HCS Mentorship Program
Offering one-on-one interaction and Fostering
professional development
Mentorship
Program
Program
Mentorship Program
In 2016, Health Plan of San Joaquin expanded the scope of the Health Careers Scholarship Program and added a complementary Mentorship Program. Recipients of the Health Careers Scholarship Program are required to participate in the Mentorship Program.
The purpose of the Mentorship Program is to pair knowledgeable professionals, particularly those in the medical and health care fields, with incoming college freshmen and provide support, reassurance and encouragement for them to continue in the field.
Arshdeep Gill
University of the Pacific
I was inspired to go to school after seeing my mother suffer from chronic arthritis and other incurable diseases. She always had a hard time communicating with her doctors due to her language barrier which is why I want to make a difference by becoming a doctor who speaks both English and Punjabi to serve the growing Indian community in San Joaquin County. I want to make sure everyone in my community receives the proper health care they deserve no matter what language they speak.
Kalamaulihiwa Fatanum
Registered Dietitian / Sacramento State University
By becoming a registered dietitian I will have the ability to better the lives of my patients. Working in the medical field offers numerous opportunities to make an impact on both myself and the community. It is important to upkeep our health through nutritious eating and physical activity in order to live a fulfilling life.
Alma Limon Bravo
Franciscan University of Steubenville
My passion for medicine is rooted in two particular stories. The first of the stories is that of a family friend’s baby boy who struggled to be delivered and continues to face ongoing medical problems including long stays at the hospital and open-heart surgery. The second of these stories involves my own grandfather who, by medicine and science, improved his quality of life and was able to flourish due to the medical care he received at the end of his life. A similarity between both of these stories is the involvement that cardiac care had with both my friend’s baby and grandfather. This, together with a medical terminology class I took in high school, began to strengthen my passion for the medical field, specifically in cardiac surgery. Every time I step foot on hospital grounds a sense of home comes upon me, a unique feeling that I experience nowhere besides walking through hospital halls and strengthens my desire to pursue the medical field.
Sofia Perez
San Joaquin Delta College / Registered Nurse
I have always been interested in the medical field. During my life journey I have met so many people that have inspired me to become a registered nurse and strive to provide a holistic approach to my patients. There is a great need for healthcare workers in the San Joaquin Valley, my goal is to contribute and help this community. I hope to inspire the generations that come after me to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams. Thank you Health Plan of San Joaquin Health Careers Program for supporting my education!
Sacy Lopez Flores
UC Berkeley / Medical
I go to school because I am inspired to have a prosperous and healthy future. It might sound selfish, but coming from a low-income family, I want to provide for myself and travel the world once I get my dream job. I wish to work in the laboratory with my Bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. I also hope I can turn to the Health Plan of San Joaquin once I graduate in the future to help me with my first career.
Ahmad Karabala
California Northstate University, College of Health Sciences / Decision Medicine
I believe that Decision Medicine helped push me into pursuing medicine as a career, as I found the career I would enjoy. I’ve always wanted to help others, and have always been interested in the medical field. Being able to visit local hospitals and see the team based approach as well as the overall day in of a physician helped greatly in my decision making. I believe that decision medicine has now influenced me into pursuing my dream of becoming a specialist, such as an oncologist, or a neurologist.
The mentor enhances the mentee’s college experience by:
- Offering one-on-one interaction
- Fostering professional development
- Identifying challenges (academic or personal)
- Helping to develop goals and providing guidance so that the mentee feels empowered to succeed in the program and stay on-track until graduation and beyond!
Mentor Testimonials
“It has been such an honor to be part of a scholarship program that supports the success of its students in so many ways. Don’t underestimate what you have to offer to our student mentees. Anyone can be a mentor: the only qualifications are an open mind and a caring spirit. As a mentor, you will have an opportunity to positively impact someone else’s life. And sometimes, the life you end up changing is your own: there are so many ways to reflect and learn more about yourself in the process of helping others. In the words of Maya Angelou, “[To be an effective mentor] you don’t have to know how many square miles are in Idaho, you don’t need to know what is the chemical makeup of blood or water. Know what you know and care about the person, care about what you know and care about the person you’re sharing with.” – Kristen Tokunaga
As a mentor, I believe I’ve been effective in helping my mentee Crystal stay on track in her educational goals to become a physician and have fun while doing so! The hallmark of success is to see her return home after graduating and get a job in the Central Valley. If she eventually becomes an HPSJ Provider, then I reached the pinnacle of success as a mentor!” – Cheron Vail
Posted on February 27th, 2018 and last modified on March 20th, 2023.
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