Leia Gong

Leia Gong is from Modesto, California, and earned her Bachelor’s degree at California State University, Sacramento before completing a Master of Science in One Health at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She has worked in small animal hospitals, shelter clinics, wildlife rehabilitation, and mobile spay/neuter clinics serving low- income communities. Already interested in wildlife and infectious disease, Leia further developed her focus on the One Health approach during an internship at the One Health Institute laboratory in 2020 and through the Rx One Health Field Institute in 2021. Her current interests include wildlife health and conservation, zoonoses, emerging diseases at human–animal– environment interfaces, and One Health.

Outside of academics, Leia enjoys caring for her plants, crocheting, camping and backpacking, and taking her dogs and cats (sometimes in a stroller!) on walks. She also plays in a local social kickball league.