Class Year: 4th Major: MCDB Hometown: Richmond, California
Hey guys! My name is Ruwan and I'm a 4th year MCDB (molecular biology) major, and study of religion minor, at UCLA. I'm going on my fourth year teaching with this program. My favorite thing about teaching is the teamwork we instructors develop to give you all the most enjoyable experience possible in our classes. I love incorporating humor, and hope you all find our jokes to be heart stoppers. I hope to pursue a master's in public health (MPH) in the epidemiology of chronic disease after graduating UCLA, which is coming up all too soon. I look forward to seeing you in one of our classes!
Elaine Luong CO-DIRECTOR
Class Year: 4th Major: Psychobiology, B.S. Hometown: Mission Viejo, California Hi everyone! I am an aspiring dentist, an avid museum and concert-goer, and a bougie food enthusiast. You can catch me training for my next half-marathon, playing ukulele, eating a lot of bread, or binge-watching Netflix. :-) This is my third year in the program, and it has been such a wonderful ride. I never want this to end! CPR and First Aid has fostered my love for teaching and developed my interest in public health. Not only that, but the instructors in this program have become my family here at UCLA. I cannot sing praise enough for the CPR/FA Program. It has totally shaped my undergraduate experience.
Saloni Butala INSTRUCTOR LIAISON & SOCIAL CHAIR
Class Year: 4th Major: Psychobiology Hometown: Torrance, California
My favorite thing about teaching CPR is definitely all the different people I have had the pleasure of meeting through the program, whether they be fellow instructors or students! I absolutely love being part of a team dedicated to getting people excited about saving lives and teaching individuals with a desire to learn. In the future, I hope to see the Northern Lights, go to a floating lantern festival (yes, I really like Tangled), and become an orthopedic physician working with professional athletic teams (:
Helena Vervaet PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIR
Class Year: 2nd Major: Biology Hometown: San Mateo, California
One of my favorite things about teaching CPR is the pile of cringe-worthy jokes the instructors have compiled over the years. Most of our classes are held fairly early in the morning, and it’s such a fun time to engage the students and make them crack a smile by throwing in some funny moments as they get a workout from all of those compressions! (If you want to see how bad our jokes are, you’ll have to take one of our classes yourself!) Some of my favorite things include my two super-sweet dogs, Pippin and Sophie, watching baking shows/videos that I’m far too lazy to recreate myself, and exploring new places in LA to go hiking or get some amazing food (Especially cupcakes).
Kylie Rostad INTERNAL AFFAIRS CHAIR
Class Year: 4th Major: Psychobiology B.S. Hometown: North Hollywood, CA
One of the best parts about teaching CPR is that the individuals who take our classes oftentimes are motivated by a desire to help if needed. That they want to know how to save someone’s life, and that makes class so much more fun! This is my third and final year teaching CPR/FA and I can’t believe how amazing this experience has been. I hope to be a physician someday, but please don’t ask what kind because I fall in love with something new every other month. Fun facts about me are that I am terrible at watching movies and shows because I have the attention span of a squirrel, I love being outside in pretty much any capacity (unless it’s really hot in which case I’m leaving), I used to work with monkeys at the zoo for a grade, and I am a hyper-extrovert who spends more time with people than I should. I’ve also been to over 20 countries and I am currently taking suggestions for my ever-growing bucket list!
Nivi Ahlawat INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT CHAIR
Class Year: 3rd Major: Neuroscience Hometown: San Jose, California
Hello! My name is Nivi and I am a third year student at UCLA pursuing a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Bioinformatics. I'm on my third year teaching with the UCLA CPR/FA Program, and joining this organization at the start of my freshman year was one of the best decisions I've made. I love how I am able to incorporate my passions for healthcare and science through teaching CPR and BLS classes, alongside other highly motivated UCLA students that I am proud to call my closest friends. In addition, it is very exciting and fulfilling to work with such a diversity of students that take our classes, from aspiring EMTs to hospital volunteers to expecting parents. One of my favorite aspects to the UCLA/CPR Program is the strong sense of community and teamwork among all the instructors. We are a very social and close-knit team, which makes our teaching more effective! I am also proud of the fact that we are able to provide low-cost, high-quality American Heart Association courses. I believe the information we teach in our classes is truly life-saving, and access to that education should not be restricted. I look forward to seeing you at our classes!
Dulshan Jayasekera PUBLICITY CHAIR
Class Year: 3rd Major: Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Hometown: Doha, Qatar
My name is Dulshan Jayasekera and this is my second-year teaching as part of the CPR and First Aid Program. Being a part of this program has honestly been the highlight of my UCLA journey thus far! It’s empowering to be able to make a positive impact on the student community here at UCLA by sharing knowledge on how to save lives. When not teaching CPR, I enjoy playing the piano, watching way too many TV shows for my own good, and taking care of my new friend, Sir Spike Lee the cactus! 🌵
Kartik Garg FINANCE CHAIR
Class Year: 3rd Major: Biology Hometown: Paradise Valley, Arizona
Hi guys, my name is Kartik. As someone interested in emergency medicine, teaching CPR/FA for the past 3 years has widened my appreciation and passion for the medical field. I love teaching people new things, and I feel good knowing that I am able to empower the UCLA community with the skills and knowledge needed to react in an emergency situation. One of my goals is to become a physician, hopefully in a field that involves pediatrics. Take one of our classes with our awesome instructors!