About Dr. Devesh Vashishtha

I am a family physician and youth soccer coach living in Rancho Peñasquitos with my wife and two children ages 6 and 3. As the product of an outstanding public K-12 education, I have three degrees from UC San Diego in political science, clinical research, and medicine. I believe that a strong and inclusive public education system is the foundation of a healthy, vibrant society.

Our campaign for PUSD School Board is about bringing the fresh and needed perspective of a community health center physician to the decision table. I will prioritize the mental and emotional health of PUSD students, with a particular focus on building district policy around screen time and social media. As a medical director, I will use my knowledge of clinic finances to help us solve current budget shortfalls.

At City Heights Family Health Center, I serve as a family physician caring for a diverse community of patients. I am proficient in Spanish and enjoy serving as a primary care doctor for Hispanic patients, as well as refugees from Haiti, Southeast Asia, Somalia, and Afghanistan. In 2023, I led the rollout of a clinical treatment pathway for patients with alcohol use disorder that emphasizes de-stigmatization and expedited treatment by primary care physicians.

At the state level, I am one of two physicians on the Medi-Cal Contract Drug Advisory Committee, which helps determine medicines covered for the approximately 15 million Californians insured under Medi-Cal. This background helps me understand the complex interplay between state and local funding streams, which is also critical in education. I would bring 10+ years of healthcare policy and advocacy experience to the PUSD school board.

I am an avid student of Vedanta, a Hindu philosophical tradition that presents a solution to the fundamental human problem of inadequacy. I am also a Carnatic classical vocal musician and have performed in various venues within the US and India.

It was my great pride to coach my son’s under-6 soccer team to be PQ Rec Soccer Champions in the fall of 2023. As an avid gardener, my latest passion project is growing mango trees at home.

Our campaign is about listening and incorporating community input to build a better PUSD for all students. I hope to earn your vote this November!

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