Headshot of Sharon Goldfarb

Sharon Goldfarb

Adjunct Professor

Part-Time Faculty
(510) 717-8571

Biography

Dr. Sharon Goldfarb has dedicated her 35-year medical career to serving vulnerable populations. She began her work as the clinical director of Harlem's first HIV clinic in 1993 and later provided primary care through mobile medical units at needle exchanges, drop-in shelters, and other sites serving marginalized communities. In addition to her clinical work, she taught physician and nurse practitioner students at Columbia University for a decade. After moving to California, she continued her efforts at free clinics like Rotocare Clinic, Order of Malta Clinic, and Project Room Key, caring for under-resourced patients.

In academia, Dr. Goldfarb has held significant roles, including Associate Dean of Nursing at Los Medanos College and Dean of Health Sciences at the College of Marin. She led initiatives to improve nursing program retention and graduation rates, achieving a 100% NCLEX pass rate and job placement rate. She also developed innovative programs connecting nursing students with community health initiatives and established tele-nursing programs that gained national attention. Dr. Goldfarb has been an advocate for equity, creating programs to support under-resourced students and diversify faculty hiring committees.

Dr. Goldfarb’s leadership extended to professional organizations, where she served as president of the California Organization of Associate Degree Nursing, contributing to the passage of AB2288 into law. She held a board position with the national Organization of Associate Degree Nursing and remains involved as a faculty member for their leadership institute. She also serves as an advisor for several organizations, including the EPIC Brain Trust and the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Social Mission in health education.

As a thought leader, Dr. Goldfarb is the nurse lead for the #ThisIsOurShot social media campaign addressing vaccine hesitancy, which garnered two billion hits. She frequently presents to organizations nationwide and advises the American Nurses Association of California’s policy fellows program. Her expertise has been featured in outlets like The New York Times and NPR.

Expertise

  • Primary care of vulnerable populations
  • Cognitive science
  • Teaching and learning
  • Digital equity

Research Areas

  • Health equity
  • Health policy
  • Health care workforce
  • AI in health care and education

Appointments

  • Volunteer Faculty, UCSF
  • Adjunct Faculty, Ohlone College
  • Adjunct Faculty, Contra Costa College

Education

  • Touro University, DNP in Nursing, 2020
  • Pace University, MSN in Nursing, 1993
  • Oberlin College, BA in Women's Studies, 1988

Prior Experience

  • CEO, Achieve Innovations
  • Advisor, Health Equity, EPIC
  • Chair, DEIAA Committee, Association of California Nurse Leaders
  • Faculty, Association of California Nurse Leaders
  • Advisor, DNP's of Color

Awards & Distinctions

  • Osmosis, Raise The Line Award, Best Health Educator, 2020

Selected Publications