"What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson This spring, we celebrated the high school graduations of approximately 180 FACES high school seniors from across California and in New Mexico, most of who will be transitioning on to college and other post-secondary programs in the Fall to continue their pathways into health careers. I am mindful of their personal journeys and all that they have surmounted and all that they have done to diligently work towards their personal and professional goals during their time with us. And as Emerson’s quote suggests, I am reminded that it is not their circumstances – past, present or future – which define these young people, but rather it is how they confront their circumstances that define who they are and what they are capable of doing. I am inspired by their resiliency, passion, commitment, and character. All of these young people possess an array of skills, talents, and power that make them uniquely positioned to be stewards of positive change in healthcare and in their communities. There are many events and people we celebrate from this past academic year. As proud as I am of the young people who we serve, I am equally proud of the many individuals who come together in FACES to create opportunities for these youth. FACES programs are collaborative and collective efforts. I am grateful to the many partners, stakeholders and supporters, like you, who allow this work to be done. I am happy to share some recent program updates with you in our summer newsletter. I encourage you to consider a donation to help support our work with youth across the nation. And finally, I thank you again for your support over the years. I wish you all a joyful and restful summer.
Respectfully,
Tomás A. Magaña, MD, MA, FAAP
Founding Director, FACES for the Future Coalition
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"Whenever your self-doubt monster takes over- whenever you encounter a challenge that seems insurmountable, take a second, take a breath, and think about what you have already accomplished...Those challenges have taught you resourcefulness, creativity, humility, and optimism." Words of advice given by, Jasmine Nakagawa-Wong, the Program Manager at FACES for the Future Coalition. She was the keynote speaker at the FACES Hayward graduation. See a photo story of highlights from all FACES program graduations for the Class of 2018!
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CHANGE THE FACE OF HEALTH. DONATE TODAY!
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This week is the last week to donate to this fundraiser! Each year, we show appreciation to a few of our coalition's supporters and champions by honoring them on a one-time scholarship. This year, the scholarships will be awarded in honor of six of our top supporters, champions, and partners, and their commitment to our students and our organization's mission. Read about the individual honors and their scholarship by clicking the DONATE button below. The total proceeds will be divided into six scholarships, to be awarded to FACES health scholars through an application process. ALL proceeds are tax-deductible and will go directly to our FACES health scholars under these scholarships. No proceeds will be going to affiliates being honored or towards any FACES programming
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Each summer since 2016, USAID’s Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) II and FACES for the Future Coalition have brought FACES Scholars from across California to Washington, D.C. for mentorship and career exploration. The Global Health Youth Summit (GHYS) is a week-long event and is designed to support the development of the next generation of global health professionals through career exposure and access at the earliest levels. This year, we are excited to again bring 20 FACES health scholars to Washington D.C., including students from our new programs, Albuquerque, NM and Denver, CO. We are looking forward to our partnership with GHFP-II once again, and even more towards inspiring the next generation of global health workers!
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"Youth from San Francisco need high quality, structured opportunities to explore what a career in clinical care or public health might look like. Students get an extraordinary experience through our partnership with FACES for the Future, and over the past several years, we've recognized the role this program has played in our overall workforce development strategy. We are so grateful to have the chance to witness students' eyes being opened to possibility and DPH preceptors being reinvigorated in their own work as they share their skills and perspectives with the next generation of San Francisco caregivers." Words from Jonathan Fuchs, MD, MPH, the Director of Center for Learning & Innovation at the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
This month we are proud to highlight our amazing partner, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH)! Our FACES San Francisco program is unique among all FACES programs because of this industry partnership with a Department of Public Health and the opportunity to expose students to career opportunities that are specific to public health. Since 2012, FACES has partnered with the SFPDH to serve youth at John O’Connell High School in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco and now has grown to support students attending Philip and Sala Burton High School near the Bayview-Hunter’s Point District. Through our partnership, trained FACES students have been exposed to a breadth of work-based learning opportunities and mentorship from health professionals across the SFDPH system of care. Students have participated in internships at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, and Rehabilitation Center and in various public health departments working in areas like air quality, disaster preparedness, and community needs assessment projects. This past year, the FACES program served nearly 200 students and continues to grow!
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The FACES for the Future, Albuquerque program is a partnership between Native American Community Academy, South Valley Academy, Health Leadership High School and Centro Savila. The program officially launched in Fall of 2017. The FACES Albuquerque program provides a multi-year healthcare internship and leadership development program for Native American Community Academy, South Valley Academy, and Health Leadership High School students. We are proud to announce the graduation of the very first cohort of FACES Albuquerque students! We would like to thank all of the program partners in allowing students valuable internship experiences, as well as Mia Mendoza, the Program Coordinator, for working diligently to build this program from the ground up. Congratulations to the Class of 2018 FACES Albuquerque students. We're looking forward to more graduations!
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Founded in 2005, the FACES Summer Medical Academy (FSMA) is a tuition-based, intensive summer day experience designed to expose high school students to the fields of medicine, nursing, and allied health professions. In partnership with Samuel Merritt University (SMU), the goal of the program is to offer youth a glimpse into the array of advanced educational strategies and tools that comprise current medical training. Furthermore, young people are introduced to critical concepts that promote an understanding of culturally responsive and compassionate healthcare practice. This year, we are excited to hold another FSMA, offering hands-on experience for 45 high school students. Also, through crowdfunding and generous donations from our many supporters to our first FSMA Opportunity Scholarship Fund, we were able to raise one scholarship to cover tuition for one student. Thank you!
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| "Calm down and realize where you are right now is where you are supposed to be and taking things one step at a time …just take things one step at a time because it’s still a process, still a goal that you’re aiming for. Whatever you’re doing is still an important step in moving forward. " Watch our most recent Alumni Spotlight video for more advice from Gia Tran, an alum of the FACES San Diego program, class of 2015. She is currently a Junior at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Geography, with a specific focus on Race and Space. She also talks about her experience as a first-generation student in college and how she has adjusted to college.
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| At the end of this school year, we are granting a farewell not just to our FACES Seniors but also to three FACES Program Coordinators. Alice Curchin at FACES Sacramento is heading off to Physician Assistant school, Eric Waters at FACES East Oakland is heading off to start a new position at a local behavioral health organization, and Alex Forte is relocating to North Carolina. We thank you all for the hard work and commitment you have provided to FACES students throughout the years- all the hats you wear; from working to engage partners, providing educational and wellness support to students, teaching health competencies, coordinating multiple student events, and overall, being rockstars! Good luck in all of your endeavors!
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Interested in starting a FACES for the Future program in your community? Please contact us at info@facesforthefuture.org for more information!
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The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being and quality of life throughout California, across the nation and around the world. For more information about PHI programs, visit www.phi.org or contact PHI communications at communications@phi.org
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