Crystal Cené, MD, MPH, FAHA
Crystal Cené, MD, MPH, FAHA
Crystal Cené, MD, MPH, FAHA
Health equity demands far more than knowledge of medicine. It requires a breadth of experience across multiple disciplines that can only be gained from a rich, highly accomplished career.
Health equity demands far more than knowledge of medicine. It requires a breadth of experience across multiple disciplines that can only be gained from a rich, highly accomplished career.
Health equity demands far more than knowledge of medicine. It requires a breadth of experience across multiple disciplines that can only be gained from a rich, highly accomplished career.
A commitment to eradicating inequities
A commitment to eradicating inequities
A commitment to eradicating inequities
Despite undeniable progress in medicine over the past 50 years, population and epidemiological studies tell a very different story. Progress has not been to the benefit of all. There are still broad swaths of the population that are underserved, marginalized, and otherwise unseen. As a medical practitioner as well as researcher, Dr. Crystal Cené lives in two worlds.
On the one hand, she provides comprehensive and life-saving primary care, including diagnosis, treatment, prevention, chronic disease management, and specialist coordination.
Yet as a nationally recognized health services researcher she also sees another world full of stark health inequities.
Her work is to bridge unreconciled worlds, creating a deeper understanding of the challenges and complexities, while creating greater systemic access to the resources that contribute to longer, healthier lives.
Despite undeniable progress in medicine over the past 50 years, population and epidemiological studies tell a very different story. Progress has not been to the benefit of all. There are still broad swaths of the population that are underserved, marginalized, and otherwise unseen. As a medical practitioner as well as researcher, Dr. Crystal Cené lives in two worlds.
On the one hand, she provides comprehensive and life-saving primary care, including diagnosis, treatment, prevention, chronic disease management, and specialist coordination.
Yet as a nationally recognized health services researcher she also sees another world full of stark health inequities.
Her work is to bridge unreconciled worlds, creating a deeper understanding of the challenges and complexities, while creating greater systemic access to the resources that contribute to longer, healthier lives.
Despite undeniable progress in medicine over the past 50 years, population and epidemiological studies tell a very different story. Progress has not been to the benefit of all. There are still broad swaths of the population that are underserved, marginalized, and otherwise unseen. As a medical practitioner as well as researcher, Dr. Crystal Cené lives in two worlds.
On the one hand, she provides comprehensive and life-saving primary care, including diagnosis, treatment, prevention, chronic disease management, and specialist coordination.
Yet as a nationally recognized health services researcher she also sees another world full of stark health inequities.
Her work is to bridge unreconciled worlds, creating a deeper understanding of the challenges and complexities, while creating greater systemic access to the resources that contribute to longer, healthier lives.
Recognized for her vital work today
Recognized for her vital work today
Recognized for her vital work today
Since 2022, Dr. Cené has been awarded five grants for research funding totaling $11 million. This includes three grants as principal investigator from the National Institutes of Health and the Health Resources and Services Administration, as well as a grant as a co-investigator from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Since 2022, Dr. Cené has been awarded five grants for research funding totaling $11 million. This includes three grants as principal investigator from the National Institutes of Health and the Health Resources and Services Administration, as well as a grant as a co-investigator from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Since 2022, Dr. Cené has been awarded five grants for research funding totaling $11 million. This includes three grants as principal investigator from the National Institutes of Health and the Health Resources and Services Administration, as well as a grant as a co-investigator from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
A leader at a preeminent academic health center
A leader at a preeminent academic health center
A leader at a preeminent academic health center
Dr. Cené currently holds two key administrative roles at University of California San Diego (UCSD) Health—Chief Administrative Officer for Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), as well as Associate Chief Medical Officer. These roles are in addition to her position as Professor of Medicine and Public Health.
In these complementary roles, Dr. Cené focuses on building an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment that benefits all students, trainees, faculty, staff, and patients.
These positions are integral to delivering the world-class patient care that has helped UCSD Health earn its place as San Diego’s top-ranked hospital, as well as recognition among the country’s top 10 schools for medical and surgical specialties.
Dr. Cené currently holds two key administrative roles at University of California San Diego (UCSD) Health—Chief Administrative Officer for Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), as well as Associate Chief Medical Officer. These roles are in addition to her position as Professor of Medicine and Public Health.
In these complementary roles, Dr. Cené focuses on building an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment that benefits all students, trainees, faculty, staff, and patients.
These positions are integral to delivering the world-class patient care that has helped UCSD Health earn its place as San Diego’s top-ranked hospital, as well as recognition among the country’s top 10 schools for medical and surgical specialties.
Dr. Cené currently holds two key administrative roles at University of California San Diego (UCSD) Health—Chief Administrative Officer for Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), as well as Associate Chief Medical Officer. These roles are in addition to her position as Professor of Medicine and Public Health.
