Stanford’s Dedicated Dynamic Duo

December 26, 2007

Behind every great leader is a great team. Dr. Samuel So and the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University exemplify this statement. The staff may be small, but their deep commitment to the organization’s mission gives the illusion of a Bay Area health care giant. Despite having fewer than 20 salaried staff members at the center, employees go beyond the call of duty by extending their efforts in the S.F. Hep B Free Campaign.

Aarti Rao and Meredith Bergin of the Asian Liver Center have helped define and demonstrate what it means to be dedicated to the community. “What’s unique about this position is that you’re constantly on your toes, thinking about new ways to serve the community,” said Rao, the center’s outreach coordinator. Rao, 22, grew up in San Jose and graduated from Stanford University. Having a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in biology has helped her navigate and reach out to diverse Asian communities of the Greater Bay Area regarding Hepatitis B.

Rao’s efforts are joined by Bergin, the center’s special projects coordinator. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Bergin, 24, graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s in microbiology and a minor in chemistry. She continued her education at Brigham Young, obtaining a master’s degree in public health and demonstrating her strong commitment and passion for community health care. “I love my job,” Bergin said. “I wake up and go to the office every morning knowing that my work will positively impact many lives. Being conscious of that keeps me motivated.”

Rao and Bergin do more than what is outlined for them in their job descriptions. “What they actually do is everything! They’re great and very enthusiastic,” said Ellen Chang, chief epidemiologist at the center and a consultant assisting professor at Stanford University. “It’s really nice to have a younger perspective on community involvement and engagement.”

The Asian Liver Center’s dynamic duo continues to help save lives as they help spread community awareness about Hepatitis B.

Stanford’s Dedicated Dynamic Duo

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