Lauren Garcia is a dedicated healthcare operations and patient experience leader with a strong foundation in patient advocacy, equitable care practices, and system improvement. A proud double Bruin, Lauren earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Disability Studies from UCLA, and is expected to graduate from UCLA’s Executive MPH program in 2027.

Lauren is a Project Manager in the UCLA Health Office of Patient Experience, where she helps lead initiatives that strengthen patient engagement and support improvement efforts across the health system. She has been part of UCLA Health since 2016, beginning her career as a Patient Service Representative before transitioning into a Patient Advocate role in 2019.

During her five years as a Patient Advocate, Lauren worked closely on patient grievance resolution, operational workflows, and quality improvement. She developed trend analyses for senior leadership, trained clinical and administrative teams, and helped improve communication, care coordination, and service recovery for patients and families across UCLA Health. Her experience in both frontline administrative and advocacy roles continues to shape her approach to building compassionate and patient-centered initiatives in her current work as a Project Manager.

How do you spend your free time?
“In my free time, I love reading, exploring nature, boxing, and spending quality time with my friends, family, and my dog. I also enjoy visiting different cafes and libraries across California. It is one of my favorite ways to reset and find inspiration.”

Why did you join the EMPH program?
“I joined the EMPH program because I am passionate about patient advocacy, health equity, and redesigning care systems so they work better for every individual who is deserving of high-quality care. I want to build the leadership, policy, and analytical skills needed to improve patient experiences across the health system.”