The UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC)’s Staff Engagement Team a.k.a. THE FUN TEAM was established back in 2015 as a response to UCSF’s Gallup Survey. We take the feedback of our HDFCCC staff and work on providing events and activities to engage our community.
We hope that you find us to be an approachable and FUN group who wants to help build a community founded on the UCSF PRIDE Values. Please let us know if you have ideas on how to continue to reach our non-faculty staff members of our department code (143100). We are charged with focusing on engagement/staff appreciation and recognition and we take it very seriously!
PI Talks
Watch Previous Talks
- Health Equity Requires Action: Decentralization of Clinical Trials
Kim Rhoads, MD, MS, MPH, FACS | April 15, 2024 - Artificial Intelligence with the Center for Intelligent Imaging
Christopher Hess, MD, PhD, and Sharmila Majumdar, PhD | Dec 8, 2023 - Cancer Centers 101: What Exactly Is an NCI-Designated Cancer Center, and Why Does It Matter?
Eric Small, MD | July 12, 2023 - Addressing the High Burden of Esophageal Cancer in Eastern Africa
Geoffrey Buckle, MD, MPH | July 16, 2023 - "Psilocybin Therapy for Psychological Distress in Serious Illness: A Critical Review"
Brian T. Anderson, MD | March 3, 2023 - State of the Cancer Center Talk and Staff Milestone Awards
Alan Ashworth, PhD, FRS | December 15, 2022 - UCSF Updates from the Chancellor
Sam Hawgood, MBBS | June 17, 2022
WOW Awards
The WOW awards recognize HDFCCC department staff who find creative ways to improve processes and serve as a role model.
Want to nominate a colleague? Download the nomination form and submit to the HDFCCC Fun Team!
Latest Winners
September 2024: Luis Aguilar and Alyssa Lalanne
June 2024: Halah Mansour Alayleh, Anita Fan, Ronnie Padilla
May 2024: Luis Camacho, Dede Creppy, Meredith Donnelly, Kurt Giles, Julia Rossi, Alison Yip
December 2023: Mallory Cases, Lindy Her, Jenna Russell, Banaz Shwan, and Kristy Tjokro
August 2023: Mrugakshi Dave, Colin Jones, Marin Pollak, Nonna Shakhnazaryan, Banaz Shwan, and Kaitlin Zablotsky
June 2023: Melody Gawliu, Amy Li, Markee Micu, Namrata Shetty
March 2023: Lauren Ford, Manaswini Avvari, Michelle Howell, and Jamese Johnson
November 2022: Lucas Bezerra, Lea Daran, Victoria Onyike, Nana Shakhnazaryan, and Nonna Shakhnazaryan
August 2022: Katie Aliferis, Marissa Gin, Tina Kim, Saba Saidi, and Karen Zhang
June 2022: Lindsay Breithaupt, Mallory Cases, Miriam Garfinkel, Amelia Gliwa, and Bella Whalen!
April 2022: Miriam Garfinkel, Avic Magsaysay, Wanda Truong, Ovidio Velasquez, and Gianni Victoria
Fun Team Staff
Alex Orantes
Faculty Assistant for the HDFCCC; Fun Team member since 2023
Cecilia Enad
Staff Operations Manager for the HDFCCC; Fun Team member since 2016
Cecilia has been with UCSF since 2004 and joined the Cancer Center in 2013. She loves to enjoy tropical drinks on the beach at her top 3 travel destinations --Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Philippines! She enjoys watching all kinds of sports, especially football (Go 49ers!) and playing tennis with her family. She also loves creative activities like event and party planning, assembling fun charcuterie boards, and crafting. If you are looking for a crafting buddy, Cecilia’s your gal!
John McAdams
Administrative Director, Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC); Fun Team member since 2016
John has been the administrative leader of the DSMC since 2011. Outside of UCSF, he is an avid runner, hiker, and loves traveling and trying new restaurants. He loves traveling with his family and is the official taste tester of treats from his daughter, who is a pastry chef. He looks forward to seeing and chatting with you at future Fun Team events!
Mallory Cases
Protocol Development (PD) Team Manager; Fun Team member since 2022
Mallory has been with UCSF’s Protocol Development team since 2018 and has been the team's fearless leader since 2022. When not working with her team on investigator initiated trials, you can most likely find her outside looking up – for birds. She will happily discuss anything bird-related with you. Not a fan of birds? No problem! Mallory also enjoys travel, food, movies, plants, and video games!
Melody Gawliu
Data & Safety Committee (DSMC) Auditor Supervisor for the HDFCCC; Fun Team member since 2019
Melody has been with UCSF since 2007 and has been with the Center since 2014! Outside of her worthwhile work with the DSMC, she has a passion for creating community and, well, creating! Melody is a community leader, musician, photographer, writer, crafter, athlete, event planner, and is very active at her church. As of 2024, she is a UCSF Wellness Champion. Don’t be a stranger – she loves saying hi to folks and striking up conversation and would love to know how you’re doing and what ideas you have!
Fun Team Emeritus:
Gianna Calabro
Fun Team member from 2016 to 2022