Tabitha Cheng, MD

Tabitha is the Director of Prehospital Education and Research at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She is dedicated to enhancing layperson skills and community involvement in medical and traumatic emergencies through education and research. She also enjoys teaching her kids to love the outdoors through activities like hiking, camping, and fishing. 

Craig Goolsby, MD, MEd, MHCDS, FACEP

Craig is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. His research work focuses on public first aid and education. He enjoys family time, travel, and all things basketball. 

Shira A. Schlesinger, MD, MPH

Shira is Director of Education & Innovation at the L.A. County EMS Agency. Her research interests are centered around cardiac resuscitation and equity in EMS Care and outcomes. On her free time, Shira enjoys spending time with her kids. 

Kabir Yadav, MD

Kabir is Vice Chair and Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine. His interests include enjoying all sorts of music, snowboarding, and traveling with friends and family.

Jake Toy, DO, MS

Jake is the Medical Director for Data and Quality Improvement for the Los Angeles County EMS Agency. His professional and research interests include understanding and improving lay rescuer care for victims of cardiac arrest with an overall goal of improving patient survival and reducing health outcome disparities. In his spare time, you’ll find him hiking with his family and dog throughout Los Angeles. 

Kelsey Wilhelm, MD

Kelsey is a co-investigator for the Carestar grant; Medical Director for the City of Compton Fire Department; Director of EMS and Disaster Preparedness Habor-UCLA Medical Center. The City of Compton holds a special place in her heart and she is thrilled to be a part of this community-driven initiative to reduce health disparities. On her free time, Kelsey enjoys cultivating her flower garden and spending time at the dog beach!

Esmeralda Melgoza, PhD, MPH, CHES

Esmeralda Melgoza is a consultant for the South Los Angeles CPR Initiative. She leads research at the intersection of emergency medical services, Latine health and aging. In her spare time, Esmeralda likes to travel, go to the gym, hike, and spend time with her family and friends. 

Nicole Dacuyan-Faucher, MPH

Nicole Dacuyan-Faucher is a Senior Program Manager at The Lundquist Institute, in support of the Harbor-UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine. In her role, Nicole manages the overall research program, to include strategic planning and execution, budget and personnel management, and research administration. In her free time, Nicole enjoys powerlifting, golf, and home DIY projects.

Evelyn Santana, MA

Evelyn is a project coordinator at the Lundquist Institute. Having grown up in South Los Angeles, she possesses a deep passion for the project and the chance to give back to her community. More specifically, she looks forward to making a meaningful impact on cardiac arrest survival rates. In her spare time, Evelyn enjoys doing various fitness activities, attending concerts, and spending quality time with friends and family. 

Gizelle Zaragoza, BA

Gizelle Zaragoza earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health Policy from the University of California, Irvine. In her role as the community health worker for this project, she serves as the primary facilitator, engaging with community members to conduct focus groups and qualitative interviews. Her goal is to build a trusting relationship with the communities in Gardena and Compton. Here’s a fun fact about Gizelle: the first time she ever flew on an airplane was for a skydiving adventure.  

Monica Le, MPH  

Monica is currently a Medical Student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Monica is interested in health disparities research directing community initiatives to address health inequities in underserved communities. Some of her personal interests include spending time with her 2 pugs (Jane & Suzy), cooking, pottery, and exploring food with friends.    

Hannah Eom, BA 

Hannah is a Medical Student attending the Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix, AZ. She graduated from Grinnell College as an English Major and is currently interested in minority health and social disparities research. In her personal time, her interests include reading fantasy novels and making clay magnets.    

Denise Whitfield, MD, MBA, FACEP, FAEMS  

Dr. Whitfield is the Assistant Medical Director at the Los Angeles County EMS Agency. She is serving as an EMS Consultant for the South LA CPR Initiative. Dr. Whitfield is a Navy veteran whose work interests include EMS education, special event medicine, and care equity.     

Nichole Bosson, MD, MPH, NRP, FAEMS

Dr. Bosson is the Medical Director for the Los Angeles County EMS Agency. She is a Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and faculty and EMS fellowship director in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Harbor-UCLA. She is board certified in EMS Medicine and is actively involved in EMS research, education, and policy development. Her research is focused on regional systems of care for time-critical emergencies. Her personal interests include marathon running, gastronomy, and travel

Gabriela Gomez, BS 

Gabriela is currently a Medical Student at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Yakima, WA. She is committed to addressing health disparities by expanding access to community health resources in underserved populations. Outside of medicine, Gabriela enjoys discovering new local coffee shops and restaurants, reading, and designing handmade clay jewelry.