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Meet Our Team
Our goal is to help international patients access services available at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and throughout the UCLA Health System, which range from coordinating special accommodations to arranging specialty care. We will assign an International Patient Coordinator to guide you through the process of becoming a patient at UCLA. The coordinator continues to serve as a representative throughout your stay with us. He or she can connect you to the Personalized Services you would expect from a world-class health system.
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Lea Ann CookDirector Lea Ann received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Kentucky University in 1986. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University. Lea Ann has had the privilege of serving patients for over 32 years in clinical and administrative roles. She has championed efforts to promote and raise awareness of organ donation among patients, medical staff, and the general public. Her tenure with the UCLA Health System dates back to 1993, when she worked as director of the transplant and surgical services intensive care unit. In 2006 Lea Ann was nominated for the National Health Foundation Hospital Hero Award, which honors the exceptional achievements of hospital associates. |
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Vivian BeeneManager Vivian was born in the Philippines and has lived in the United States for over 37 years. She has dedicated more than 26 years of her professional career to advancing the mission of the UCLA Health System. She has managed and successfully marketed a UCLA employee health benefit program, served as administrator of the Medical Center's Marketing department, and has been assisting international patients at UCLA since 1992. Vivian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Pepperdine University. Throughout her 30 years of experience in the healthcare field, Vivian continues to be fascinated with the advances in medicine, and the different cultures and backgrounds she encounters.
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Nels ChristiansonInternational Patient Coordinator Region: Europe, North America, South America Nels received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Hispanic Civilizations from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He then pursued studies toward a master's degree from UCLA in Latin American Studies. As a scholarship recipient of the Rotary Foundation, Nels studied at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He has been with the UCLA Health System for more than 35 years. His prior experience at UCLA includes work in admissions and registration, interpretation services, and patient affairs. As a heritage speaker, Nels is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. |
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Frini Li-ChiuInternational Patient Coordinator Region: Asia, Pacific Rim Originally from Hong Kong, Frini moved to the United States in 1972 as an international student. She is a licensed clinical social worker/psychotherapist and has enjoyed a career spanning over 30 years. Frini has received numerous achievement awards from UCLA and community organizations, which recognize the quality of her contributions to the health care field. She joined the UCLA Health System in 1991 and has a mastery of the Mandarin and Cantonese dialects. In her spare time, Frini enjoys classical music and riding horses. |
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Maged MattaInternational Patient Coordinator Region: Middle East Originally from Egypt, Maged graduated from the Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine in 1983. He practiced general medicine in Alexandria prior to immigrating to the United States in 1985. He then served as a patient coordinator and assisted a physician in an urgent care clinic. Maged has been providing patient support services to Arabic-speaking patients at UCLA since 1999 and officially joined the UCLA Health System in 2007. He joined International Relations due to its record of effective collaboration with doctors and nurses at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. His mastery of Arabic and training as a physician equip him with a unique set of skills. |
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Cheryl EvangelistaPatient Coordinator, Patient & Guest Services Cheryl is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing. She has been with the UCLA Health System for more than 6 years. Prior to becoming a Patient & Guest Services Coordinator, Cheryl worked as a living donor coordinator with the Kidney & Pancreas Transplant Program and as a patient coordinator with the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department. Her fluency in Tagalog reinforces her strong interpersonal skills. |
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Josie OrnelasInternational Relations Assistant Coordinator Josie has over 35 years of professional work experience in the health sector. Her fluency in Spanish complements her excellent interpersonal skills. Josie has worked as a hospital biller, a program coordinator, and as an office assistant for a federal health system. Josie has been an integral member of the UCLA Health System for over 30 years, over ten years of which as a member of the international team. Josie enjoys assisting patients and sharing with them her extensive knowledge of UCLA. |
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Contact Us
To initiate care, please call UCLA International Relations at +1 (310) 794-8759 and send your most recent medical record information by fax to +1 (310) 267-4810. You may also email us at: international@mednet.ucla.edu
International Relations Office
10920 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1800
Los Angeles, CA 90024
USA
