CAREER PATHWAYS CHRONICLE CAREER PATHWAYS CHRONICLE 2FALL 025
HEALTHCAREERPATHWAYS
FORTHISISSUE
Goodbye Summer and Hello Fall! Here’s to closing an amazing cohort of young leaders this summer.We dove deep and learned about “-isms”, equity, the difference in prevention models and so much more! Our 19 interns
AGENCY SPOTLIGHTS
MENTAL HEALTH
FIRST AID
RESOURCES
SCHOLARSHIPS
HCC
OPPORTUNITIES
MOST INNOVATIVE SOLUTION AWARDEES were matched with new or returning mentors and expanded their idea of what health means. They did an amazing job with creating innovative projects for a community health issue they’re passionate about.
*DISCLAIMER: THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS NEWSLETTER AND RELATED ARTICLES DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OFFICIAL POLICY OR POSITION OF CONTRA COSTA HEALTH.
MOST INNOVATIVE SOLUTION MOST INNOVATIVE SOLUTION 2FALL 025
AWARDEES
5 interns won “2025 Most Solution” Awards!
BAWICHIN TIAL
PINOLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
HEALTHCAREER PATHWAYS
ARIANA CEBALLOS LOPEZ
PITTSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
JUAN AMBRIZ
RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL
MYKAYLA JEFFERS
NICOLE LE
CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY - SF BAY AREA
IMPACT: FOUNDED:
1990, TO ENSURE NO ONE FACES CANCER ALONE.
MISSION:TO UPLIFT AND STRENGTHEN PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CANCER BY PROVIDING SUPPORT, FOSTERING COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITIES, AND BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO CARE.
SERVING 2,200+ PATIENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS EACH YEAR THROUGH FREE COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, FITNESS, AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
NOW: JOIN THEIR35TH ANNIVERSARY GALAON SUNDAY, SEPT. 28, OR TRY THEIR NEWHULA FITGENTLE FITNESS CLASS STARTING SEPT. 9 (IN-PERSON AND ONLINE). SIGN-UP IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE.
FIERCE ADVOCATES (RICHMOND, CA)
FOUNDED:
2005 (AS BUILDING BLOCKS FOR KIDS), REBRANDED IN 2023 TO REFLECT ITS FOCUS ON HEALING, EMPOWERMENT, AND ADVOCACY FOR FAMILIES OF COLOR. MISSION:TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF BLACK, LATINX, AND OTHER CAREGIVERS OF COLOR THROUGH HEALINGCENTERED CARE, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND PARENTLED ADVOCACY.
IMPACT: SUPPORTED 200+ BLACK BIRTHING FAMILIES THROUGH COCO DOULA SERVICES AND 400+ PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS THROUGH COACHING, ADVOCACY, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS.
LEARN MORE TO , VISIT: FIERCEADVOCATES.ORG
WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW : CELEBRATE THEIR20TH ANNIVERSARY – “LIGHTING THE PATH FORWARD”ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 27, 2025, AT RICHMOND CIVIC CENTER PLAZA. VISIT THEIR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS ON ATTENDING, SPONSORING, OR VOLUNTEERING.
NIH-FUNDED CENTER
SF BUILD, AN LOCATED ON THE CAMPUS OF SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY, ENABLES STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN SCIENCE TO DRAW FROM THEIR UNIQUE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES TO SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE A CAREER IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THIS INCLUDES INVESTIGATING BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH QUESTIONS RELEVANT TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHILE GIVING BACK AND ENGAGING WITH SUCCESSFUL ROLE MODELS. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ITS DIRECTOR, DR. AUDREY PARANGAN-SMITH, THEIR AIM IS THAT THESE CONNECTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES CAN HELP INCREASE MOTIVATION FOR A CAREER IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND INCREASE THE DIVER BIOMEDICAL WORKFORCE.
SF BUILD’S HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH
CELLULAR AGING IN BLACK COMMUNITIES, BIOMARKERS IN LATINAS WITH BREAST CANCER, NATURE-BASED STRESS INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE AND ANTI-RACIST, AND MORE. RESEARCHERS BRING THEIR INSIDER KNOWLEDGE — SOCIAL, LINGUISTIC AND NAVIGATIONAL SKILLS — FOR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEA
THE HCP SUMMER 2025 INTERNS WERE ABLE TO TOUR SFSU AND GAIN ACCESS TO SF BUILD’S HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH LAB (HER). UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF HER LAB FOUNDER, DR. LETICIA MÁRQUEZ-MAGAÑA, UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE LEVEL STUDENT RESEARCHERS COMBINE LIVED EXPERIENCES WITH ACCESSIBLE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TOOLS TO TACKLE COMPLEX HEALTH PROBLEMS. RESEARCH PROJECTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO FOR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SF BUILD AND THEIR OPPORTUNITIES, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE: HTTPS://SFBUILD.SFSU.EDU/
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TRAINING THAT TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO ASSIST SOMEONE EXPERIENCING STRESS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, OR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. IT WORKS MUCH LIKE CPR—EQUIPPING YOU WITH THE SKILLS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT UNTIL PROFESSIONAL HELP IS AVAILABLE.
AFTER TAKING MHFA, MANY PEOPLE FEEL MORE CONFIDENT STARTING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. EVEN ONE CONVERSATION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE—CREATING A SAFE SPACE TO TALK OPENLY HELPS BREAK THE STIGMA AND ENCOURAGES SOMEONE TO SEEK HELP. THAT ABILITY TO STEP IN AND SUPPORT A FRIEND, CLASSMATE, OR CO-WORKER CAN TRULY CHANGE A LIFE.
