of public health.”

A change to one U.S. policy that would transform public health

“I would change weapon/handgun availability. The availability of guns in the current social climate puts all at risk especially adolescents and youth. The lack of mental health in the country adds yet another layer of risk. Valuing every human life helps set a framework for preventing gun violence. ”

Theme song while at Berkeley/Movie of my life at SPH”

“The play Hair comes to mind. It was the 60’s and we were in the midst of the Vietnam War. The Bay Area was leading the counter cultural revolution.”