Riverside, CA – On Wednesday, March 21st , from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. high school students from across the Inland Empire will head to California Baptist University for the 2018 Health Professions Conference. This conference provides more than 700 high school students in the Inland Southern California Region the opportunity to explore health careers through keynote presenters and interactive workshops. Students will learn about the health workforce needs of the Inland Empire, diverse career options, and what they can do now to prepare for a future in health care. This event is organized by the Inland Health Professions Coalition, a program of Reach Out.

This year over 50 health professionals will be in attendance to provide students with hands-on activities and to educate them about different careers in the medical field. The two keynote speakers, Dr. Adolfo Aguilera and Barry Knight, will speak to the students about their paths to success. Dr. Aguilera grew up around gangs, drugs, violence and poverty which helped him to choose the medical field as a career.

“Growing up observing people close to me suffer and die from ailments that may have been prevented because of poor access to care, language and cultural barriers that exist, and fear of deportation, has made me passionate about health care.” – Adolfo Aguilera, MD

This conference allows students to get the information and resources they need to pursue a career in the healthcare field. The theme of the conference, Plan Now, Live Well, Serve Here, reflects Inland Southern California’s vision to build a competent and culturally-responsive health workforce. Students will also have networking opportunities and information booths from community colleges, universities, county services, and non-profits, as well as take-home resources on careers, scholarships, and professional development.

About Inland Health Professions Coalition:

Inland Health Professions Coalition (IHPC) helps address the need for health professionals in the Inland Empire by helping students identify health-related careers and providing work-based learning experiences. IHPC is part of Reach Out, a non-profit organization which addresses the regions toughest issues through counseling, education, prevention, and advocacy. For more information, visit www.inlandcoalition.org and www.facebook.com/inlandcoalition.