In these complementary roles, Dr. Cené focuses on building an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment that benefits all students, trainees, faculty, staff, and patients.
These positions are integral to delivering the world-class patient care that has helped UCSD Health earn its place as San Diego’s top-ranked hospital, as well as recognition among the country’s top 10 schools for medical and surgical specialties.
From health to health equity
From health to health equity
From health to health equity
A practicing general internal medicine physician, Dr. Cené completed her medical residency at Yale University after earning a medical degree from East Carolina University. She completed a three-year clinical research fellowship and received a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) from John Hopkins University.
The next phase of her career took her to University of North Carolina (UNC) where Dr. Cené began as an assistant professor, but ultimately rose to Associate Professor of Medicine with tenure. While at UNC, Dr. Cené was appointed the inaugural UNC Health System Executive Director for Health Equity, where she oversaw the health system’s ambitious 5-year strategic plan for health equity, while implementing a bespoke program that successfully reduced COVID-19 vaccine disparities.
While at UNC, Dr. Cené was also a research leader. She was the Deputy Director of Research and the Director of the Program on Health Disparities at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Cené has held leadership roles in prominent non-profits such as the American Heart Association, the Society of General Internal Medicine, and the Women’s Health Initiative.
A practicing general internal medicine physician, Dr. Cené completed her medical residency at Yale University after earning a medical degree from East Carolina University. She completed a three-year clinical research fellowship and received a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) from John Hopkins University.
The next phase of her career took her to University of North Carolina (UNC) where Dr. Cené began as an assistant professor, but ultimately rose to Associate Professor of Medicine with tenure. While at UNC, Dr. Cené was appointed the inaugural UNC Health System Executive Director for Health Equity, where she oversaw the health system’s ambitious 5-year strategic plan for health equity, while implementing a bespoke program that successfully reduced COVID-19 vaccine disparities.
While at UNC, Dr. Cené was also a research leader. She was the Deputy Director of Research and the Director of the Program on Health Disparities at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Cené has held leadership roles in prominent non-profits such as the American Heart Association, the Society of General Internal Medicine, and the Women’s Health Initiative.
A practicing general internal medicine physician, Dr. Cené completed her medical residency at Yale University after earning a medical degree from East Carolina University. She completed a three-year clinical research fellowship and received a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) from John Hopkins University.
The next phase of her career took her to University of North Carolina (UNC) where Dr. Cené began as an assistant professor, but ultimately rose to Associate Professor of Medicine with tenure. While at UNC, Dr. Cené was appointed the inaugural UNC Health System Executive Director for Health Equity, where she oversaw the health system’s ambitious 5-year strategic plan for health equity, while implementing a bespoke program that successfully reduced COVID-19 vaccine disparities.
While at UNC, Dr. Cené was also a research leader. She was the Deputy Director of Research and the Director of the Program on Health Disparities at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Cené has held leadership roles in prominent non-profits such as the American Heart Association, the Society of General Internal Medicine, and the Women’s Health Initiative.
Education and Training:
Education and Training:
Education and Training:
MPH 2005-2006
(Public Health)
Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, MD, May 2006
M.D. 1998-2002
(Medicine)
East Carolina University
Brody School of Medicine
Greenville, NC, May 2002
B.A. 1991-1995
(Psychology)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC, May 1995
Postgraduate Education
General Internal Medicine Fellowship
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
July 2005-May 2008
Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency - 2002-2005
Yale University School of Medicine
Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, CT
July 2002-June 2005
LICENSURE AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
Medical license, State of California C182700 (active)
Certificate in Implementation Science, UCSF - 2018
MPH 2005-2006
(Public Health)
Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, MD, May 2006
M.D. 1998-2002
(Medicine)
East Carolina University
Brody School of Medicine
Greenville, NC, May 2002
B.A. 1991-1995
(Psychology)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC, May 1995
Postgraduate Education
General Internal Medicine Fellowship
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
July 2005-May 2008
Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency - 2002-2005
Yale University School of Medicine
Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, CT
July 2002-June 2005
LICENSURE AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
Medical license, State of California C182700 (active)
Certificate in Implementation Science, UCSF - 2018
MPH 2005-2006
(Public Health)
Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, MD, May 2006
M.D. 1998-2002
(Medicine)
East Carolina University
Brody School of Medicine
Greenville, NC, May 2002
B.A. 1991-1995
(Psychology)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC, May 1995
Postgraduate Education
General Internal Medicine Fellowship
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
July 2005-May 2008
Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency - 2002-2005
Yale University School of Medicine
Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, CT
July 2002-June 2005
LICENSURE AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
Medical license, State of California C182700 (active)
Certificate in Implementation Science, UCSF - 2018
Crystal Cené, MD, MPH, FAHA
Crystal Cené, MD, MPH, FAHA
© 2025 Crystal Cené, MD