Salomeh Wagaw, MPH
Epidemiologist
Riverside University Health System - Public Health

Salomeh Wagaw is an Epidemiologist with the Riverside University Health System - Public Health.  She has over 8 years of experience with both infectious and chronic disease epidemiology. Over the past year and a half, her team has been involved with COVID-19 response through the Emergency Operations Center and continues to address pandemic statistics such as cases, deaths, hospitalizations, vaccinations, and economic recovery. Currently, she is the Chief Equity Officer and liaison for the COVID-19 Vaccine Incident Management Team working to disseminate vaccine to the most vulnerable and disproportionately impacted community members. She is the co-chair of the Vaccine Equity Taskforce, and is solely responsible for the surveillance of the seasonal flu for the 2.5 million residents of Riverside County. As the Program Coordinator and driving force behind one of the largest initiatives to improve the health of residents county wide (Healthy Riverside County Initiative), she provides leadership to a diverse group of County Departments in an effort to reduce rates of chronic disease, address social determinants of health and improve overall health outcomes of the community through building health into everyday life. Ms. Wagaw’ s passion for reducing disparities has appointed her as the Chairwoman of the Riverside County Healthy Equity Committee, where she is dedicated to building a commitment to eliminate health inequities and ensure that all Riverside County residents thrive. She is also the Co-Chair of the Southern California Regional Health Equity workgroup, collaborating on regional approaches to eliminate disparities. MS. Wagaw earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California Riverside and a master’s degree in Epidemiology from Loma Linda University.