Coachella Valley health care leaders are ensuring that local students know there is a place for them in the health care workforce upon graduation. Two recent events exemplify this effort: “Let’s Get Psyched!” hosted by OneFuture’s Integrated Health Careers Alignment Team and a new Lab Lecture series launched by Eisenhower Health.

On November 5, 2025, 170 high school students from health pathway programs at eight schools across our valley’s three K-12 districts spent the day on College of the Desert’s main campus. They interacted with behavioral health professionals from Riverside University Health System–Behavioral Health, Jewish Family Services of the Desert, Desert Insight Family Therapy, and Palm Springs Unified School District’s Behavioral Health department. Community partners included Desert Healthcare District, Health Career Connection, Olive Crest and Vision y Compromiso.

In addition, students had the opportunity to tour health pathway programs at the college and meet COD and CSUSB-Palm Desert faculty to learn about education pathways that can prepare them for careers.

The day began with a warm welcome from COD mascot Rodney the Roadrunner and CSUSB’s Cody the Coyote. Then, Julie Houston gave an inspiring keynote talk, “Finding Your Ikigai” (see p.19 for more), followed by a faculty panel, and popular student-to-professional panel featuring COD and CSUSB alumni who are local health care professionals. Students engaged in breakout sessions, including “Get Psyched for Your Career,” hands-on nursing simulations, kinesiology demonstrations and social work discussions. Students could connect with professionals and explore college pathways during lunch.

A post-event survey showed that 99% of the students now understand the different types of behavioral health careers available, and the education programs to help them get there. One student shared, “This event was amazing. As a senior exploring the campus… it is nice to see where I’ll be and imagine my future here.”

Two weeks later, Eisenhower Health launched their new four-part Lab Lecture Series to introduce health academy seniors to the wide range of career opportunities in their network, from direct patient care positions to health care administration and non-clinical opportunities. Ninety high school seniors from eight high schools gathered at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences for a two-hour program that included dinner and three short keynote presentations. Students could also participate in table-top networking with staff from a dozen hospital departments, including public health, physical therapy, oncology/infusion and nutrition. The impactful series bringing students and professionals together continues January 14, March 18 and May 13.

Kim McNulty is vice president regional strategy with OneFuture Coachella Valley and can be reached at kim@onefuturecv.org.