THIS TRAINING TEACHES YOU HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE, START A SUPPORTIVE AND NON-JUDGMENTAL CONVERSATION, AND CONNECT SOMEONE WITH THE HELP THEY NEED. THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND REDUCE STIGMA, ENSURING THAT THOSE IN NEED RECEIVE TIMELY, COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT.
WHAT DOES A LESSON LOOK LIKE?
WONDERING WHERE YOU CAN GET CERTIFIED?
● NAMI ALAMEDA COUNTY
● SAN MATEO COUNTY HEALTH
● NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR MENTAL WELLBEING
SELECT YOUR COURSE TYPE
MHFA OFFERS ADULT (FOR THOSE SUPPORTING ADULTS) AND YOUTH (FOR THOSE SUPPORTING AGES 12–18) VERSIONS. COURSES ARE DESIGNED FOR PARTICIPANTS 18 AND OLDER, BUT YOUTH MHFA IS FOR ADULTS SUPPORTING ADOLESCENTS.
COMPLETE THE TRAINING AND GET CERTIFIED
AFTER COMPLETING THE COURSE AND ITS ASSESSMENTS, YOU’LL RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL MHFA CERTIFICATION, VALID FOR 3 YEARS.
A TYPICAL MHFA SESSION INCLUDES INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES, ROLE-PLAYING, AND THE ALGEE ACTION PLAN—A FIVESTEP APPROACH TO ASSIST SOMEONE IN DISTRESS:
● APPROACH, ASSESS FOR RISK OF HARM
● LISTEN NON-JUDGMENTALLY
● GIVE REASSURANCE AND INFORMATION
● ENCOURAGE PROFESSIONAL HELP
● ENCOURAGE SELF-HELP AND SUPPORT STRATEGIES
WHETHER YOU’RE AIMING FOR MED SCHOOL, NURSING, OR PUBLIC HEALTH, MHFA IS MORE THAN A RESUME BOOST - IT’S A LIFE SKILL THAT COULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR SOMEONE IN NEED. 6
CLICK ON WHAT YOU NEED! BELOW ARE RESOURCES THAT COVER A VARIETY OF NEEDS: HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.
IMAGES ARE CLICKABLE :)
2FALL
SOME OF YOU MAY ALREADY BE FAMILIAR WITH CCH’S HEALTH VANS AT YOUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL WHICH PROVIDE A VARIETY OF HEALTH SERVICES. AS OF LATE AUGUST, THESE MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS WILL BE ACCESSIBLE AT OUR COUNTY’S LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
“DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BRING YOU FLOWERS. PLANT YOUR OWN GARDEN AND DECORATE YOUR OWN SOUL."
-LUTHER BURBANK
-- DEADLINE NOVEMBER 3, 2025
SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS 2FALL 025 APPLYNOW!
CLICK THE LINKS!!
COCA-COLA SCHOLARS
FOUNDATION -- DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
QUEST BRIDGE -- DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
GOOD TIDINGS COMMUNITY SERVICE
SCHOLARSHIP
FLAGSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
-- DEADLINE DECEMBER 5 2025
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY NOW SCHOLARSHIP -- DEADLINE MAY 15, 2026
SPONSORING TRUE ADVOCACY FOR CHALLENGED YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP
-- DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
INTERESTED IN HEALTH CARRERS? INTERESTED IN HEALTH CARRERS?
WHATISHCC?
WHAT IS HCC?
THE PROCESS IS SIMPLE:
APPLY TO HCC!
STEP 1: CHECK KEY DATES – VISIT HCC’S SITE AND JOIN THEIR MAILING LIST FOR UPDATES.
HEALTH CAREER CONNECTION (HCC) IS A HIGHLY SELECTIVE NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT HELPS STUDENTS EXPLORE THE VAST VARIETY OF HEALTH CAREERS THROUGH REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE, MENTORING, AND NETWORKING. THEIR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP FUTURE HEALTH LEADERS WHO REFLECT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVE HEALTH FOR ALL. WITH OVER 5,000 ALUMNI, HCC IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AND BUILD CONNECTIONS.
WHYAPPLY?
● PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP IN HEALTHRELATED FIELDS AS AN UNDERGRADUATE
● MENTORSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COLLEGE
● NETWORKING WITH HEALTH LEADERS AND ALUMNI
STEP 2: ONLINE APPLICATION – COMPLETE APPLICATION QUESTIONS, UPLOAD YOUR RESUME OR CV, AND ANSWER SHORT ESSAYS.
STEP 3: HCC INTERVIEW – IF SELECTED, YOU’LL INTERVIEW WITH HCC STAFF TO ASSESS FIT AND INTERESTS.
STEP 4: HOST SITE INTERVIEW – INTERVIEW WITH POTENTIAL PLACEMENT SITES.
HOWTOAPPLY:
STEP 5: FINAL PLACEMENT – HCC MATCHES YOU TO A SITE BASED ON FEEDBACK.
*TIP: START EARLY. THE PROGRAM IS COMPETITIVE, AND STRONG APPLICATIONS STAND OUT.*
"WHEN I FIRST JOINED HCC, I WASN’T SURE WHERE I FIT IN HEALTHCARE—I JUST KNEW I WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT SCIENCE AND MEDICINE. I ORIGINALLY IMAGINED MYSELF PURSUING RESEARCH, BUT THIS INTERNSHIP GAVE ME EXPOSURE TO A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND CAREER PATHS. THAT EXPERIENCE INSPIRED ME TO TAKE THE LEAP AND PURSUE MEDICAL SCHOOL."
