Roy Johnston
FCM Student Programs Manager Roy Johnston is retiring this month after a 21-year career in Family Medicine. FCM Vice Chair for Education Dr. Margo Vener paid tribute to Roy during the opening plenary of FCM's 21st Rodnick Colloquium in May. She said:
"Roy is a black belt in Aikido which he has practiced and taught for probably many more than 21 years, but his influence and the values that he brings from that has influenced all of us. And one of the 1st things I remember you saying to me, Roy, was that when a force comes at you, you need to think about how to redirect the force and not just push back against it. It has stayed with me forever. That and so much compassion and wisdom."
"So, as a marker of your retirement, I couldn't get you anything physical that I could think of. So I got you a metaphor, and the metaphor goes in. The wind is a wind chime right here, which is kind of tangled up right now, but that's life. The wind chime pieces remind me of the forces that you're helping us navigate moving together and moving forward together all at once. The wood is the center, the warm core that you always offer for us, and the bottom is a geode. It's a stone, it's a rock, it's close to the earth, and how you keep us all grounded. So I cannot thank you enough, Roy, for all that you've done for all of us."
Tenja Overton
After 21 years of dedicated service, the National Clinician Consultation Center celebrates the retirement of our beloved Program Assistant, Tenja Overton. Throughout her tenure, she has been the heart of our team—ensuring we had everything we needed to do our work, from kitchen staples to conference supplies, all while keeping our operations running smoothly behind the scenes. Her care and reliability extended beyond logistics—she was often the first voice our callers heard, triaging our phone lines with warmth and compassion. Known for her kindness, patience, and steady presence, she has been a deeply valued colleague and friend to all of us. She will be dearly missed, and we wish her the very best in this next chapter. - Brenda Goldhammer
In addition to her role at the NCCC, Tenja also served as the staff at large member of the FCM Executive Council from January 2023 – January 2025. Tenja contributed invaluable perspectives and knowledge to the Council's discussions.
Albert Yu
After more than three decades of transformative leadership, teaching, and advocacy, Dr. Albert Yu will officially retire on June 27, 2025. His journey—from immigrant roots to physician-educator-leader—embodies the values of the Department of UCSF Family and Community Medicine (FCM): a deep commitment to underserved communities, a belief in primary care as a vehicle for equity, and a drive to reform health systems from within.
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Dr. Yu first arrived at UCSF in 1989 as a family medicine resident at San Francisco General Hospital. Inspired by his early experiences at New York City’s Chinatown Health Clinic, he viewed medicine not only as a clinical pursuit, but as a platform for social justice. Although his family hoped he would pursue a traditional profession like medicine, law, or engineering, he initially considered a path in civil rights law. His career in family medicine was shaped by an internship that opened his eyes to health disparities, advocacy, and organizing—and convinced him that community-based care was where he aspires to make the greatest impact.
He would go on to earn an MPH from UC Berkeley and later an MBA from Golden Gate University, blending his clinical work with public health research, quality improvement, and systems and technology innovation. Dr. Yu joined the UCSF Lakeshore Family Medicine Center in 1994—initially unsure if accepting a faculty position meant “selling his soul” by leaving the grassroots community health world. But as he reflected later, “There are two ways to make change: from outside the system or from within. I realized I could do meaningful work from the inside—so long as it remained grounded in the people we serve.”
Indeed, Dr. Yu, who currently serves as the Chief Health Informatics Officer in the San Francisco Department of Public Health has left an indelible mark on both UCSF and the City. He served as:
- Medical Director of Lakeshore Family Medicine Center
- Chief of Service, UCSF Family Medicine
- Vice Chair for Clinical Services, UCSF Family & Community Medicine
- Medical Director, Chinatown Public Health Center
- Director of Ambulatory Care, San Francisco Health Network
At the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), Dr. Yu was instrumental in implementing the enterprise-wide electronic health record (EHR) system, launching the SFHN Division of Ambulatory Care and the Office of Health Informatics, and promoting a culture of data-driven quality improvement rooted in equity. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic included serving a stint as Unified Commander for DPH at the City and County of San Francisco Covid Command Center and interim roles at Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center as Chief of Ambulatory Services and Medical Director of Occupational Health Services —demonstrated his extraordinary versatility and steady resolve in times of crisis.
Dr. Yu’s legacy also includes co-creating the San Francisco Hepatitis B Collaborative, mentoring countless trainees and colleagues, and designing innovative curricular experiences at UCSF that linked students with real-world public health and community advocacy. A recipient of the UCSF Alpha Omega Alpha Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award and a long-time member of the Academy of Medical Educators, Dr. Yu has been repeatedly recognized for his excellence in teaching and mentorship.
In looking back on his career, Dr. Yu said that his proudest accomplishments include "having the privilege to connect with and impact countless patients and families who have entrusted me with their lives and hope; partnering genuinely with passionate, creative, and brilliant colleagues, leaders, and frontline staff to make San Francisco a healthier City; and leaving DPH knowing that the infrastructure and foundation to be a data-driven, high-performing, healthcare system is solid and growing; and I was a part of that organizational journey."
"I remember fondly Dr. Albert Yu’s mentorship and teaching during his time on faculty at UCSF,” said Megan Mahoney, MD, MBA, Hellman Professor and FCM Chair. “His thoughtful approach to medicine and commitment to education left a lasting impression on me. It has been deeply inspiring to watch his ascendency within the Department of Public Health as a senior leader—bringing the values of family medicine to systems-level change with such clarity and purpose."
As for what’s next, Dr. Yu hopes to return to medical education and mentoring—especially with undergraduate medical students. He’s also entertaining the idea of merging his love of the outdoors with his training in disaster response through search and rescue work.
Dr. Yu’s story is one of purpose, humility, and resilience. He reminds us that systems can be reimagined, but only when we stay connected to the communities we serve. UCSF Family and Community Medicine is deeply grateful for his decades of visionary leadership and service.
