2024-2025 CHIP Alumni
Adriana Orellana is an MPH student (track: Community Health and Health Equity) at UC Irvine. She obtained a Biological Sciences BS from UC Irvine. Her research interests include social determinants of health, community health, and health equity.
Kesia Garibay is a Public Health PhD student at UC Merced. She received a B.A. in Public Health from UC Merced. Her research interests include examining the impact of health policy on underserved communities and understanding how policy addresses health disparities. She is the 2020 HOPE Future History Makers Award recipient.
Grace Lee is an MD candidate at UC Irvine. She grew up in Fullerton and received a B.S. in Biology from UCLA. Her research interests center on how diverse sociocultural factors impact community and individual health.
Hannah Yacoub is majoring in Nursing Science with a minor in Health Informatics at UC Irvine. Her interests include health administration and community-based healthcare. She plans to pursue a career as a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Elyza Puerto majored in Psychology with a minor in Public Health (UCI 2024) and was part of the inaugural cohort of the UC PRIME Pre-Health Pathways (UCPPP) program. Elyza is a Patient Care Coordinator/ECM Lead Care Manager with Serene Health Group.
Zahra Amin majored in Public Health Policy (UCI 2024) and was in the Public Health Honors Research Program. Zahra is in a pre-health professions post-baccalaureate program at CSUF to prepare for an osteopathic medical degree to integrate public health and medical knowledge.
Nathalia Gomez majored in Public Health Policy with a minor in Health Informatics (UCI 2024). She participated in the UCI Public Health Honors Research Program and Campuswide Honors Collegium. She plans to pursue her MPH degree and work for a public health organization.
Kimberly Montanez worked on a collaborative project with Dr. Irene Yen (UC Merced) and the CHIP Lab through UROC – LAEP. She graduated from UC Merced in 2024 and intends to pursue an MPH.
Kemberly Aguilar is majoring in Public Health with a minor in Health Informatics and Medical Anthropology at UC Irvine. Her career goal is to become a public health nurse and was part of the inaugural cohort of the UC PRIME Pre-Health Pathways (UCPPP) program.
2023-2024 CHIP Alumni
Kimberly Sánchez PhD, MPH, obtained her Public Health PhD from UC Merced (2024). She received a triple B.A. in Spanish, Public Health, and Psychology at UC Merced and an MPH from CSULB. She was awarded funding as a 2020 CARE-UC Fellow. Dr. Sánchez is a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Rosa Manzo’s lab at UC Merced.
2022-2023 CHIP Alumni
Lynn Truong graduated with a major in Public Health Sciences and minor in Medical Anthropology at UC Irvine. She plans to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner with an emphasis on geriatrics and health administration.
Corbin Farias graduated with majors in Public Health and Psychology at UC Merced (2023). His interests include health policy, law, and equity. He is a Public Information Officer in the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
2020-2021 CHIP Alumni
Jennifer Frehn PhD, MPH, is a former Postdoctoral Scholar. She obtained an MPH (Community Health Sciences) from UCLA and a PhD in Health Policy from UC Berkeley. She is an AHRQ T-32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UCLA.
Luis Garay graduated with a major in Public Health from UC Merced (2021). He is in the UCSF School of Medicine Post-Baccalaureate Program with plans to apply to medical school.
Vanessa Mora is an SJV PRIME program MD candidate at UCSF School of Medicine. She obtained a B.S. in Biological Sciences from UC Santa Barbara. She aspires to practice medicine and advocate for healthcare accessibility for Latinx Central Valley communities.
Neha Zahid MPH, is a former Research Specialist. She received a double B.A. in Public Health and Molecular Biology, and an MPH (Public Health Nutrition) from UC Berkeley. She is a medical student at UCSF.
Arbab Alam majored in Public Health at UC Merced. His interests include learning how politics and health outcomes are intertwined and how policy interventions affect health disparities.
Jaerika Vega majored in Public Health at UC Merced (2021). Her interests include learning how health policy, community interventions, and media contribute to inequalities.
Lisa Vu has a Public Health major and Political Science minor from UC Merced (2021). She interned for Congressman Jim Costa as a Maddy Institute Legislative Intern. She is an Intake Coordinator at Aveanna Healthcare with plans to pursue a MHA degree.
Daniel Navarro majored in Human Biology with Public Health & Psychology minors at UC Merced. His interests include health disparities, LGBTQ+ health, and primary care.
2019-2020 CHIP Alumni
Sophia Li graduated from UC Merced. She worked as an ambassador for the UC Global Health Institute’s Planetary Health Center.
Andgielika Sales graduated from UC Merced (2019). Andgie plans to return to the Philippines to improve the Public Health Department.
Jessica Hernandez is an undergraduate student majoring in Public Health at UC Merced. Jessica aspires to obtain an MHA or MPH.
Jocelyn Acosta graduated with a BA in Public Health and minor in Professional Writing from UC Merced (2020). Jocelyn was a Cal-IHEA 2020 Health Equity Scholar.
Jennifer Cisneros graduated 
with a BA in Public Health from UC Merced (2021). She is pursuing an MPH with a focus on Epidemiology from SDSU.
Jesus Fraire graduated with a major in Public Health from UC Merced (2020) and has an AA degree from East Los Angeles College. He works as a CPR instructor at Crown Services in a Chiropractor’s office with plans to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant.
Emily Rosas graduated with a BA in Public Health
from UC Merced (2020). She is a JD candidate at UC Hastings College of the Law and plans to pursue a career in the urban planning field.
Salvador Lopez graduated with a BA in Public Health from UC Merced (2019). He is a Clinical Research Coordinator at UC Davis.
2017-2018 CHIP Alumni
Maria Rivas MPH obtained a Public Health BA from UC Merced (2019) and MPH in Health Policy and Management from UCLA.
Jovo Velasco MHA, graduated with a Public Health BA and Psychology minor from UC Merced (2019). He earned an MHA from USC (2021). He is a Regional Event Oversight Administrator in the Logistics Health Inc. division of Optum Care Solutions.
Akhila Yechuri graduated with a BA in Public Health from UC Merced (2018). She received a Fulbright- Nehru Research Award to conduct research on health disparities among Hindu and Muslim women.