Bay Area Lyme Spotlights Series
“Tick-borne diseases are a growing public health concern in California and across the country. Educating the community and supporting prevention efforts is essential.”
– Guillermo Calvillo, Staff Specialist
For the past four years, Bay Area Lyme Foundation has partnered with the City of San Jose’s Environmental Services Division (ESD) to offer free tick-bite prevention and Lyme disease awareness training to employees whose jobs in the field place them at risk of exposure to ticks. As part of our ongoing education efforts, we spoke with Staff Specialist Guillermo Calvillo to learn more about his department’s work—and why tick-bite prevention matters to his team.
BAL: What do you do?
Calvillo: I work at the City of San Jose Environmental Services Division (ESD). I am in charge of all aspects of safety training and compliance for the entire ESD. I have been with the city for almost five years, and I have learned a great deal while enjoying being part of the ESD team.
BAL: Tell us about your City of San Jose department and what it does for the city.
Calvillo: Our department focuses on protecting public health and the environment through programs that manage waste, conserve water, and promote sustainability. For example, we oversee recycling and composting programs, ensure clean and safe drinking water, and implement climate action initiatives to reduce the city’s environmental impact. Our work supports the community by making San Jose a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient city.
BAL: Why are you concerned about tick-borne diseases?
Calvillo: Tick-borne diseases are a growing public health concern in California and across the country. As someone involved in environmental and public health initiatives, I recognize how these diseases, such as Lyme disease, can have serious long-term health impacts if not detected and treated early. Increased outdoor recreation, climate change, and urban-wildland interface expansion raise the risk of human exposure to ticks. Educating the community and supporting prevention efforts is essential to keeping residents and employees who work out in the field, such as inspectors and other field employees, safe and healthy.
BAL: How did you find out about Bay Area Lyme Foundation?
Calvillo: I first learned about Bay Area Lyme through your educational materials and online resources while researching local organizations involved in vector-borne disease awareness. Your mission to fund research, raise awareness, and support prevention aligns closely with public health and environmental goals in our city. I was impressed by your community outreach and commitment to improving Lyme disease diagnostics and treatment.
BAL: Thank you for speaking with us today.
Calvillo: You’re welcome – and we look forward to our next training with you soon!
Bay Area Lyme Foundation has delivered in-person and online tick-bite awareness and prevention programming to different City of San Jose departments and groups since 2017, including Animal Services, the Regional Parks District, and the Environmental Services Division. This blog is part of our BAL Spotlights series. If you require a copy of this article in a bigger typeface and/or double-spaced layout, contact us here. Bay Area Lyme Foundation provides reliable, fact-based information about Lyme and tick-borne diseases so that prevention and the importance of early treatment are common knowledge. For more information about Bay Area Lyme, including our research and prevention programs, go to www.bayarealyme.org.
I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Mr. Calvillo during his tenure at ESD. His tireless efforts to deliver world-class utility services and programs to improve our health, environment, and economy are unmatched.