meet your new family

the LaVida Care staff is here
for anyone and everyone who needs us

We offer all the services available at SFCHC along with our acceptance, understanding, and support.

Clinical pharmacy specialist Dr. Chris Angara, and the LVC staff are excited to welcome you into their healthcare family. Not only does the LaVida Care team have years of experience in multiple areas, their diverse backgrounds give them added compassion and understanding.

Dr. Christopher Angara, PharmD

Dr. Christopher Angara, a registered pharmacist, serves as HIV Program Manager at San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC). Dedicated to providing the highest standard of patient care, he brings extensive experience managing pharmacies that specialize in HIV treatment and prevention. Dr. Angara also brings in a myriad of experiences in SFCHC including Hep C treatment, 340B management, and outreach strategies  

Prior to joining the SFCHC team, Dr. Angara initiated HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, adherence, immunization and financial assistance programs as pharmacist in charge. In addition to managing specialty pharmacies, such as Kroger Specialty Pharmacy and Capitol Drugs, he held positions at the Veterans Administration and UCLA Research, and multiple research publications. He also received training in HIV care at Jeffrey Goodman Specialty Care, known as the LGBT Center in Hollywood.

Dr. Angara earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Western University of Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Science degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from California State University Northridge.

Along with his leadership and dedication to the pharmacy profession, Dr. Angara describes himself as a “foodie” who enjoys traveling and playing volleyball. He is fluent in both English and Tagalog, and proficient in Spanish.

Mathew spent many years volunteering for The Wall Las Memorias Project before serving as a Resource Navigator, co-facilitating educational workshops on HIV Prevention and utilizing social media to direct members of the community to resources like HIV Testing/Prevention, STD Testing, and Mental Health Services specifically catered towards youth and young adults.

His strong love for the community is felt in every aspect of his life, both professionally and personally. Outside of work, he regularly volunteers and engages with the community, assisting in fundraising for various causes. He describes himself as an outgoing creative and enjoys thrift shopping, horror movie marathons, and nightlife.

Erika Gutierrez, an experienced medical assistant, currently holds the position of HIV Care Coordinator at San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC). With almost 13 years of experience in the medical field, Erika has worked in various departments, including surgery, women's clinic, and STD testing.

Erika is deeply connected to the community, having lived in the San Fernando Valley for most of her life. She had volunteered at MEND (Meet Each Need With Dignity), where she assists providers in offering medical care, mental health support, eye care, and wellness resources to individuals in need. With her dedication and commitment to her community, she was recognized and selected as the California Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year in 2012.

In addition to her professional achievements, Erika is a devoted wife and mother of two young adults who were born and raised in the valley. She comes from a second-generation Mexican-American background, with roots in Jalisco and Sinaloa, and is fluent in both Spanish and English. Erika enjoys spending quality time with her family by going camping at Hungry Valley SVRA, where they can explore over 130 miles of scenic trails for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), dune buggies, and 4x4 recreation, catering to all levels of off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts.