OACC Leadership & Staff

Meet our team!

Associate Dean

Associate Dean

Paloma F. Cariello, MD, MPH

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Paloma F Cariello, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She is a clinical educator who graduated from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 2003 and obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health from University of Massachusetts in 2013. Dr. Cariello’s clinical work is focused on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of transplant-related infections and immunocompromised hosts, with dedicated training and expertise in caring for that patient population. She believes team work is the best approach to patient care, with the patient being the key element of the team.

Dr. Cariello is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. In addition to clinical work, she is highly dedicated to medical education and serves as the Associate Dean for the Office of Academic Culture and Community. During her free time, Dr. Cariello enjoys cooking, puzzles, hiking and outdoor activities.

Specialties: Infectious Diseases, Solid and Bone Marrow Transplant

Fellowship: Transplant Infectious Disease - University of Pittsburgh

Fellowship: Infectious Disease and MPH - University of Massachusetts

Residency: Internal Medicine - MetroWest Medical Center

Medical School: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Medical School

Email: Paloma.Cariello@hsc.utah.edu

Headshot of OHEDI Associate Dean Paloma F. Cariello, MD, MPH

Assistant Dean

Assistant Dean

Line Kemeyou, MD

Pronoun: She/Her/Hers

Dr. Line Kemeyou received her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School (UTSW) in Dallas.  She then completed her training in Internal Medicine, then Cardiovascular Diseases, and lastly Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology. She provides care to a variety of patients, including those with advanced heart failure, cardiac sarcoidosis, and those who underwent heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support implant.

Dr. Kemeyou is also the Assistant Dean of the Office of Academic Culture and Community of the School of Medicine; she embraces mentorship as one way of achieving health equity.

Specialties: Cardiac Sarcoidosis, Cardioversion, Heart Failure, Heart Transplant, Mechanical Circulatory Support

Fellowship: Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant - University of Utah School of Medicine

Fellowship: Cardiovascular Disease - University of Florida College of Medicine

Residency: Internal Medicine - Parkland Health & Hospital System

Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

Email: Line.Kemeyou@hsc.utah.edu

Headshot of OHEDI Assistant Dean Line Kemeyou, MD

Director

Director

Donna Eldridge, MSW

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Donna is a member of the Navajo Nation from Shiprock, New Mexico, earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Utah in 2012 and followed it with a Master's Degree in Social Work from the same institution in 2013. Currently serving as the Director of the Office of Academic Culture and Community at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. In this role, Donna is dedicated to developing and implementing organizational strategies that promote a sense of belonging and well-being.

As Director, Donna oversees and directs the operations and strategic planning of office initiatives. This includes setting goals, creating objectives, and building partnerships with external organizations. She is actively involved in developing programs that focus on the recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, trainees, and students from all backgrounds, ensuring they are holistically enriched, supported, and advocated for.

Email:  Donna.Eldridge@hsc.utah.edu

 

Headshot of OACC Director Donna Eldridge, MSW

Patient Sensitive Director of Education

Rawad Farhat, MD, MSPH

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Rawad Farhat is originally from Lebanon and earned her medical degree from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. After completing her pediatric residency and fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology at the American University of Beirut, she pursued a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of Utah.

Dr. Farhat has been committed to providing medical care to underserved communities throughout her career. She has worked extensively in Lebanon's refugee camps and underprivileged and rural areas, offering healthcare services to disadvantaged groups and displaced families. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Farhat has also held positions as a case investigator for the Utah Department of Health and the University of Utah Department of Family Preventive Medicine. In these roles, she developed health assessment protocols and provided healthcare education at regional healthcare facilities.

Dr. Farhat is passionate about improving health outcomes for underserved and rural populations. Dr. Farhat focuses on the socioeconomic determinants of health. She involves community health workers in community clinics to ensure patients' opinions are heard and addressed. Her mission is to increase access to healthcare, advocate for policy changes that address health inequities, and work towards a more equitable healthcare system for all.

Email:  Rawad.Farhat@hsc.utah.edu

Headshot of Director - Rawad Farhat, MD, MSPH

Program Manager

Program Manager

Eric Warner

Pronouns: He/Him/His

After earning a master's degree in English from Texas Tech University, Eric Warner lived and taught in the United States and abroad for over 15 years, one year in the Sultanate of Oman, and over ten years in the Republic of Korea. Eric loves to travel and has visited over twenty countries. He believes in the transformative power of education and how it could solve many of the challenges we currently face. Eric is committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and respected, and ensuring opportunities and representation for all individuals.

Email: Eric.Warner@hsc.utah.edu

Headshot of Program Manager Eric Warner

Program Coordinators

Administrative Program Coordinator

Lia Bermudez

Pronouns: She/Her/Ella

Lia is originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, but moved to the United States during her childhood. Currently, she is pursuing her undergraduate degree in Communications at the University of Utah with aspirations to pursue a master's degree in Social Work. Lia is actively engaged in the Utah community and volunteers with the Utah Foundation for Suicide Prevention and contributes her time to the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home. She strongly believes a more beautiful world is created through people, philosophy, culture, and experience. Lia also finds joy in traveling to new places, cherishing moments with her dog, Bruno, and going thrifting.

Email:  Lia.Bermudez@hsc.utah.edu

Headshot of OHEDI Administrative Assistant Lia Bermudez

Administrative Program Coordinator

Shiya Zeng

Pronouns: She/They

Shiya was born in Taishan, China, and immigrated to Salt Lake, Utah with her family as a child. They earned their BS in Health, Society, and Policy from the University of Utah, where they worked as a teaching assistant for the Department of Chemistry and researched into how physician identities impacted patient-centered care with Dr. Candace Chow. After graduating, Shiya worked at multiple community non-profits as a housing and Ryan White case manager, community health educator, patient care coordinator, and lab technician. Outside of work, she is involved with event planning with local Asian American organizations and pursuing artistic and creative interests.

Email:  Shiya.Zeng@hsc.utah.edu

A portrait of Shiya, a Chinese person with long black hair and wearing a brown collared shirt, looking into the camera and smiling. Posing in front of a blank white background.