Principal Investigators
Lillian Gelberg, MD, MPSH
Co-Principal Investigator
She/Her/Hers
Hello everyone! I am a professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. A little fun fact about me is that I have been a member of the UCLA School of Medicine faculty since 1986. In addition to my role as a health service researcher, I love working as a family physician. The thing I enjoy most about community-based health research is working with people in my community. Most of my work has focused on diverse, low-income patients and homeless populations.
Dallas Swendeman, PhD, MPH
Co-Principal Investigator
He/Him/His
Hi! I am a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. I’m a 5th generation Angeleno and a lifelong UCLA Bruin. I’ve devoted my career to discovering ways to empower people to live happy and healthy physical, mental, and social lives. In my free time I enjoy playing music and games with my family and friends. I also enjoy walking my covid puppy, Talulah, and saying hi to neighbors in my neighborhood in Venice
Staff
Melvin Rico, BS
Fieldwork Director
He/Him/His
Hi! Hola! My name is Melvin. I was born in Guatemala, but I have lived in Los Angeles for the past 15 years. I received my Bachelor’s degree from UCLA. I am currently a medical student in the UCLA/Charles R. Drew Medical Education Program. I enjoy long runs, watching soccer, and spending time with my wife and my dog, Frida.
Leticia Cazares, MPH
Data Manager
She/Her/Hers
Hello! Hola! My name is Leticia Cazares. I was born and raised in East Los Angeles. I received a Bachelor of Public Health from Cal State LA and a Master of Public Health from Cal State Long Beach. I am a deeply loving cat mom, a huge Dodgers fan, and a big coffee drinker. Some fun facts about me is that I love doing makeup and I don’t watch movies.
Kelsey Ishimoto
Data Manager
She/her/hers
Hello Everyone! My name is Kelsey Ishimoto. I was born in Palo Alto, California, but raised in Houston. I graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a bachelor’s in Physics, and I have returned to California as a graduate student working towards my PhD in biostatistics. I enjoy taking walks, reading, and spending time with my family and friends.
Maria Vasquez
Research Associate and Health Coach
She/her/hers
Hello! My name is Maria Vasquez. I was born and raised in Southern California, specifically in the Inland Empire. I recently graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Physiological Science and minors in Chicanx Studies and Global Health. Currently, I am taking a gap year before applying to medical school in 2023. In my free time, I love to read, paint, and catch up on my favorite shows. I am also a huge coffee and boba tea lover.
Jacqueline Fuentes
Research Associate and Health Coach
She/her/hers
Hello! My name is Jacqueline Fuentes. I was born and raised in South Los Angeles. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology and Society and minor in Film, Television, and Digital Media from UCLA. I am currently in my gap years before applying to medical school. In my free time, I love to watch movies and TV shows, go on hikes, dance, watch different sports (my favorite is figure skating), and travel. I am also a huge matcha lover!
Student Volunteers
Ishika Seth
Student Volunteer
She/her/hers
Hi! My name is Ishika Seth. I was born and raised in Northern California. I am currently an undergraduate student at UCLA studying Human Biology and Society, B.S. In my free time, I love traveling, trying new food, and dancing. I am also an avid coffee drinker and enjoy reading and solving crosswords.
Gabriel Pernell
Student Volunteer
He/him/his
Hello! My name is Gabriel Pernell. I was born in San Francisco but moved to LA when I was two years old. I am currently double majoring in Neuroscience/Cognitive Science as an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University. In my free time, I love to surf, listen to music, go to the gym, and spend time with my dog, Roxy.
Sulaimanshah Syed
Student Volunteer
He/him/his
Hi, my name is Sulaimanshah Syed! I am a current undergraduate student majoring in Psychobiology here at UCLA. I am from the central coast of California, specifically San Luis Obispo. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, playing tennis, and working out.