Diane Ngo

Name (pronouns): 
Diane Ngo (she/her/hers)
Department/Division: 
Surgery
Years at UCSF: 
11
Role in technology: 
Faces of Ability campaigns
What technology project(s) have you worked on that you are most proud of?: 

I have been privileged to help co-lead two major campaigns highlighting the importance of mental health resilience and recognizing UCSF community members who work, live, and thrive with physical and emotional challenges. The campaigns' goal is to raise awareness of people living with disabilities in the UCSF community by giving staff, faculty, and students an opportunity to share their personal experiences. Disability touches every individual and group that includes all intersectionality. It does not discriminate based on social economic status, gender, or race or ethnicity. These are online campaigns that provide greater accessibility to be shown widely and shared with the UCSF community –– and beyond!: Faces of Ability – In their Own Words and Faces of Ability II – Mental Health Resilience

How has technology helped you achieve a goal within your role or department?: 

Technology is critical in how I work in my role with Surgery and my volunteer work for UCSF. The ability to learn and develop skills by utilizing updated and new technology taps into my creativity and keeps me challenged to push beyond my comfort zone.

What’s your favorite aspect of your role at UCSF and why?: 

I get to work with and support some of the most amazing, smart, hardworking colleagues, researchers, faculty, clinicians, and learners to solve important healthcare-related issues and deliver them to a diverse population in our community here in the Bay and globally.

What’s one ‘fun fact’ about you that not many people know?: 

I am a self-taught artist, working with watercolor and mixed media, and I train in adaptive crossfit. I recently discovered my artwork skills back in 2014 and stumbled (literally) into the world of crossfit in 2016. Both have significantly improved my life in helping me cope with my mental, emotional, and physical health. I created my online art gallery, Baolinhart, in honor of my father’s memory and how my parents instilled in me the value of paying it forward.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work?: 

Well, the two activities shared in the last question – but I'm also a big time foodie! Not only do I love to visit the amazing Bay Area restaurants, but you can find me cooking authentic Vietnamese and Asian dishes at home…or see me suffer with my baking attempts. ( I’m a horrible baker, but a determined one! Smile )

If you could learn anything, what would that be?: 

I want to fly!