About Us

Eloisa Gonzalez, MD, MPH, Director

Eloisa Gonzalez, MD, MPH, is the Director of Cardiovascular and School Health (CVSH) at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. CVSH’s mission is to unite the strengths of public, private, nonprofit, and citizen efforts to increase and promote physical activity and other healthy lifestyles through policies, programs and initiatives, research and evaluation, and public awareness campaigns to reduce the burden of cardiovascular related chronic disease among Angelenos. Dr. Gonzalez received her Medical Degree from Stanford University and her Master’s in Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles. She enjoys spending time in nature, walking and hiking at our parks and beaches, as well as gardening and dancing.

Suzette Aguirre, MPH, RD, Policy Analyst

Suzette Aguirre, MPH, RD, is a Policy Analyst with CVSH that oversees and coordinates the Join Us in Moving People to Play (JUMPP) Coalition to engage stakeholders and encourage community partnerships around safe, accessible recreation spaces. Suzette also supports the anti-inflammatory cooking classes at The Wellness Center within the Historic General Hospital. Prior to their work with CVSH, Suzette focused on promoting community health via nutrition and physical activity by implementing strategies that mitigate weight stigma, leverage trauma-informed practices, and advocate for an equitable built environment. Their education background proudly includes LAUSD public schools, community colleges (Santa Monica College & Long Beach City College), culinary arts training from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and Food Administration from CSU Long Beach, and a Master of Public Health degree in Community Health Sciences from UCLA.

Lisa Arangua, MPP Research Analyst

Lisa Arangua, MPP, is a Research Analyst at CVSH, where she leads and coordinates all program evaluation activities. She oversees the design and implementation of evaluation strategies to assess research hypotheses and examine the impact of public health practices on population health outcomes. Lisa brings extensive research experience, including work on clinical trials, epidemiologic studies, public health surveillance, and health services research. Her work has focused on severely underserved populations and communities, both locally and internationally. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from UCLA.

Samantha Bonilla-Rivas, MPH Project Analyst

Samantha Bonilla-Rivas, MPH, is a Project Analyst with CVSH. In her role, she supports the Park Rx Los Angeles County Initiative, overseeing efforts to implement and evaluate the program and policies that inspire residents to enjoy local parks and lead healthier lives. Samantha holds bachelor’s degree in Community Health Science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Dr. Elsa Harmon, DNP, MSN Ed, PHN

Dr. Elsa Harmon, DNP, MSN Ed, PHN, is a Public Health Registered Nurse with CVSH at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. She oversees the Academic Internship Program (AIP) for the Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (CDIP) and The Wellness Center (TWC), webmaster for CVSH, and serves as a subject matter expert for Speaker's Bureau information. She has over 20 years of experience working in Computer Engineering, specializing in software, and networking. Over the past decade, she has worked in various healthcare settings in the Los Angeles County, including bedside nursing, correctional nursing, outpatient care, and nursing instruction. Elsa has also been involved in complex clinical care management for vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with emphasis in Nursing Education & Leadership, and a Master's of Science in Nursing with emphasis in Nursing Education from Grand Canyon University.

Rebecca Reeves, PT, MPT Physical Therapist

Rebecca Reeves, PT, MPT, is a Policy Analyst with Cardiovascular and School Health at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, overseeing grant opportunities, coordinating website design and content, and conducting various literature reviews to promote physical activity and healthy living across the life span. She supports the Park Rx Los Angeles County Initiative, the School Health Project, and the JUMPP Coalition efforts. Rebecca has over 20 years of experience working as a physical therapist and is passionate about promoting physical activity. Rebecca holds a Master of Physical Therapy and a Bachelor of Science from Loma Linda University.