Charlene Fong, Administrative Nurse, Spotlight
Charlene Fong's retirement marks the end of a remarkable 47-year career at UCSF, where she has served as an administrative nurse in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging. In her role, Fong was responsible for leading a radiology nursing organization of 90 employees, which she accomplished with the help of three managers and a staff of supervisors, most of whom were trained by Fong herself. Over the years, Fong served on numerous UCSF Health committees focusing on patient safety and quality improvement, including those involved in the design of the new Helen Diller Hospital at Parnassus Heights. She was a liaison between the Department of Radiology and Biomedical imaging and other parts of the hospital such as pharmacy, infectious control, and radiation safety. Her expertise and thoughtful demeanor were highly valued by colleagues, and she played a crucial role in improving patient safety and quality of care. As she says, “First and primarily, I’m a nurse.”
Growing up in the Bay Area, Fong was inspired by the nurses she knew and decided to pursue a career in nursing. After graduating from UC Berkeley, she volunteered at a hospital to gain firsthand experience and confirmed her passion for the field. As she described it, “When I volunteered, I realized I admired what the nurses do. I found my calling.”
For her nursing education, Fong came to UCSF and upon graduation took an intern job at the Mount Zion campus. In her nearly five decades with UCSF, Fong has observed major changes in radiology. From her early days when the department felt small and paper requisitions were the name of the game, she has helped it grow into the multi-sited, complex organization that we know today. She emphasizes the differences, “Radiology is so big, there is a really diverse group of staff, so to be able to support them is really important.”
Fong’s growth into a managerial role was an organic progression, made possible by experience and being in the right place at the right time. As one of only a few radiology nurses, Fong recalls that it was natural to take on more responsibility as the need arose, and so in a way leadership just ‘fell’ upon her. “It was like growing a family. You have to put some systems in place and as it grows you delegate more and more. Fortunately, at UCSF, there’s a lot of resources so I could always reach out and get help.”
Always valuing the thrill of learning, Fong reflected on what kept her at UCSF – “There’s always a new project, there’s always a new challenge, so you’re learning and you’re growing. When you work together with people, the collective power and the results we get are amazing.”
Fong observes that UCSF culture has always been to do significant research and a lot of teaching, all with a focus on improving care for patients. From a nursing perspective, performance improvement and quality safety are paramount. Fong’s advisory work on the design of the new Parnassus Hospital revolves around representing the nursing needs and advising on the mechanics of patient flow. Drawing from the experience of her career, she knows that the design work now must consider technology changes that are 10 years in the future.
It is the same kind of creative flexibility she has practiced in years of nursing, “We have to know how to accommodate and make changes to make sure everything works. The best way to solve a problem is to listen to everyone’s perspective, get your information, and then you look for the options.”
As Charlene Fong begins a new chapter in her life, we extend our deepest gratitude for her unwavering dedication and commitment to UCSF. Her legacy of care will continue to inspire future generations of nurses. Charlene also expressed her gratitude to everyone here in the department, “I'm grateful for being a team member here, for the fellowship, for the friendship, and for the partnership that everyone's had with me. I'm just really grateful.”