Meet our Team

Cameron Rull, MPH Cameron Rull obtained his B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Riverside. He earned his MPH in Epidemiology at Loma Linda University and has been a Gaia Desert group member since 2022. As an epidemiologist, Cameron will go on to devote his vocation to improving healthcare and is considering a career with governmental health agencies. Cameron lives in San Diego, is a long-distance runner, avid swimmer, and high-speed train enthusiast. 

Raeann Leal, MPH, DrPH  Raeann Leal is a public health scientist, skilled in environmental epidemiology research and practice. She is a compassionate leader with a desire to provide culturally relevant solutions for populations facing an increased risk for health disparities. Her personal experience managing LLU’s Environmental Microbiology Research Laboratory (EMRL) has allowed her to develop new surveillance techniques for county public health laboratories. Raeann is a DrPH candidate at LLU School of Public Health. She has been able to build-up a diverse educational and professional experience in chronic, infectious, and communicable disease prevention. At the beginning of her doctorate, she accepted a position at Riverside County Department of Public Health's emergency response where she applied specialized disease surveillance skills for tracing SARS-CoV-2 and later other infectious diseases. During her time at Riverside County, she was able to go through multiple trainings with UCLA, John Hopkins, and the California Department of PH on how to manage COVID-19 cases. At the start of the pandemic, she joined LLU’s EMRL as a doctoral research assistant where she began leading a project using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as surveillance tool for tracking the presence and spread of SARS-coV-2 among various vulnerable communities. Her work with environmental epidemiology has expounded to bioinformatics and whole genome sequencing examining viral variants. She worked with San Bernardino County’s Public Health laboratory to develop, activate, and improve their WBE response tool. She is currently a Communicable Disease Specialist for RUHS and adjunct professor for WCU. 

Sarah Yin, MPH Sarah Yin, known among friends and colleagues as Shineh Teague, started her academic career at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas where she attained her B.S. in Biochemistry. Shineh holds an MPH in Epidemiology from Loma Linda University. Shineh joined the Gaia Desert group in 2022 as an intern and is currently researching topics in bioinformatics with a focus on Next-generation sequencing (NGS). As her upcoming endeavor, Shineh will pursue a doctorate in Epigenetics. Shineh’s career goal is to dedicate her life’s work as a civil servant conducting epigenetic research in a biosafety level-3 laboratory. In her spare time, she enjoys fishing, archery, and riding her 2012 H-D Dyna Fat Bob.

Meng Li Lu MPH  MengLi Lu, who goes by Jeremy, is presently working towards his MPH in Epidemiology at the University of Loma Linda where he attained his B.S. in Public Health, Education, and Promotion. Jeremy joined the Gaia Desert group as a laboratory assistant in 2022. He plans to fulfill his capacity and knowledge of epidemiology in the public health arena both in the U.S. and Taiwan. Jeremy enjoys rock climbing, outdooring, and traveling to different states to catch a glimpse of diverse cultures.

Jessica Mosher, MBA, DrPH(c) Jessica Mosher completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at California Baptist University in 2010. She earned her MBA at the University of Redlands for which she earned membership into the Delta Mu Delta Honors Society. Currently, she is a candidate for a Doctorate in Public Health, Health Policy and Leadership at LLU SPH. She is Pascua Yaqui and lives a life walking in two worlds, Indigenous and American. She has taken it upon herself to learn the ways of others and engage them with respect and without prejudice.

 In her role as a consultant with HC2 Strategies and the Environmental Education Collaborative her efforts have been focused on closing gaps caused by inequities and sharing her lived experience as an urban Native to add cultural sensitivity and Native ways into the conversation “in a good way.”  She is also a Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellow with the Build Healthy Places Network focus on their place work with Native American communities.  She is a contributor to the monthly LA County Department of Mental Health: American Indian/Alaska Native Underserved Cultural Communities Subcommittee, California Truth & Healing Council, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Task Force & AI/AN Community Council, Native American Community Council of San Bernardino & Riverside Counties, and the California Native Vote Project.  She serves as the Community Service Officer for the American College of Healthcare Executives Southern California Chapter.  She is also part of student leadership and the Financial Vice President for the LLU SPH Student Association.

Michael Pecolar  Michael, born in Anaheim and raised in Santa Ana, attended California State University, Fullerton for his Bachelor of Science in Health Science. Michael fell in love with infectious disease epidemiology and received an internship at the local mosquito and vector control district (OCMVCD) where he received 3.5 years of experience (some field, mostly microbiology laboratory.) Michael also attended the local community college for extensive training in biotechnology and biological sciences during his internship with OCMVCD. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked as a Communicable Diseases Specialist at Riverside County Department of Public Health (RUHS). Michael began his MPH in Epidemiology with Loma Linda University a year after starting his position with RUHS. His career goal is to be a Medical Epidemiologist working for either the state or federal level. In his free time, Michael plays ice hockey, enjoys reading about the latest research on infectious diseases, and stays active by hiking, running, weightlifting, and roller blading.

Umang Sharma MPH, MBBS

Chanell Grismore DrPH 

Thomas Hile PhD

Previous members:

Cesar Zeyala MPH

Sabrina Cisneros

Diana Ibrahim MPH

Adam Bennani

Amanda Dupree MPH

Arti Desai PhD

Brittney Springer MA

Danielle Montoya MPH

Deborah Sumatri MPH

Edward Tsui MPH

Garrett Anderson

Janeska Wood MPH
 
Joselie Gaio MPH

Kevin Tsai

Lam Ley

Priscilla Naseery MPH

Priya Kaushal MPH
 
Rose Mutiso MA

Sara Yousuf MPH

Vidhi Dave

Jashmer Dhillon MPH

Genevieve Kray MPH

Giselle Arroyo