Our Team

Empowering Our Communities

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Tem Woldeyesus, MD

Dr. Tem Woldeyesus is passionate about building capacity in his community and advancing health equity. He is a faculty member at Stanford School of Medicine and a primary care physician at Roots Community Health Center. His interests are in equity-centered design practices, and developing community-centered models of care focused on ease, access, and quality for marginalized groups, particularly the black community and African Diaspora.

LEAD PHARMACIST

Crystal Zhou, PharmD

Crystal Zhou is a faculty member with the UCSF School of Pharmacist and Clinical Pharmacist with the UCSF Division of Cardiology. Her interest in hypertension stems from the fact that over 50% of the population has hypertension and it is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions that we manage. Therefore, Crystal joined the Cut Hypertension Program (CHP) as she strives to provide equitable care for all patients, regardless of their environment or socioeconomic status and will be the clinical pharmacist working directly with patients in the CHP.

SR. PROGRAM COORDINATOR, COACHING

Melvin Faulks

Melvin Faulks is the Senior Clinical Programs Coordinator for the Cut Hypertension Program, where he leads operations and manages strategic partnerships with 11 barbershops to address hypertension in underserved communities. Driven by a deep commitment to social justice and health equity, Melvin is actively pursuing a path to medical school. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Ethnic Studies, with a concentration in Gender and Sexualities in Communities of Color, from California State University, East Bay. Melvin aims to leverage his interdisciplinary expertise in social sciences and medicine to advocate for and improve healthcare access in medically underserved populations. His passion for creating equitable health outcomes is at the core of his work and future ambitions in the medical field.

PROGRAM SPECIALIST, COACHING

Candace Akaigbe

Candace Akaigbe is the Program Specialist for the Cut Hypertension Program, where she oversees all aspects of patient care, including managing appointments, follow-ups, and linkage to additional services. Candace also leads a dedicated team of volunteers stationed at partnering barbershops, coordinating blood pressure screenings and ensuring smooth referral processes. With a strong passion for health equity and nutrition in urban communities, she brings a focused commitment to addressing health disparities. Candace holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from California State University, East Bay, and is pursuing a career in public health and nutrition, aiming to make a lasting impact on community health.

FOUNDER

Kenji Taylor MD

Dr. Taylor was born and raised in rural Kansas and Pennsylvania, the youngest of four children. He attended the University of Pennsylvania where he developed a passion for health disparities, social justice and community medicine in West Philadelphia. As a medical student, he founded the nationally-recognized Cut Hypertension Program, a blood pressure screening, education and referral program partnered with African American barbershops.

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