I attended medical school at the University of California San Francisco, then did a residency in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Oakland. I then worked as a primary care pediatrician in the Oakland area, and as associate clinical professor at UCSF.

In 2001, after ten years of clinical practice,I moved into hospital administration work and began to collaborate with fundraisers to build stronger connections between physicians and the development office. This evolved into a full time role as the first “Medical Director of Philanthropy” at Children’s Hospital Oakland, a position that included directing physician engagement efforts and also managing a portfolio of major gift prospects. In 2007, I moved to Stanford Medicine, where I developed a robust curriculum for training and coaching physicians in grateful patient philanthropy.

I have been a featured speaker at AHP and AAMC conferences on the topic of engaging physicians in philanthropy and the ethics of grateful patient fundraising.

"We would like to let you know how much we appreciate your sessions and development insights. It has been an amazing experience from beginning to end.  Thank you for inspiring our physicians and development teams to move forward with more rigor and tenacity."

Audrey Lau Li Phing, Executive Director, SingHealth Fund, Singapore. 

Here's what another client said:

“ I find working with Dr. Harris lends an unparalleled ease to fundraising.  His understanding of the physician perspective and his own medical experience have had a great impact on making me and my colleagues comfortable and excited about participating in philanthropy”

Elio Gizzi, M.D., Director, Northern California Craniofacial Center

And another:

"After many years of involvement in donor relations as a Department Chief, I took on the role as the Medical Advisor for our Foundation - a new role for me and for my hospital.  I have no formal training in philanthropy and had no local mentor available, so I truly did not know what I didn't know!  Doing this excellent course with Cliff has really met my needs; I learned a great deal about how to work comfortably and effectively with grateful patient donors, and how to support and guide other physicians to be effective and ethical fundraisers. I recommend the course wholeheartedly and without reservation and would be happy to be contacted to answer any questions. 

Howard Ovens, M.D.,  Medical Advisor, Sinai Health Foundation  mailto:howard.ovens@sinaihealthsystem.ca  "

 And another: 

"Dr. Harris' remarkable combination of credentials as a clinician and fundraising professional make him uniquely qualified to engage physicians in the philanthropic process.”  

 Mara Hook, Regional Vice President of Philanthropy at Sutter Health