As a young child in the city of San Bernardino, Alexandra Thambi remembers going to the doctor’s office, but noticed that most of the doctors didn’t look like her or her community members. This lack of representation fueled a powerful ambition within her—to become a Black female pediatrician. She hopes to work as a physician in her hometown, one who can connect with patients, bridge communication gaps and inspire others in her community. Now, as a recent college graduate, Thambi is closer than ever to realizing her dream, thanks to a paid internship program offered by Health Career Connection, which is helping pave her way into the medical field.
Health Career Connection (HCC) is a national organization with a presence in the Inland Empire dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the health, behavioral health and public health workforce. The nonprofit organization focuses on providing students with career-launching opportunities through robust internship programs and ongoing leadership development for their 5,400+ alumni, who serve as a pipeline of talent and active contributors to solutions within their organizations and communities.
“It’s incredible that HCC invests in students like us,” shared Thambi. “Through these internships we can make a pivotal impact in the communities we serve while also growing in our own careers.”
HCC aims to connect local talent with the health and social services sector, ensuring that organizations in the region have access to skilled, passionate professionals who understand their communities and are prepared to support their missions. Interns represent the diversity of the region, many are first college generation students, come from immigrant families and leverage their lived experiences as part of their internships.
Elissa Castro grew up in the Coachella Valley and shared how seeing her parents battle substance abuse and experiencing her own mental health journey inspired her to pursue a career in health care and apply for an HCC internship.
“My lived experience led me to study social and behavioral health to be that person I didn’t have as a kid,” shared Castro. “As a first-generation student, HCC supported me meeting with professionals I never thought I would be able to interact with.”
Since 2008, HCC has provided over 520 internships across the Inland Empire. The average workload of both graduate and undergraduate internships is about 400 hours. Therefore, just in the Inland Empire, HCC interns have worked over 208,000 hours at a range of organizations reaching their members, constituents, boards, communities, practitioner organizations and alumni.
Patricia S. Etem, MPH, VP Southern CA & Coachella Valley shared the HCC estimates that their internships over time impacted entire school districts, communities, and hospitals across the region.
“We know that there is a provider shortage across the Inland Empire especially in rural and remote areas like the Coachella Valley,” shared Etem. “That is why we are so proud of the success of our interns, many who are now leaders across the health sector, including at health plans, hospital and local nonprofits.”
HCC leads by example and is a leader in its own right, by participating in IEHP Foundation’s Champions for Vibrant Health Leadership Network. This two-year initiative supports 40 Inland Empire nonprofits by strengthening the skills, networks and capacity of their leaders. HCC is in familiar company as several of their partner organizations are also participating in the Network, including A Greater Hope, Find Food Bank, Rainbow Pride Alliance, Never Stop Grinding Impact and Reach Out.
Reach Out’s selected executive leader for the Leadership Network, Natalie Hidalgo, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation, is a former HCC intern and speaks highly of the program, attributing it to her successful career in healthcare.
“As someone who grew up in the IE and went to school in OC, I wasn’t sure what opportunities there were in the IE for someone who wanted to get involved with local nonprofits,” shared Hidalgo. “HCC helps create exposure to potential career avenues and exposure to partners in the area that can open opportunities. Their program opened doors to explore jobs where I grew up and ultimately served.”
Many of HCC’s former interns are now mentoring or leading internship programs, including Monika Gracian, Program Services Director at CA Health Collaborative. Gracian shared she is a proud Riverside native and always had a desire to improve health for communities in the Inland Empire. Now, she leads several health programs across San Bernardino County and attributes what she learned during her internship to her work today.
“During my internship, just being in meetings about budgeting, project management and other administrative tasks – have been so important in my work now,” shared Gracian. “Now, as an employer, I look for HCC internship experience on resume because I know the power and prestige of the internship.”
Health Career Connection is more than just placing students at internships it’s about investing, nurturing and growing the next generation of health care leaders those who lead with care and practice medicine with empathy to help make the Inland Empire a healthy and thriving region for generations.
Health Career Connection is one of 40 nonprofit organizations participating in IEHP Foundation’s Inaugural Champions for Vibrant Health Leadership Network, a two-year leadership development program for Inland Empire community-based organizations (CBOs) that address the social determinants of health.