Bruin Beans
Bruin Beans Health Club (BBHC) is composed of undergraduates and recent alumni working with nephrologists at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA CORE Kidney to improve healthcare delivery to patients with kidney disease by implementing CORE values of Clinical Excellence, Outreach, Research, and Education. We work with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals in order to communicate and bridge the gap of misinformation surrounding kidney health and increase societal awareness, community knowledge, and the medical body of literature on kidney disease and disease prevention through clinical research.
Dr. Anjay Rastogi MD, PhD, is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bruin Beans Health Club (BBHC) as well as the Clinical Chief of Nephrology at UCLA. He works closely with Bruin Beans to address the growing lack of awareness and misinformation surrounding kidney health.
Although born with the goal of increasing kidney awareness, BBHC hopes to improve awareness and prevention of a multitude of diseases.
Current Members of Bruin Beans Health Club
Top (left to right): Dr. Anjay Rastogi, Rain Wong, Simran Ovalekar, Alisha Chowdhary, Ariv Tandon, Sohum Bhargava, Ashley Kuo, Sid Watwani, Christina Lopez
Bottom (left to right): Evan Schneider, Jared Nakahara, Anaya Sayal, Surabhi Chinta, Sofia Krivitsky, Akilan Dorairaj, Evan Zeng, Saket Rao, Gabriel Munoz.
New Members (not pictured): Sebastian Richardson, Nayeli Rodriguez, Melody Cam, Zachary Sim, Suvan Yerramilli, Dylan Oest, Julianna Cummings, Kiera Sheth
Our Members
Rain Wong
Rain Wong is a fourth-year Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology major and Biomedical Research minor at UCLA and the President of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Rain aims to diversify efforts to increase patient outreach, education, and healthcare advocacy. Additionally, Rain seeks to pioneer translational research surrounding kidney disease, wanting to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application. A fun fact about Rain is that he is named after a K-Pop star!
Simran Ovalekar
Simran Ovalekar is a third-year Psychobiology major at UCLA and the President of Bruin Beans Health Club. Simran is passionate about kidney health education, leading outreach events, seminars, and advocacy efforts. With experience in nephrology research and community service, Simran aims to raise awareness and promote wellness across campus. A fun fact about Simran is that she lives in Nmillz's old apartment!
Sid Watwani
Siddhant Watwani is a fourth-year Computational Biology and Human Biology and Society double major at UCLA and the Patient Experiences Director for the Bruin Beans Health Club. Siddhant is committed to helping patients become their own best advocates and to strengthening the physician-patient relationship by making it more efficient, empathetic, and impactful. Through translational research and clinical trials, he strives to bridge the gap between bench and bedside to advance personalized, data-driven care. A fun fact about Siddhant is that he can cook super juicy chicken breast!
Ariv Tandon
Ariv Tandon is a third-year Psychobiology major at UCLA and the Research Director of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Ariv oversees all research-related initiatives and clinical trial involvement within the club. He is motivated by opportunities for educational growth, from strengthening his leadership skills to deepening his understanding of kidney disease. He hopes to expand public access to learning opportunities and to engage more directly in exploring the full potential of emerging treatments. A fun fact about Ariv is that he has been on the fastest rollercoaster in the world!
Alisha Chowdhary
Alisha Chowdhary is a third-year neuroscience major at UCLA and the Outreach Director for Bruin Beans Health Club. Alisha leads initiatives in kidney health advocacy and inclusive health education, using digital outreach such as her reels project to spread awareness. She’s passionate about addressing healthcare inequities, especially for queer and underserved communities. A fun fact about Alisha is that she can do a realistic duck quack!
Ashley Kuo
Ashley Kuo is a third-year Psychobiology major at UCLA and the Digital Director of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Ashley dedicates her efforts to advancing BBHC’s mission by advocating for kidney health awareness through informational social media content. She uses digital platforms to keep individuals engaged in their healthcare journeys, whether they are patients, providers, donors, recipients, or students passionate about kidney health. A fun fact about Ashley is that she has very flexible thumbs!
Sohum Bhargava
Sohum Bhargava is a fourth-year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major at UCLA and the Finance Director of Bruin Beans Health Club. Sohum is passionate about expanding the club’s impact through sustainable funding and strategic growth. By supporting initiatives that promote kidney health education and patient empowerment, Sohum aims to help BBHC reach broader communities and improve access to vital healthcare resources. A fun fact about Sohum is that the coolest food he has made is agar ravioli with spherified basil pesto and tomato sauce pearls!
Jared Nakahara
Jared Nakahara is a fourth-year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major and Biomedical Research minor at UCLA, and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. He launched the Kidney Health Innovation & Leadership Program, an education initiative that teaches students about kidney health and the value of patient stories, clinical perspectives, and research. Jared is passionate about patient advocacy, elevating diverse perspectives, and improving patient education and equitable access to preventive care. A fun fact about Jared is that he can name nearly every car model he sees on the road!
