The middle child of a working-class Filipino family, Ruiz came to the United States with his parents, brother, and sister in 2014 when he was in the 7th grade. “I come from a very traditional background. And since my parents weren’t able to go to college, they really valued education. I was the first person in my family to get a degree,” he said, rather modestly. Ruiz holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from UCLA. “My mom and brother both work here as nurses,” Nikki Binza said. “So even before I started, I could see there was something special happening here, and I wanted to be part of it.”

Hao La, the SFCJL Director of Rehabilitation, always dreamed of stepping onto the field…not as a player, but as the physical therapist helping athletes reach their peak performance. He’d get to chase personal records and celebrate championship moments. But somewhere between his first and last physical therapy rotations, that dream started to shift.

Some families watch sports together. Others share recipes or go on hikes. But the Binzas have a unique tradition. For two generations, they have been tending to the needs of patients and residents at the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, each in their own way. “My mom and brother both work here as nurses,” Nikki Binza said. “So even before I started, I could see there was something special happening here, and I wanted to be part of it.”

Renen Amir’s path to Life Enrichment programming was anything but conventional. Before coming to the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living (the Campus) nearly two years ago, Renen lived in Israel, where she earned a PhD in philosophy of art and taught at the university level. She enjoyed the work and the life of the mind, but still, at times, life in the ivory tower left her unfulfilled. She was ready for a change. And it came sooner than she thought when her husband got a job in the Bay Area. So, as the family relocated, Renen reevaluated.

On the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living (the Campus), UCSF’s Geriatric Research Team has been studying how to best support seniors, particularly how to create the best circumstances for their transition to long-term care. 

The daily acts of kindness throughout our Campus are easy to spot: a nurse tending to the needs of a patient in the middle of the night, our dining team preparing a special treat for a milestone birthday, a member of the housekeeping staff sharing in the joy of a resident whose grandchild just graduated from college. And on and on and on.