OUR STAFF
Dr. Jocelyn Freeman Garrick, Founder
Dr. Freeman Garrick was an undergraduate at UC Berkeley and attended medical school at the University of Southern California. She trained in Emergency Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Jacobi/Montefiore Emergency Medicine Residency Program in New York, serving as chief resident during her final year in 2001. She is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician who, after completing her residency, obtained a Masters in Science in Epidemiology from Cornell University. Dr. Freeman Garrick is currently an attending physician at Alameda County Medical Center- Highland Hospital in Oakland, California.
Dr. Freeman Garrick was an undergraduate at UC Berkeley and attended medical school at the University of Southern California. She trained in Emergency Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Jacobi/Montefiore Emergency Medicine Residency Program in New York, serving as chief resident during her final year in 2001. She is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician who, after completing her residency, obtained a Masters in Science in Epidemiology from Cornell University. Dr. Freeman Garrick is currently an attending physician at Alameda County Medical Center- Highland Hospital in Oakland, California.
Asha Vitatoe, Director
Asha Vitatoe received her B.A. from Emory University in African American Studies and has been working in Youth Development for the past eight years. She began working with youth in Atlanta and moved back to the Bay Area five years ago to continue that work. As a dedicated Youth Development professional she has worked hard to develop and deliver quality programming and mentorship. An Oakland native, Asha is passionate about working with young people to identify, pursue and achieve their goals for their future. Contact Asha at avitatoe@mimscience.org.
Asha Vitatoe received her B.A. from Emory University in African American Studies and has been working in Youth Development for the past eight years. She began working with youth in Atlanta and moved back to the Bay Area five years ago to continue that work. As a dedicated Youth Development professional she has worked hard to develop and deliver quality programming and mentorship. An Oakland native, Asha is passionate about working with young people to identify, pursue and achieve their goals for their future. Contact Asha at avitatoe@mimscience.org.
Denae Reed PA-C, Mentor and Shadowing Coordinator
Denae Reed has been a Physician Assistant for 18 years with a focus in Emergency Medicine and Forensic Examinations for Sexual Assault Victims. For the past 15 years she has worked at Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. Her other areas of clinical practice have included Women’s Health, Adolescent and Geriatric Care in the Bay Area. Mrs. Reed graduated from the 32nd PA Class at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science, in Los Angeles, after receiving her B.S in Health Science, with a Minor in Human Biology from CSU, Hayward. She is an Oakland native, married, with 3 amazing children, and 1 grandchild. She finds her career to be very rewarding and enjoys going to work. She has a passion for mentoring, and enjoys traveling, spending time with family/ friends, and watching football /basketball at all levels. Contact Denae at dreed@mimscience.org.
Denae Reed has been a Physician Assistant for 18 years with a focus in Emergency Medicine and Forensic Examinations for Sexual Assault Victims. For the past 15 years she has worked at Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. Her other areas of clinical practice have included Women’s Health, Adolescent and Geriatric Care in the Bay Area. Mrs. Reed graduated from the 32nd PA Class at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science, in Los Angeles, after receiving her B.S in Health Science, with a Minor in Human Biology from CSU, Hayward. She is an Oakland native, married, with 3 amazing children, and 1 grandchild. She finds her career to be very rewarding and enjoys going to work. She has a passion for mentoring, and enjoys traveling, spending time with family/ friends, and watching football /basketball at all levels. Contact Denae at dreed@mimscience.org.
Maritza Gomez, Program Coordinator
Maritza Gomez is a U.C. Berkeley graduate who studied public health and healthcare. Maritza grew up in a small coastal town in south San Diego near the U.S.-Mexico border. From a young age, Maritza developed a passion for healthcare and its relation to health disparities within minority communities. Her education at Cal helped solidify her aspirations and has motivated her to pursue a career assisting underrepresented communities. She is a MIMS Summer Internship alumni, former program intern and has been a coordinator since graduating from Cal spring of 2018. She eventually plans to pursue a master’s in public health with the hopes of working within community health. Contact Maritza at mgomez@mimscience.org.
Maritza Gomez is a U.C. Berkeley graduate who studied public health and healthcare. Maritza grew up in a small coastal town in south San Diego near the U.S.-Mexico border. From a young age, Maritza developed a passion for healthcare and its relation to health disparities within minority communities. Her education at Cal helped solidify her aspirations and has motivated her to pursue a career assisting underrepresented communities. She is a MIMS Summer Internship alumni, former program intern and has been a coordinator since graduating from Cal spring of 2018. She eventually plans to pursue a master’s in public health with the hopes of working within community health. Contact Maritza at mgomez@mimscience.org.
Juan Jimenez, Program Facilitator
Juan is currently a post-baccalaureate student at CSU East Bay, having completed his undergraduate studies in physiology and neuroscience at UC San Diego. Having lived in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and now the Bay Area, he considers himself lucky to live in arguably the most diverse state in the country. As a first generation college student and son of immigrants, Juan sees diversity in any professional setting as paramount to strengthening communities, particularly among young folks. An aspiring doctor, he is currently working hard to one day live out his dream of becoming a child and adolescent psychiatrist and medical school professor in order to give back, pay it forward, and mentor students and youth from marginalized and underrepresented communities have equal voice and representation. Contact Juan at jjimenez@mimscience.org.
Juan is currently a post-baccalaureate student at CSU East Bay, having completed his undergraduate studies in physiology and neuroscience at UC San Diego. Having lived in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and now the Bay Area, he considers himself lucky to live in arguably the most diverse state in the country. As a first generation college student and son of immigrants, Juan sees diversity in any professional setting as paramount to strengthening communities, particularly among young folks. An aspiring doctor, he is currently working hard to one day live out his dream of becoming a child and adolescent psychiatrist and medical school professor in order to give back, pay it forward, and mentor students and youth from marginalized and underrepresented communities have equal voice and representation. Contact Juan at jjimenez@mimscience.org.
John Marshall, Program Facilitator
John Marshall is an Oakland native currently serving as an EMT Instructor for Alameda county EMS Corps by day and EMT for Falck Northern California by night. John is also an Alum of EMS Corps which also provides training's for some of the local High schools throughout Oakland. John is currently pursuing his AA degree in Business to transfer to SF state to obtain his BA. His ultimate goal is to become a Fire Fighter for the City of Oakland and create a training program to provide essential skills for the youth of Oakland to utilize in their everyday lives. John Marshall is one of the many impacted young men that has come from Oakland and strives to bring education and empowerment to the youth he works with.
John Marshall is an Oakland native currently serving as an EMT Instructor for Alameda county EMS Corps by day and EMT for Falck Northern California by night. John is also an Alum of EMS Corps which also provides training's for some of the local High schools throughout Oakland. John is currently pursuing his AA degree in Business to transfer to SF state to obtain his BA. His ultimate goal is to become a Fire Fighter for the City of Oakland and create a training program to provide essential skills for the youth of Oakland to utilize in their everyday lives. John Marshall is one of the many impacted young men that has come from Oakland and strives to bring education and empowerment to the youth he works with.