Dr. Czestochowa F.

Before attending the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Dr. Francois graduated from Yale University with a BS in molecular biophysics and biochemistry and a minor in religious studies. During her time at Yale, she developed an early commitment to mentorship and service that would define her career. After graduation, she continued to serve as an undergraduate interviewer and admissions ambassador for Yale University, guiding prospective students through the admissions process.

Before transitioning into vascular medicine, Dr. Francois built a strong academic career. She completed a Venous and Lymphatic Medicine Fellowship at the Center for Vein Restoration after serving as a faculty member in Emergency Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, where she was a clinical instructor, attending physician, and lecturer. In these roles, she played a major role in resident and medical student education, delivering lectures, providing bedside teaching, and providing procedural mentorship. Her earlier clinical service includes work at Kern Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she supported infusion therapy and acute stabilization efforts.

Dr. Francois is an accomplished physician-scholar with publications in leading journals, including Cell Reports Medicine, AEM Education and Training, Epilepsia, and the Journal of Immunology. Her research spans HIV vaccine immunology, disability-centered medical education, and neurophysiology. Her achievements have been recognized through numerous honors, including the Walter De Groot Vein Scholarship, the Breonna Taylor Remembrance Scholarship, the Community Foundation Resident Scholarship, a National Institutes of Health-sponsored HIV Vaccine Trial Network Scholarship, and the Dean's Scholarship at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Dr. Francois currently serves as an attending physician and Clinic Director at Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) in Virginia, where she leads vascular medicine teams, oversees procedural and clinic operations, and provides highly specialized care in venous and lymphatic disorders. She also continues her work in emergency medicine. Her leadership also extends internationally through her role as Co-Founder of the Haiti International Clinical Apprenticeship Program and board member of the Colline Foundation.

A defining strength of Dr. Francois’ career is her exceptional mentorship capability across multiple stages of professional development. She has mentored undergraduates, medical students, residents, and gap-year trainees, guiding them through academic advancement, medical school preparation, clinical skills development, career strategy, and leadership growth. Her formal mentorship roles include the Sports Academy Mentorship Program, the COVID Middle School Mentorship Program, and longstanding involvement in STEM mentorship initiatives spanning Connecticut and New York. She has also served as a private tutor for undergraduate and medical students, helping learners excel in rigorous scientific and clinical training. Many of the students whom Dr. Francois has mentored have gone on to mentor their own students. 

Dr. Francois has successfully guided mentees from the undergraduate level through medical school admissions and into residency pathways, with several trainees advancing into competitive MD, MD/MBA, and graduate medical education programs. Dr. Francois is deeply passionate about equity in education and medicine and about creating pathways for aspiring physicians.