Spirit of the Barrio

Francisco Silva is president and CEO of the California Primary Care Association (CPCA), representing more than 1,300 nonprofit community health centers and clinics that provide comprehensive health care services to more than 7.8 million Californians each year. He leads CPCA’s efforts to expand access to care, advance value-based care, reduce health disparities and strengthen California’s community health center system.

Before joining CPCA, Francisco spent nearly 20 years with the California Medical Association, where he led advocacy efforts to protect Medi-Cal, supported California’s transition to value-based care and helped advance workforce development initiatives for underserved communities. Raised in California’s Salinas Valley, he worked alongside his family as a farmworker, an experience that shaped his commitment to improving access to care and creating opportunities for underserved communities. Francisco serves on the California Health Care Finance Authority Board and several nonprofit and advisory boards. He holds degrees from Santa Clara University, the UCLA School of Law and the USC Marshall School of Business.

Dr. Antoinette Marengo-Barbick is chief medical and transformation officer at Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, where she leads clinical services across 18 health centers in Southern California. She also provides direct clinical care, advocates for sexual and reproductive rights and teaches residents and students.

Dr. Marengo-Barbick previously served as associate residency program director at UC Irvine and Naval Medical Center San Diego and as director of family planning at Naval Medical Center San Diego. She also served in the U.S. Navy as an OB-GYN and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant commander.

Dr. Vik Gulati is a board-certified emergency medicine provider and health care leader with experience in clinical medicine, utilization management, health policy and organizational leadership. His work focuses on improving the health care system for patients, providers and the broader community.

Dr. Gulati is a past president of the California chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and has held leadership roles with the American College of Emergency Physicians, California Medical Association and San Diego County Medical Society.

Pauline Lucatero is vice president of community affairs at FHCSD, where she leads community outreach, engagement, public health partnerships and advocacy efforts. Her nursing background and experience in community health inform her work to strengthen partnerships, promote wellness and improve access to care.

Lucatero previously served as FHCSD’s director of nursing, overseeing nursing care across more than 27 clinics and 300 team members. She also launched the Laura Rodriguez Medical Assistant Institute, which prepares students from underserved communities for careers in health care.