Heather Briscoe, MD

I am primarily a clinician educator based at the San Francisco General Hospital in Pediatrics. I have an interest in procedural education, and medical education in particular. In my former role as Interim Director of the Infant Care Center, I became particularly passionate about the interface of families impacted by Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and the newborn. We have racially disparate representation of families in our child welfare system, and newborn removals due to substance use is an important contributor to entries to foster care. We have an opportunity to review our practices and consider whether our policies are "baking in" factors that are biased. Social Determinants of Health are perhaps the most powerful influence, and the ones we are least equipped to influence in medicine. My current focus is on building relations with community based organizations and allies in our system of care to leverage existing resources in support of families.
Education
12/2019 - Respectful Care of Pregnant and Birthing People (train the trainer), National Birth Equity Collaborative
08/2018 - Teaching Scholars Program, UCSF
2017 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
06/2010 - General Pediatrics, UCSF
MD, 12/2005 - , UCSF
Honors and Awards
  • Excellence In Teaching Award, UCSF Academy of Medical Educators, 2019
  • Hearts Grant - Video Laryngoscope, ZSFG, 2017
  1. Schmidt CN, Patel D, Alpers BS, Spaulding M, Ocegueda L, Thomas M, Sammann A, Briscoe H. Facilitating Integrated Perinatal Care for Families Affected by Substance Use. Journal of addiction medicine 2022. PMID: 35796411


  2. Lakshmanan A, Rogers EE, Lu T, Gray E, Vernon L, Briscoe H, Profit J, Jocson MAL, Hintz SR. Disparities and early engagement associated with the 18-36 month high risk infant follow up visit among very low birthweight infants in California. 2022. PMID: 35597303


  3. Heather Briscoe, MD, Snehal Murthy, MS, Simone Vais, MD. Do No Harm - Rebuilding Trust and Keeping Families Together 2022. PMID:


  4. Schmidt CN, Stretten M, Briscoe H. Widespread Surveillance by the Child Protection System: Lasting Effects on Families. 2021. PMID: 34878885


  5. Heather Briscoe, Helen DuPlessis, Jacqueline Rad, Kelly Brandon, Mimi Leza. Mother & Baby Substance Exposure Toolkit; Best Practice #29- Develop a Dyad-centered Plan of Safe Care 2021. PMID: