Flavio Casoy, MD
Psychiatry, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA
CIR gives us an independent voice and collective power in how decisions happen in our hospitals, and gives us the support needed to advocate for our patients. CIR supported me while I fought to preserve county funding for mental health programs that serve the poorest and most vulnerable residents of San Francisco.
Through our most recent contract negotiations, SFGH residents won pay parity with UCSF residents and improvements to our patient care fund, among other victories. As last year’s Regional VP for Northern California, I was able to see how residents in the region’s other five hospitals achieved gains for themselves and their patients.
Next year, I will be the Psychiatry Chief Resident at SFGH; my main interest is in understanding how social inequality and experience of discrimination affect our psychological development. Prior to CIR, I attended Brown University for undergraduate and medical school. I have diverse experience as a political activist, at the county, state, and federal levels. I have worked closely with unions—from the picket line to the halls of State Houses and Congress—advocating on behalf of a patient- and worker-friendly agenda.
I see great opportunities for CIR to strengthen our political leadership through ongoing advocacy campaigns, and to grow in size and strength by expanding efforts in new organizing. As Secretary-Treasurer, I plan to be a constant voice for growth and increasing our presence in residency programs across the country. I strongly believe the future of CIR depends on empowering our current members and engaging new residents.
