This website is a labor of love. I share what I learn, make and grow without ads, affiliates or algorithms. I’m fortunate to make a living as a health care advisor, writer and designer. Please contact me here if you’re interested in working with me. I also welcome questions and feedback. I hope to spark your curiosity and creativity!
professional bio
Sophy S. Wong, M.D. began working in the HIV community in 1996 as an advocate, case manager and graphic designer. Dr. Wong trained at Brown University in art and medicine, at UCSF in internal medicine and HIV medicine, and has worked globally in Kenya, Tanzania and China.
Dr. Wong currently serves as the medical director of the HIV ACCESS program, faculty for the UCSF Bay Area AETC and advisor for East Bay Getting to Zero (EBGTZ). Dr. Wong’s work focuses on bringing diverse teams of people together to collaborate on and implement creative solutions that improve access, equity and high quality HIV prevention, testing, linkage and care.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Wong researched, reviewed and interpreted emerging science and data on the SARS-COV-2 virus, focusing on practical preventive measures, masking and vaccines for community members and health care workers, posting updates on the EBGTZ COVID-19 webpage starting in March 2020. For the first 6 months of the pandemic, these updates also served as the weekly pandemic communications for Alameda County.
Dr. Wong’s health-related tools and resources are found on the East Bay Getting to Zero website, including updates on the East Bay HIV strategic plan page, resource pages and East Bay updates on COVID, HIV and Mpox (click here for a complete list of posts and tools), which have reached over 86,000 readers since March 2020.
my story
(This section is a work in progress.)
I am the child of migrants, refugees and immigrants. My ancestors survived by trusting their senses, learning to use whatever knowledge and materials they could get in creative ways and connecting with family and community for support. I hope to honor and develop these gifts in grit, creativity, resourcefulness, adaptability and resiliency as I muddle through modern life.
I have enjoyed the fruits of my ancestors’ labors by having the privilege of being many things all at once: public health and HIV specialist physician; graphic designer; ordained lay Buddhist practitioner of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing; experimental baker, crafter and gardener; amateur swimmer, hiker and yogi; partner and parent; scrappy explorer who loves all sorts of learning and adventures.
More to come on this story as I slowly make more time to reflect and write.