In 2022, UCSF began working with its affiliate, Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, to assess its capacity to adopt an anchor mission strategy. The BCH Oakland Anchor Assessment process began with Executive Sponsors Matthew Cook President, of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, and Francesca Vega, UCSF’s Vice Chancellor of Community and Government Relations for UCS selecting co-chairs of the Anchor Assessment Steering Committee. Under the leadership of co-Chairs Vanessa Roshell-Stacks Vice President, of Ancillary and Support Services at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, and Melanie Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Oakland Thrives, Steering Committee members were selected based on their unique expertise.
BCH Oakland Anchor Steering Committee Members
Melanie Moore PhD., Chief Executive Officer of Oakland Thrives BCH Oakland Anchor Steering Committee Co-Chair
Pastor Raymond Lankford CEO, Oakland Private Industry Council
Barbara Leslie
President/CEO Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Tonia Suber VP People and Culture, BCH Oakland
Dayna Long MD., Co-Director Center for Child & Community Health UCSF BCH Oakland
Tom Kennedy
Brand Marketing Strategist, Office of Communication UCSF
Kim Rhoads Director, Umoja Health, Assoc Director for Community Engagement at UCSF Cancer Center
Eamon Loughnane Director - Supply Chain Management UCSF BCH Oakland
Katia Merriam Senior Director of External Relations, UCSF BCH Oakland
Charlotte Canari Executive Director of Government Reimbursement Services, UCSF BCH Oakland
Andy Madeira CEO, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC)
Lucia Sayer Director of Regional Innovation and Community Resilience Health Care Without Harm, Anchor in Resilient Communities
Vanessa Roshell-Stacks Vice President of Ancillary and Support Services (Site Administrator) UCSF BCH Oakland, BCH Oakland Anchor Steering Committee Co-Chair
Maria Echaveste President & CEO, The Opportunity Institute
Daryel Dunston
Senior Director, Place Pathway, San Francisco Foundation
Noha Aboelata CEO, Roots Community Health Center
Aaron Ortiz CEO, La Familia
Kimi Watkins Tartt Director, Alameda County Public Health Department
Emile Durette Management Analyst, Workforce & Benefits Administration, Alameda County Social Services Agency + Alameda County Community Wealth Building Initiative
Jessica Pitt Executive Director of Health Path, Alameda Health System
Michelle Starratt Housing Director, Alameda County Department of Housing and Community Development
Sofia Navarro Executive Director, Oakland Workforce Development Board
Stephen Baiter Executive Director, East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA)
Alexa Jeffress Director Economic & Workforce Development Department, City of Oakland
During a 6-month process, the BCH Oakland Anchor Assessment Steering Committee conducted thirty-five interviews and held six focus groups with stakeholders in the areas of workforce development, procurement, community investment, community health, healthcare/mental health, youth development, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. The committee also assessed BCH Oakland's internal purchasing and hiring processes.
The assessment process included a literature review and an in-depth analysis of existing resources and recommendations related to the standard anchor pillars of workforce development, community investment, and procurement.
The Anchor Assessment process culminated in BCH Oakland Assessment Retreat in February 2022 where stakeholders reviewed the data collected throughout the assessment process and made recommendations on priority areas for the BCH Oakland Anchor efforts.

Beginning in March 2023 through the remainder of the year, the BCH Oakland steering committee will review the information collected in the assessment process, as well as the findings from the retreat, to develop a strategic plan to present to BCH Oakland leadership for consideration.