Healing Through Partnership: UCSF Fellow Dr. Noemi Plaza at St. Anthony’s 

September 15, 2025

Each Monday afternoon, Dr. Noemi Plaza sees patients in St. Anthony’s primary care clinic as part of her Addiction Medicine Fellowship at UCSF. While her training takes her to various clinics across San Francisco, her time at St. Anthony’s holds something different. 

“Here, we have the time and resources to really sit with people, understand their needs, and connect them with support in real time,” Dr. Plaza shared. 

For Dr. Plaza, that time is more than a privilege—it’s a reflection of our Franciscan approach to care. At St. Anthony’s, providers can pause, listen deeply, and make warm handoffs to resources like spiritual care and recovery support, right in the moment. Our private donors make it possible for us to step outside rigid funding models and create space for true accompaniment, where whole person care guides every interaction. 

Her work also extends to Father Alfred Center, St. Anthony’s residential recovery program, where she experiences the same unique depth of care. “At Father Alfred Center, I’ve seen how powerful it is to spend real time with someone at the beginning of their journey. You leave those conversations with trust and buy-in from the guest—things that make all the difference in recovery.” 

Dr. Plaza’s path to addiction medicine is shaped by both professional and personal experiences. After completing her family medicine residency at San Francisco General through UCSF, she chose to specialize further in addiction care. “Addiction medicine feels unique because sometimes the work is simply to sit with someone and hold space,” she explained. “But when patients are ready to engage in treatment, the growth that follows can be enormous. I love that balance.” 

As she looks ahead to her career, Dr. Plaza sees herself as part of something larger: “So many people and organizations—St. Anthony’s among them—are working to make an impact. It feels good to know you’re part of that.” 

For 75 years, St. Anthony’s has embodied the Franciscan values of personalism and accompaniment; meeting each person where they are and walking with them throughout their journey. Dr. Plaza’s work is a continuation of that legacy: whole-person care rooted in dignity, community, and personalism.  hope.