Rosa Lopez Jaffe

About Me

I’ve spent more than 25 years working in acute behavioral health, care coordination, and systems transformation across Northern California. Most of my work has focused on building and strengthening programs for high‑risk and under‑resourced populations (eating disorders, addiction medicine, and psychiatric care). I’ve led multidisciplinary teams, partnered with county agencies and health plans, and helped redesign care pathways so patients can move through the system with fewer barriers.

As an educator, I try to bring the real world into the classroom to bridge the complexity, the collaboration, and the responsibility we carry as nurses. I’m committed to preparing students to think critically, work across disciplines, and lead with equity, compassion, and accountability.

Education

Doctor of Nursing Practice, Organizational Leadership: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2025)
Master of Business Administration, Healthcare: Shidler College of Business (2024)
California HealthCare Foundation Leadership Fellowship: UCSF (2017)
Master of Science in Nursing: Samuel Merritt University (2001)
Bachelor of Science in Psychology: California State University East Bay (1997)

Teaching Interests

I’m interested in teaching psychiatric mental health nursing, complex case management, and various aspects of leadership in care delivery systems. I want to focus on helping students understand how clinical work connects to policy, operations, and equity. I enjoy teaching/mentoring practical skills of communication, coordination, critical thinking that nurses need when caring for patients with complex needs across inter-agencies.

Scholarly Interests

My work centers on behavioral health system improvement, especially standardizing care for acute behavioral/mental health and eating disorders across levels of care. I’m also interested in how social determinants of health shape case management, how teams collaborate across agencies, and how we build a workforce that’s prepared for the realities of today. Much of my recent work involves regional initiatives in care pathways, evidence‑based practices, and accountability in complex care systems.