Meet the Team

Program Organizational Structure

The Dean of UP CPH provides strategic oversight and overall direction for the Program for Health Equity, supported by the guidance of the Advisory Board. The PHE Coordinator leads the day-to-day implementation of the Program’s activities, working closely with the UP CPH Research Committee to ensure alignment with the College’s research agenda. To effectively deliver on its mandate and objectives, the Program will progressively establish a team of technical and administrative staff who will support research, capacity-building, and policy engagement functions.

Program Coordinator

The Program Coordinator serves as the focal person of the Program for Health Equity. The Coordinator oversees the development of plans and proposals; facilitates and coordinates research, policy, and capacity-building activities from implementation to monitoring and evaluation; engages constituents, partners, and collaborators; and provides overall supervision of the Program’s operations. This role ensures that the Program maintains coherence across its research agenda, policy initiatives, and stakeholder engagements while upholding the College’s commitment to equity and excellence

Leizel P. Lagrada, MD, MPH, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Health Policy and Administration

UP College of Public Health

Email: lplagrada@up.edu.ph

Dr. Leizel P. Lagrada was appointed as the Coordinator of the Program for Health Equity in August 2023. She brings extensive experience in health systems research, health financing, and policy development from her previous executive roles at the Department of Health and PhilHealth, as well as her work as a health systems consultant.

In her role as Coordinator, she oversees the Program’s research agenda, policy engagements, and capacity-building activities. Her academic and technical work focuses on generating and translating evidence to inform equity-oriented policies and strengthen national and local health systems. Dr. Lagrada is committed to advancing accessible, responsive, and equitable health services for all Filipinos

Program Research Staff

At present, the Program is supported by two staff members, who provide both technical and administrative functions essential to the Program’s operations. Their work includes supporting research activities, assisting in policy and program development, coordinating engagements with partners, and ensuring smooth implementation and documentation of Program initiatives. As the Program expands, additional technical and administrative personnel will be engaged to further strengthen its capacity to deliver high-quality, equity-oriented work

Adrienne Natalie Ebillo

Senior Research Associate

Email: ahebillo@up.edu.ph

Erika Franz Garcia

Senior Research Associate

Email: elgarcia@up.edu.ph

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board provides strategic guidance to the Program for Health Equity (PHE) and advises on the overall direction of its research, policy, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure alignment with national and sectoral priorities.

Functions of the Advisory Board

Provide strategic guidance on the overall direction and priorities of the Program for Health Equity (PHE)
Advise on the alignment of PHE initiatives with national health system reforms and equity-oriented health research agendas
Support high-level partnerships, policy engagement, and institutional positioning
Offer independent perspectives to strengthen accountability and long-term sustainability

Ernesto O. Domingo, MD

Convenor, UHC Study Group

Ernesto D. Garilao

Former Board of Trustees Chair, Zuellig Family Foundation

Maria Rosario Vergeire, MD, MPH, CESO

Former OIC-Secretary/ Undersecretary, DOH

Karen Alparce-Villanueva

Representative, Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations

Carlo Irwin A. Panelo, MD, MA

Professor, UP College of Medicine

Ex-officio Members

Dr. Paulyn Jean A. Claro

Assistant to the Dean for Planning and Development, UP CPH

Dr. Mar Wynn D. Bello

Director, Bureau Of Local Health Services And Development, DOH

Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas

Senior Vice President, Health Finance Policy Sector, PhilHealth

USec. Austere Panadero

President, Zuellig Family Foundation

Technical Working Group

The Technical Working Group (TWG) serves as the Program for Health Equity’s principal technical body, providing technical oversight and expert input to support the Program’s research, policy, and capacity-building initiatives, including the development of thematic equity-oriented research streams aligned with institutional priorities.

Functions of the Technical Working Group

Provide technical inputs in the development and refinement of PHE research, policy, and capacity-building initiatives, consistent with the College’s academic and research agenda.
Review and endorse PHE research proposals, major activities, and technical outputs, as appropriate, to ensure methodological rigor and equity-oriented relevance.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship in thematic research work streams and research proposal development, based on members’ expertise and availability
Contribute technical expertise to PHE-led events, capacity-building activities, and collaborative initiatives to strengthen the quality and impact of Program output