Evan Schneider
Evan Schneider is a third-year Biology major at UCLA and member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. He is interested in strengthening the holistic nature of health care by placing an increased focus on mental health and nutrition, connecting patients with supportive community resources. Additionally, he is interested in exploring socioeconomic determinants of health, with a focus on geospatial mapping of kidney care deserts. A fun fact about Evan is that he has a second degree black belt in taekwondo!
Evan Zeng
Evan Zeng is a second-year Human Biology and Society major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Hearing patients’ stories has inspired Evan to support and give back to them. He hopes to positively impact these communities through the intersection of research and outreach, recognizing how laboratory science can meaningfully translate into clinical and community settings. A fun fact about Evan is that he put a live octopus on his head!
Surabhi Chinta
Surabhi Chinta is a second-year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Surahbi’s interests lie in patient empowerment and transitional care, with a focus on improving patient autonomy. She is passionate about developing educational and outreach initiatives that support adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions as they navigate the healthcare transition process. A fun fact about Surabhi is that her favorite animal is a harbor seal!
Sofia Krivitsky
Sofia Krivitsky is a second-year Human Biology and Society student at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Sofia currently leads the Underprivileged Communities Project, where she helps organize health education initiatives aimed at improving awareness and access to resources in underserved areas of Los Angeles. Sofia hopes to continue bridging science and service by addressing health disparities through research, outreach, and advocacy. A fun fact about her is that she has been to the U.S. Open four years in a row!
Saket Rao
Saket Rao is a second-year Physiological Science major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Saket works to empower patients to become their own best advocates and to raise kidney health awareness through patient-facing projects and digital initiatives. He is passionate about bridging the gap between education and advocacy for kidney patients. A fun fact about Saket is that he has double-jointed thumbs!
Ananya Sayal
Anaya Sayal is a second-year Public Health major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Anaya is passionate about patient care and public health, focusing on improving awareness and accessibility in kidney health. Anaya works to bridge the gap between patients and providers, fostering a community that emphasizes education, empathy, and proactive healthcare engagement. A fun fact about Anaya is that she has watched “The Office” all the way through nine times!
Dylan Oest
Dylan Oest, a third-year Psychobiology major transfer at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Dylan is pursuing a career in primary care and is passionate about community health and fostering strong, genuine connections between patients and providers. He is excited to begin building meaningful patient relationships as a new Bruin Beans member. A fun fact about him is that he hopes to backpack in every U.S. national park!
Nayeli Rodriguez
Nayeli Rodriguez-Martinez is a second-year Biology major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Nayeli is interested in pursuing a career in medicine and is excited to be part of Bruin Beans because of its commitment to making kidney health education accessible to all. Her passion for healthcare grew after experiencing different medical systems abroad. A fun fact about Nayeli is that she has climbed a 6,088-meter mountain!
Sebastian Richardson
Sebastian Richardson is a first-year Biochemistry major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Sebastian is passionate about medicine and is pursuing a pre-medical path with the goal of becoming a physician specializing in neurology. A fun fact about Sebastian is that he loves to play ping-pong!
Melody Cam
Melody Cam is a first-year Biochemistry major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Melody hopes to one day join her father’s nephrology practice. Melody is grateful to be part of the Bruin Beans Health Club, where she aims to raise awareness about early dietary interventions to prevent kidney disease. A fun fact about Melody is that she earned a teaching certificate for the guzheng, a traditional Chinese string instrument, after more than eight years of playing!
Suvan Yerramilli
Suvan Yerramilli is a first-year Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Suvan is interested in pursuing a career in medicine as a physician, where he can care for patients while contributing to translational research that bridges discovery and clinical practice. Through the Bruin Beans Health Club, Suvan is excited to learn from Dr. Rastogi and help promote kidney health awareness in the community. A fun fact about Suvan is that he grew up in colorful Colorado and always loves a good hike!
Zachary Sim
Zachary Sim is a first-year biochemistry major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Zachary is interested in pursuing a career as a doctor, and hopes to work closely with medical research. In the Bruin Beans Health Club, Zachary is excited to hear about patient experiences and participate in healthcare education. An interesting fact about Zachary is that his foster dog, Sally, has kidney disease.
Julianna Cummings
Julianna Cummings is a first-year Bioengineering major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Julianna is interested in pursuing a career in medicine, specifically in anesthesiology or surgery. Julianna is excited to explore the holistic approach that Bruin Beans and CORE are taking to kidney health and chronic kidney disease, promoting wellness through initiatives that support both physical and mental health. A fun fact about her is that she’s left-handed!
Kiera Sheth
Kiera Ananya Sheth is a first-year Human Biology and Society major at UCLA and a member of the Bruin Beans Health Club. Kiera is currently on the pre-med track and is most excited to connect with patients and learn from healthcare professionals through Bruin Beans’ hands-on opportunities. She hopes to work with children in the future and aspires to become a pediatrician. A fun fact about her is that she has been dancing for 14 years!