Leadership Team
Founder and Director of BLOOM
Loves supporting parents and caregivers and her patients fill her with inspiration and awe.
Founder and Medical Director of BLOOM
Committed to serving her community through breaking the womb-to-prison pipeline and increasing health equity.
Director of Communication and Strategy at the Center for Child and Community Health
Chosen auntie of six advocating for solutions led by Black women and birthing people.
Clinical Team
Attending Physican at BLOOM
Champion for the healing power of empathy and advocacy.
Fran Merriweather, LCSW
Mental Health Provider at BLOOM
Committed to treating every family with respect, sensitivity and compassion.
Cherri Harris, LVN
Clinical Coordinator at BLOOM
Fulfilled by engaging directly with families and providing resources families need.
Brandi Gates Burgess, IBCLC
BLOOM Lactation and Nutrition Educator
Amplifying the power of community and increasing knowledge and support for lactation and nutrition. Founder of Breast Friends Lactation Support Services
Nina Feldman
BLOOM Health Equity Intern
Raised in Oakland and passionate about health equity, they believe everyone deserves affirming care and community.
Lisette Mazon
BLOOM FINDconnect Navigator
Dedicated to ensuring families have the tools and resources they need, she believes in building communities that work for everyone.
Research Team
Principal Investigator BLOOM Evaluation
Leading research to better understand, prevent and address the impacts of adversity on health and well-being.
Co-Principal Investigator BLOOM Evaluation
Investigating racial inequities in delivery of neonatal care and outcomes to improve the experiences of patients and families.
Co-Investigator BLOOM Evaluation
Translating scientific findings into better programs and policies that improve the lives of families in our communities.
Akua Agyekum, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator BLOOM Study and the Mirror Study
Born and raised in Oakland, she is passionate to connect social justice with healthcare and medicine.
Principal Investigator Mirror Study
Driven to build trusting relationships with patients and providers and create community.
Ifeyinwa Asiodu, RN, PhD, FAAN
Co-Investigator BLOOM Evaluation, Lactation Education Consultant
Dedicated to serving her community by creating access to and information about lactation that is equitiable and true.
Workforce Development
Mankaah Acho, MD
BLOOM Resident
Brittany Demmings, MD, MPH
BLOOM Resident
Chris DaSilva, MD
BLOOM Resident
Jasmine Solola, MD
BLOOM Resident
Corinne Foley, MD, PhD
BLOOM Resident
Clara Woods, MD
BLOOM Resident
Community Consultants
Ramona "Mona" Laughing Brook Webb
Poet in Residence at BLOOM
Wellness Consultant UCSF Black Wellness Center
Hope Williams-Burt
Family Partnership Consultant
Alex Briscoe
Policy Consultant
Principal, CA Children's Trust
Senior Advisor at BLOOM
Executive Director at the UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health UCSF School of Medicine
Toby Eastman, LCSW
Provider Wellness Consultant
Social Worker at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland and in her private practice.