The Human Body Unveiled: PDHS’s Health Academy Harnesses the Power of the Syndaver

At Palm Desert High School (PDHS), students in the three-year Health Academy program have the incredible opportunity to explore human anatomy with a hands-on experience using their new syndaver. By working on a life-like human model, students gain a deeper understanding of the human body and its intricate systems. One of the major pros of… Read more »

From High School to Health Care

Indio High Health Academy offers students focused skills that will help them become well-rounded professionals. Through their years in the academy, students learn biotechnology, health care and community service skills that prepare them to work in the health care industry and become active members of their community.  By the time they graduate from the program,… Read more »

CV High Honored as one ofAmerica’s Healthiest Schools

Coachella Valley High School (CVHS) recently received the distinct honor as one of America’s Healthiest Schools, a recognition awarded to only 781 schools nationwide for the 2022-2023 academic year.  Presented by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the distinction celebrates the key role schools play in advancing the health and well-being of students, staff, families… Read more »

HEAL Meets CERT

At Cathedral City High School, students in the Health and Environmental Health Academy of Learning (HEAL) are taking part in a course that prepares them to be ready and helpful when their community faces disasters. This course is called Community Emergency Response Teams or CERT. In CERT, students cover seven units: During this course firefighters… Read more »

We Are All Ironmen

On December 4, 2022, 54 volunteers from the illustrious Palm Desert Health Academy, under the leadership of the wonderful Mr. Ron Paiz, participated in the local Indian Wells/La Quinta Ironman Triathlon. The Ironman Triathlon is a 70.3-mile course that includes a 1.2-mile swim in Lake Cahuilla; a 56-mile bike ride through La Quinta, Thermal and… Read more »

Spreading Kindness Throughout La Quinta High School and Beyond

La Quinta High School (LQHS) Medical Health Academy is now giving their students an opportunity to support and encourage one another by becoming LQHS Peer Helpers. The emotional toll from the pandemic has brought to light the importance of self-care and positive coping skills within all age groups. Since then, Stacey Bolanos, a Medical Health… Read more »

The STEM Impact in Cathedral City

When it comes to education, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is a pivotal aspect. STEM continues to grow at Cathedral City High School (CCHS) and has had a positive impact on the student body.  As a member of CCHS’s Health and Environmental Health Academy of Learning (HEAL), I was given the opportunity to create… Read more »

Still Moving Forward

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a challenge; however, students at the Palm Desert High School Health Academy (PDHA) are trying to make the best of the situation and continue to push forward despite adversity. The pandemic has created many obstacles to how the academy typically runs, but despite these unique circumstances, students are… Read more »

Sharing Student Mental Wellness Resources

Online learning during the pandemic fueled the rise in mental illness. As behavioral health students in the Health Academy at Coachella Valley High School, we knew that we were negatively impacted by the pandemic and three out of the four of us felt that our abilities faltered through online learning. A survey conducted at Coachella… Read more »

mentoring the future

New Physician Assistant Pipeline Supporting Local Students

What once seemed an impossible dream— Coachella Valley students making their way into medical school— may soon become a regular reality thanks in part to efforts of OneFuture Coachella Valley’s Physician Assistant Pipeline Alignment Team. The team recently launched with leadership from UC Davis, USC, and local physician assistant (PA) professionals to prepare students to… Read more »

mentoring the future

Grades Matter!

Students hoping for admission to a nursing or pre-med program take note – grades matter! More importantly, “first attempt” grades matter most.  Terri Burch, department chair of the California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) nursing program, explained that if you want to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from CSUSB, you must… Read more »

mentoring the future

New PA Pipeline Team Launches in the Coachella Valley

The Coachella Valley is currently facing a shortage of primary health care professionals, especially those from within our community, and physician assistants are an important resource to meet that need.  OneFuture Coachella Valley (OFCV) is facilitating the launch of a new regional alignment team to address this, with a specific focus on creating awareness of… Read more »