Contact Person: Carol Allbaugh, Director, Inland Coalition
Reach Out/Inland Coalition
909-982-8641
Cell 951-293-9603
Fax 909-982-8642
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Riverside CA, March 17, 2016 - Over 500 high school students from San Bernardino and Riverside counties will attend the 2016 Health Professions Conference on March 17, 2016 held on the campus of California Baptist University, Riverside, CA. This conference facilitated by the Inland Coalition will provide an opportunity for students to learn more about health professions needed in the Inland Empire. The special Master of Ceremonies will be Joshua Bailey, the 2015-2016 California HOSA State President of Health Organization Student Association (HOSA) president.
By the year 2015, the population of the Inland Empire is projected to number 4.7 million and will increase to 5.2 million by the year 2020, resulting in a higher demand for healthcare services. Over the next five years, it is projected that the Inland Empire's healthcare sector will grow by nearly 14%, resulting in an increase of 16,600 jobs – adding jobs at twice the rate of any other industry in the region. National health reform, through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) also has the potential to make a huge impact on demand for healthcare workers in the Inland Empire. At full implementation, ACA seeks to provide health insurance coverage for an additional 32 million Americans. By some estimates, the impact of this on the Inland Empire could be an additional 500,000 residents eligible for insurance, with an estimated 250,000 of those resulting from expansion of Medicaid/Medi-Cal coverage alone.
This adult-like conference will feature a keynote speaker, Dr Michael Nduati, Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs, University of California, Riverside, School of Medicine (UCR SOM), Riverside, CA, along with workshops throughout the day from area health professionals. Participating high schools currently provide health pathway programs designed to strengthen the pipeline of students entering health careers—programs such as the HEAL Academy in Colton, the Cowboy Health Academy in San Bernardino, and Palomares Academy of Health Science in Pomona and the health pathway at Murrieta Mesa High School. There are currently 27 health professions pathways in the Inland Empire with more to follow.
A comprehensive resource book containing healthcare program information, pipeline programs in the area, scholarship information, volunteer opportunities, and websites will be provided to each student.
There has been unprecedented support for this conference with major sponsorships from: San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board, The Health Workforce Initiative, and the California Career Pathway Trust, Azusa Pacific University , and Cal Baptist University.
The Inland Coalition is dedicated to education and diversity in the health professions. To find out more go to Inland Coalition