Josue Zapata

Josue Zapata is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, and serves in leadership roles at the San Francisco VA Health System as Associate Chief of Staff for Quality, Safety, and Value and Associate Chief of the Medical Service. He is deeply engaged in medical education, functioning as a coach in the Bridges curriculum and co-director of the UCSF/Kaiser Undergraduate Research Internship.

• B.A., New York University, College of Arts and Sciences
• M.D., Harvard Medical School
• M.B.A., Harvard Business School
• Residency and Chief Residency in Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
• Certificate in Latin American/Latino/a Studies, City College of San Francisco

Dr. Zapata’s research and scholarly work focuses on quality and value improvement in healthcare, leadership development in academic medicine, medical education, professional development of trainees, and promoting diversity and inclusion in healthcare. His interests reflect a strong commitment to systems-based practice, patient safety, and educational innovation. He integrates principles of healthcare administration and management into clinical improvement initiatives.

His recent publications reveal a consistent trajectory in hospital medicine, leadership communication, quality improvement, and medical education. Themes include reducing hospital admission delays, strategies for productive disagreement among clinicians, student-led improvement projects, and addressing microaggressions in clinical training. His work spans high-impact journals such as JAMA, JAMA Internal Medicine, Journal of Hospital Medicine, and Medical Teacher, demonstrating interdisciplinary relevance and influence.

• Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators, UCSF (2020)
• Maxine Papadakis Award for Faculty Professionalism and Respect, UCSF School of Medicine (2020)
• Excellence in Teaching Award for Clinical Faculty (2019)
• Excellence in Teaching Award, Academy of Medical Educators, UCSF (2018)
• Cooke Award for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, UCSF (2016)
• Chief Resident, UCSF Department of Medicine (2014)
• Aesculapian Club, Harvard Medical School (2010)
• Linnane Scholarship, Harvard Medical School (2009)
• Presidential Honors Scholar, New York University (2003)

Dr. Zapata mentors medical students and residents through formal coaching and curriculum leadership. He leads the Quality Improvement Committee and serves on the Medical Executive Committee at the SFVA, contributing to institutional governance. His work in high-value care and resource utilization bridges clinical practice with health policy. As an executive board member of the Bay Area Chapter of the Society of Hospital Medicine, he engages with broader professional networks to advance hospital medicine. His MBA from Harvard Business School informs his approach to healthcare leadership and administrative innovation.

He is actively involved in institutional and professional efforts to improve healthcare systems, optimize patient outcomes, and foster inclusive learning environments. His dual expertise in clinical medicine and business administration positions him as a leader in value-based healthcare transformation.