RAEANN LEAL

Public health scientist and educator skilled in environmental epidemiology, microbiology, and surveillance for infectious, communicable, and chronic diseases. My personal experience managing an environmental microbiology laboratory has allowed me to develop new surveillance techniques for public health laboratories. Conducting case investigations and managing active tuberculosis, HIV, and STD cases has given me specialized skills in disease surveillance. Assistant Professor with 1 plus years of experience successfully contributing to public health, Environmental and occupational health curriculum development and delivery. Driven to contribute to program outcomes by facilitating engagement and supporting learning objectives. Enthusiastic professional with background in academic advisement.

• Hile, T. D., Leal, R., Dunbar, S. G., and Sinclair, R. G. (NA). Microbiological quality of drinking water from water dispensers. Pending submission.
• Leal, R., Spencer-Hwang, R., Beeson, W. L., Paalani, M., and Dos Santos, H. (2024). Lifestyle Factors and Heart Health: Exploring Effect Modification using BRFSS Survey Data. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 0(0).
• Leal, R., Pecolar, M., Teague, S., Rull, C., Sumatri, D., Mosher, J., Sinclair, R., Spencer-Hwang, R., and Lu, MengLi. (2022). A nationwide analysis of college and university campus wastewater-based epidemiology practices in response to COVID-19. Poster presented at the 2022 UNC Water and Health Conference in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and updated poster at the 2023 International Society of Environmental Epidemiology in Taipei, Taiwan
• Leal, R., Valdez, J. D., Mosher, J., Davis, S. A., and Sinclair, R. (2022). Lessons Learned: how a wastewater-based epidemiology academic initiative was migrated to a county public health laboratory to allow a focus on surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in underserved communities. Poster presented at the annual “2022 International Society of Exposure Science” (ISES) in Lisbon, Portugal.
• Leal, Raeann, Ryan G. Sinclair, Deborah Sumantri, Princess Cervantes, and Michael Pecolar. “Developed and Validated: A Wastewater Based Epidemiology Sampling Method at Loma Linda University to Support the WBE Surveillance Tool for the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Poster and Video presented at the 61st General Conference Session, St. Louis, MO, USA, June 6, 2022. [https://youtu.be/H1Dx7fMAn20].
• Bivins, A., Kaya, D., Ahmed, W., Brown, J., Butler, C., Greaves, J., Leal, R., Maas, K., Rao, G., Sherchan, S., Sills, D., Sinclair, R., Wheeler, R., and Mansfeldt, C. (2022). Passive sampling to scale wastewater surveillance of infectious disease: lessons learned from COVID-19. Science of the Total Environment, 835, 1-13.
• Leal, R., Sinclair, R. G., and Sumatri, D. (2021). Developed and validated: a wastewater-based epidemiology sampling method at Loma Linda University to support the WBE surveillance tool for the COVID-19 pandemic. Abstract and poster presented at Loma Linda University’s annual School of Medicine and Basic Sciences research symposium. Chosen to present a short talk among honored presenters.
• Sinclair, R. G., Leal, R., Cisneros, S., Dhillon, J., and NaseeryGonzales, P. (2021). Searched and found: a wastewater-based epidemiology program at Loma Linda University as a surveillance method for the COVID-19 pandemic. Poster presented at: Loma Linda University Annual Homecoming Event; Loma Linda, CA.
• Leal, R., (In press). Inhalants. In: Hopkins, G. (Ed.) Substance Abuse Among Adolescents: Health and Implications, Columbia, MD: Publisher. Investigated inhalant usage among adolescents and risk behaviors, outlining negative health outcomes to help prevent inhalant abuse in adolescents.
• Leal, R., (2020). Loma Linda Lite weight management support group: model for behavioral change. Poster presented at: Loma Linda University school of public health practicum poster symposium; Loma Linda, CA
• Johnson, P. T. J., Calhoun, D. M., Stokes, A. N., Susbilla, C. B., McDevitt-Galles, T., Briggs, C. J., Hoverman, J. T., ……and De Roode, J. C. (2018). Of poisons and parasites: The defensive role of tetrodotoxin against infections in newts. Journal of Animal Ecology, 87, 1192-1204. Listed in the acknowledgements as an undergraduate research student who processed TTX samples for scientific study.

• University of North Carolina (UNC) 2022 Water & Health Conference Scholarship, awarded for exceptional research achievement
• Selma Andrews Scholarship, Loma Linda University, scholarship awarded for outstanding academic & research achievement
• 2022 International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) Award, awarded for exceptional research achievement
• 2023 International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Award, awarded for research achievement and minority support
• Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health
• Summa Cum Laude
• Recipient of LLU HALL Scholarship
• LLUSPH Dean’s Award

• Transforming Care at Bedside (TCAB) Volunteer, 07/2022, present, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Academic Health Science Center, Los Angeles, California
• Volunteer, 04/2019, 09/2019, MARE Therapeutic Riding Center, Bakersfield, California, Wrote an equine therapy program grant proposal to CARE for Kids an organization focused on Kern County’s underserved and disabled children with intent to improve physical and emotional health by providing safe and equitable environments, Assisted disabled students with conditions such as autism and cerebral palsy during four personalized therapy sessions per week; skills included horse handling, side walking, and supportive communication

• 2023, Connecting the East and the West, One Health in One Planet, 35th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, Taipei, Abstract and poster presentation
• 2022, Water and Health Conference: Science, Policy, and Practice, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Abstract and poster presentation
• 2022, From Exposure to Human Health: new developments and challenges in a changing environment, International Society of Exposure Science, Presenter, awardee, abstract, and poster
• 2022, 8th Annual Andrews Research Conference: Early Career Researchers in STEM, Andrews University, Invited speaker, abstract, and poster
• 2022, Homecoming, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, Abstract and poster presenter
• 2021, Basic Sciences Research Symposium, Loma Linda University School of Medicine and School of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda, California, Abstract and poster submission. Scheduled speaker during the conference research highlights.
• 2021, Minority Introduction to Health Sciences (MITHS), Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Loma Linda, California, Breakout session presenter
• 2020, Water and Health: Science, Policy, and Practice, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Co-host and assistant for the “Affordability and Financing for WASH” breakout session
• 2020, Diverse Pursuit of Knowledge, Kern Highschool District STEM and Medical Club Seminar, Presenter
• 2020, 88th Annual Postgraduate Convention, Loma Linda University School of Medicine
• 2019, Reducing Social Inequities in Health: Using All Knowledge We Already Have, Loma Linda University School of Medicine & Public Health, Attendee

Software Skills

MS Office,Maple,SPSS,GIS,CalREDIE,ARIES,UNIX,EPIC