Dr. Felipe Perez named Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

January 1, 2024

We are delighted to announce that Felipe Perez, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, will assume the role of Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion effective January 1, 2024. Additionally, Felipe will become a member of the Department’s Executive Committee.

Felipe, a pediatric and adult anesthesiologist, brings over a decade of experience in advancing diversity within academic centers. A graduate of our department's residency program, he initiated diversity efforts in 2015, founding the Anesthesiology Diversity Council (ADC). This initiative has flourished, evolving into the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity (ODIHE). Felipe has consistently demonstrated that he is an exceptional leader who dedicates himself to unifying people, fostering ideas, and creating programs that elevate individuals to achieve their professional goals.

In 2008, he established the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) partnership for our department, a high school outreach effort that has garnered numerous awards and serves as a model for similar programs at other institutions. Furthermore, in 2021, Felipe introduced the HEAL Pathway, currently in its third cohort, designed to equip residents with the leadership skills required to lead diversity efforts.

Beyond our Department, Felipe has developed a national reputation in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). He helped found DEI committees for a variety of organizations, including the Stanford GME Diversity Council, SPA DEI Committee, CSA JEDI Committee, JEDI Collaborative, and ASA Hispanic Anesthesiologist Consultants. Felipe has also played a crucial role in assisting anesthesiology departments across the country in developing their diversity initiatives.

Currently serving as the Assistant Dean for Diversity in the Office of Diversity in Medical Education at Stanford School of Medicine, Felipe represents the Department at the Dean's Office of Diversity and Faculty Development (OFDD). His accolades, including the Excellence in Promotion of Diversity and Societal Citizenship Award by Stanford Medicine (2023), CA State Assembly Recognition (2023), LMSA-West Faculty of the Year (2023), Young Physician of The Year Award by NHMA (2022), and Faculty of the Year by Pediatrics Anesthesia Fellows (2020), underscore his remarkable achievements in advancing diversity.

In addition, Felipe brings a health policy and advocacy background, having experience in developing and implementing a city-wide public health campaign for the City of Baltimore. As a legislative aide, he played a pivotal role in creating laws to prevent homelessness, improve air quality, and require restaurants to post caloric information. Serving as CSA’s Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee, he successfully promoted CA state laws important to our specialty. Felipe is currently one of the CA State Delegates to the ASA House of Delegates and serves on the ASA CPD Committee.

Congratulations Dr. Perez!