Mentoring youth for success in life and career requires recognition of their talent and potential contribution to the community, as well as, investment in support systems to ensure success. When it comes to investing in young people’s pursuit of health careers, one local funder stands out.

The Desert Healthcare District (DHCD) is dedicated to meeting the health care needs of our community. Since 2005, DHCD has funded multiple programs to prepare a quality health care workforce for the Valley’s future. These programs include a high school health academy at Cathedral City High School; a Health Career Exploration program in Palm Springs Unified School District; health science education programs at College of the Desert; and the construction of Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert’s Health Science complex.

Since 2005, DHCD has invested $1,150,000 to support CVEP’s Healthcare Industry Council and Pathways to Success Scholarship programs, bringing industry leaders, educators and community partners together to expand opportunities in health careers for the valley’s most disadvantaged students.

Today, more than 1,000 students study in high school health academies in the region and 1,250 middle school students have toured local hospitals and learned directly from health professionals. Undergraduate health science majors are offered paid internships with local businesses and matched with health professionals as mentors through the DHCD-funded Mentors Advising Students program.

As the first health care matching partner to CVEP’s Pathways to Success scholarship program, since 2009, DHCD has invested $370,000 in funding for scholarships, joining CVEP, the College Access Foundation and other matching partners in providing 345 of the region’s students with $1,670,000 in scholarship support. DHCD is truly investing in – and mentoring – our future!

For more information on the Desert Healthcare District visit their website at www.dhcd.org. For more information on CVEP’s Workforce Excellence programs in healthcare, visit www.SmartStudentsGreatJobs.org and www.CVEP.com.