University of California San Francisco

Expanding Voting Rights Recognizes Contributions of HS Clinical and Adjunct Faculty

Tracy Lin, PhD, Associate Professor of Health Economics, has dedicated nearly 10 years to UCSF, beginning as a graduate student research assistant in 2014 to her current role in the Institute for Health & Aging in the School of Nursing. She has been active in the Senate since 2022, serving on both the Committee on Academic Freedom and the School of Nursing Faculty Council, along with two special Senate task forces – the Bylaw 55/Voting Rights Task Force and the Affiliations task force. This year, she is the chair of the School of Nursing Faculty Council.

One of her key contributions to the Academic Senate has been fostering discussions around faculty time use and burnout, emphasizing the need for fair compensation for faculty members. Lin collaborated on the Time Use Study with other standout Senate members like Jenny Liu, PhD, MPP, former Chair of the Committee on Faculty Welfare and fellow Adjunct Professor, which documented, evaluated, and quantified faculty time spent on various university-related activities, with a focus on the often-unrecognized 'invisible work' and systematic disparities affecting women and underrepresented individuals in health professions.

This was only possible because UCSF Senate expanded UCSF voting rights locally for faculty in the Adjunct and Health Sciences Clinical series over a decade ago!

Lin believes expanding voting rights systemwide to include full-time HS Clinical and Adjunct faculty like her is critical to achieving the purpose of true shared governance-- representation for all who contribute to UCSF’s mission.

Reflecting on her involvement, she says, "Having access to governance platforms is crucial for driving meaningful policies that benefit both faculty and staff in teaching, research, and clinical practice."

Read on to learn more about Lin’s impact in the field of health sciences and her advocacy for inclusive governance at UCSF.

Visit Faculty Voting Rights Website

Q&A With Tracy Lin

Thinking about your involvement in the Academic Senate, what are you most proud of?

Being fairly new to the Senate, I am still learning the ropes. However, I am proud to have contribute to the dialogue on understanding faculty time use, satisfaction, and burnout, and working to determine ways to ensure faculty members are fairly compensated.

Learn More About Time Use Study Findings

Please share a little bit about your research and scholarly contributions:

Over the past five years, I have collaborated extensively with governments and non-governmental organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the World Bank, focusing on evidence-based policy-making in health. Key projects include research with the Office of the California Surgeon General on the indirect health effects of COVID-19 and cost-effective interventions, leading to publications in PLoS One. I have also contributed to workforce assessments and health system projections in Saudi Arabia, resulting in several publications addressing healthcare needs and labor market dynamics. Additionally, my work examines health system resource allocation and healthcare delivery in conflict-affected settings, including studies on the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on health systems in Libya and systematic reviews on healthcare worker retention and emergency care in post-conflict settings. These collaborations underscore my commitment to improving global health outcomes through rigorous research and policy support.

Why should faculty vote "yes" on the upcoming Memorials to the Regents to expand faulty voting rights? 

Shared governance is only truly possible when all governed have representation at the table. HS Clinical and Adjunct faculty at UCSF have worked alongside of faculty members in other series that are already included in the Senate to enhance research and healthcare. Given the close working relationship and the criticality and contribution of their involvement in UCSF missions, HS Clinical and Adjunct faculty deserve voting rights and have a say on important issues at the University.

• By the Numbers
  Lin's Mission Impact

• 6 mentees annually
  50 students annually
  14 first authorships
  3 current PI/Co-PI studies
  1 research lab