Oanh Meyer is no stranger to Alzheimer’s disease. Her everyday life revolves around caring for those who suffer from the ailment. Through her research and her experience as a caregiver, Meyer found that many Vietnamese elders lack knowledge about Alzheimer’s and wait a long time before seeking help or diagnosis.

Schmidt is part of a group at UC Davis studying the effects of wildfires on pregnant women and their unborn children. The goal is to find out what chemicals these women and their unborn children were exposed to and what long-term effects they could have.