Passing the Torch

Faustino Bernadett, Jr., Class of 1980

Two powerful sources inspired generous gifts to UCSF from Faustino (Tino) Bernadett, Jr., and his wife, Martha – their fathers.

Tino’s dad ran a busy practice as the only Spanish-speaking family doctor in Chico, California, and volunteered his services to Mexico’s needy. Martha’s father was an emergency room physician who founded Molina Healthcare, Inc., a managed care company serving mostly low-income patients. Now Tina and Martha, both MD’s, are continuing their parents’ legacies with donations to UCSF that will benefit underserved communities.

To honor Faustino Bernadett, Sr., the Bernadetts gave $100,000 to endow a scholarship in his name for Spanish-speaking patients. Tino also encouraged his UCSF classmates to contribute through matching funds, netting almost $140,000 for the scholarship.

“We wanted to assist and inspire Spanish-speaking medical students to someday see their family and communities as my father saw his – with love, commitment, and a never-ending appreciation for life.” Says Tino.

Molina Healthcare, Inc. directed $70,000 of funding for curricular changes through the Hablamos Juntos project and the First 5 Oral Health initiative. Hablamos Juntos seeks to improve communication between health-care providers and their patients with little English proficiency, and First 5 Oral Health aims to address the “silent epidemic” of Early Childhood Caries. The revised curriculum will help train School of Medicine students on how to select patient education materials that are appropriate for the patients’ language, culture and literacy level and how to best translate materials. In addition, dental education for physicians-in-training is being enhanced.

Finally, the Bernadetts donated $100,000 to name the Tino and Martha Bernadett Community Lounge in the UCSF Mission Bay Community Center, which serves as the social hub of the center.

“We five to UCSF because we can see our donations in action,” explains Martha. “We know our contributions will make a difference for generations to come.”