OACC Leadership & Staff
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
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
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
Program Specialists
Program Specialist IV
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
Program Specialist I
Koji (Emery) Ryujin Duffin
Koji is originally from Salt Lake, Utah and after living in Kansas City and Colorado, returned to the state in 2025. Koji studied Education, Art, and Art History at the University of Colorado Boulder with a focus on Museum Education and Cultural Preservation. Koji began working with student populations in 2017, educating local communities through pre-collegiate programming, natural history sciences, art education, and community services. In the Office of Academic Culture and Community, Koji will be responsible for coordinating a range of office duties including organizing and tracking all current and future programming activities for medical and pre-medical students. The Program Specialist will lead in creating, developing, and implementing community outreach programs and services to improve and maintain relationships between the office and the community. Outside of work, Koji enjoys creating through a variety of art forms, including traditional, digital, installation, and music, and has worked with clientele such as Meow Wolf. Koji also works closely with Salt Lake's Japanese community and is often found aiding in service work and volunteering for events.
Regional Admission & Academic Culture and Community Program Coordinator
Heidi Heiner
Heidi will work with leadership from both the Salt Lake City campus and the Southern Utah regional campus to ensure consistent, mission–aligned programming and support across both locations. This role will focus on implementing key initiatives related to medical student admissions and academic culture and community support programs, coordinating the administrative components of the office, and contributing to efforts that promote a welcoming and supportive academic environment. This position will report to the Director of Regional Administration and may require limited travel within the region. Most recently, Heidi worked for Southern Utah University as a Program Coordinator. Heidi graduated from Dixie State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She is currently working on her Master's degree at Southern Utah University in Health Administration.
Heidi is originally from St. George with roots that go as far back as the settlers. She enjoys hiking, rafting, and pickleball. She also likes to wake surf at Lake Powell and gravitates towards any water around to stay cool from the southern heat.
Email: heidi.heiner@hsc.utah.edu
