Bio
Dr. Tomás A. Magaña is a Latino physician, program director, educator and advocate dedicated to improving care and health outcomes for the state’s most vulnerable children.
Dr. Magaña is a Principal Investigator at the Public Health Institute (PHI) in Oakland, CA, where he serves as Founding Director of the FACES for the Future Coalition. Dr. Magaña co-founded and directed the original FACES program at Children’s Hospital in Oakland before moving operations of the program to PHI. Additionally, he is Founding Director of the FACES Summer Medical Academy. Dr. Magaña is a leading expert in the design and implementation of health workforce pipeline programs for youth. He is actively leading the efforts to disseminate the successful FACES model throughout the nation. Dr. Magaña’s work with youth has been featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, NBC Bay Area News and in People Magazine..
Dr. Magaña is a board-certified pediatrician with expertise in the care of at-risk children and adolescents. He is a Lead Physician in the Department of School-Based Health Centers at La Clínica de La Raza, Inc. where he serves the complex medical needs of diverse youth from Alameda County. He is also Assistant Professor/Medical Director in the Masters Physician Assistant Department at Samuel Merritt University and an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. Previously, Dr. Magaña was a member of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, where he served as Medical Director of Alameda County’s Juvenile Justice Center and attending physician at the Youth Uprising School-Based Health Center in East Oakland, CA.
Dr. Magaña is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and has served on a number of regional and national advisory boards focusing on pediatric health issues, healthcare workforce development and cultural competency in medicine. Dr. Magaña received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, his Masters degree from U.C. Berkeley, and his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco where he was awarded the prestigious Gold-Headed Cane Award. He completed his pediatric residency at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland where he received the Kerry Spooner-Dean Memorial Award for community service. Other honors include the Regional Jefferson Award (Silver Medal), The California Wellness Foundation’s Champion of Health Professions Diversity Award, Univisión Television’s Medalla al Mérito, Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s Local Hero Award and the Children’s Hospital Oakland Miracle Maker Award.
Dr. Magaña is a Commissioner of First 5 Alameda County and also serves on the board of directors of several non-profit agencies, including Seva Foundation, Safe Passages and MEDICC (Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba).
Dr. Magaña is a first generation college graduate, and has dedicated much of his life to serving underserved communities. He has a passion for programs that foster leadership, wellness and professional development for youth.