Who is NABARI?
The Native American Bay Area Reach Initiative (NABARI) is a collective of Native American and Indigenous healers, activists, teachers, students, and their allies, coming together to increase Indigenous representation in higher education and the workforce. As a collaboration of community members from the Native American Health Center and the University of California, San Francisco, we are working together to create a holistic summer experience and yearlong programming to amplify our community’s next generation of changemakers.
Faces of NABARI
2026 Camp Director
Madison Thompson (Delaware Tribe of Indians)
Medical Student (Class of 2027)
University of California, San Francisco
2026 Camp Director
Shivany Condor Montes, MPH (Andean from San Pedro de Cajas, Junin)
Medical Student (Class of 2027)
University of California, San Francisco
Camp and Yearlong Programming
Robert Maldonado
Native American Health Center - SF
Administration and Program Metrics
Shira Rutman, MPH
NABARI Staff Advisor
University of California, San Francisco
Program Evaluations and Cultural Connectivity
Hannah Mack
Native American Health Center - Oakland
Professional and Academic Programming
Tasce Bongiovanni, MD (Diné/Navajo)
NABARI Faculty Advisor
University of California, San Francisco
Past Camp Directors
Founder, 2023 Camp Director, Resident Physician
Kyle Lakatos, MD, MPP, MS (Pawnee/Cheyenne)
University of California, San Francisco Alumni (Class of 2024)
2024 Camp Director, Resident Physician
Dixie Blumenshine, MD (Oglala Lakota)
University of California, San Francisco Alumni (Class of 2026)
2025 Camp Director, Resident Physician
Emma Grellinger, MD (Stockbridge-Munsee, Oneida Nation descendant)
University of California, San Francisco Alumni (Class of 2026)
2025 Camp Director
Nikki Apana (Native Hawaiian)
Medical Student (Class of 2027)
University of California, San Francisco
The full story
Formed in early 2022, NABARI was brought together by Native and Indigenous groups at UCSF [the Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS) and the Native American Health Alliance (NAHA)] and their allies, who have been gathering collectively since 2020 to address the variety of health disparities impacting Native and Indigenous communities (locally and nationally).
In discussion with local Native- and Indigenous-based community organizations a decision to focus outreach efforts toward Native and Indigenous Youth was decided on as the appropriate opportunity. Bringing together representatives from; The Native American Health Center, The Friendship House, The American Indian Cultural District, and the HEAL Initiative, we share a strong collaborative model aimed at achieving our ambitious goals.
