Opening Doors to Tomorrow’s Healthcare Heroes

The Health Careers Start Here Youth Conference returned with unmatched energy this year, giving local students a hands-on, inside look at what a future in healthcare could look like. Hosted once again at the Madera County Superintendent of Schools, the 2025 conference brought together healthcare professionals, educators, and students for a day filled with inspiration, learning, and real-world skill-building.

Setting the Vibe

This year’s event kicked off with a powerful keynote from Tiffanie Sims, FNP, a Family Nurse Practitioner on Camarena Health’s pediatric team. Tiffanie shared her personal journey into medicine—reflecting on the challenges she faced and the impact she now makes every day. Her story set the tone for the day, encouraging students to see themselves in the healthcare field and to ask questions, be curious, and lean into their potential.

Five Interactive Workshops

Students rotated through five engaging workshops, each offering a unique glimpse into a different area of healthcare:

Suturing | PA Students & CHSA: Students practiced suturing techniques on artificial skin with the guidance of PA students and members of the Camarena Health Student Association (CHSA)—a perfect blend of education and mentorship.
Clinical Pharmacy | Dr. Wameng Yang: Dr. Yang introduced students to the role of pharmacists, showing how they prepare and manage medications, and the clinical thinking that supports each prescription.
Pediatric Care | Dr. Michelle Perez & Isaac Horowitz: Students got a hands-on look at pediatric care through interactive demos and real-world scenarios guided by Dr. Perez and Isaac Horowitz.
Dental Health | Dr. Abhi K. Thakkar, DDS: Using real dental tools and artificial teeth, students learned to clean imitation plaque and discuss the importance of preventive dental care.
Behavioral Health | Jonathan Del Toro & Gabriel Alvarez: With an emphasis on emotional intelligence, boundaries, and mental health awareness, this session gave students tools to understand behavioral health’s vital role in patient care.

Each workshop was designed not just to inform, but to inspire—and judging by the excitement and engagement from the students, it worked.

A New Look, A New Level of Energy

This year marked the debut of new branding for the event, bringing a vibrant and fresh look that reflected the energy of the day. Camarena Health staff and volunteers were all-in, showing up to serve, support, and encourage students as they explored career paths in healthcare. The students, in turn, came ready to engage, explore, and dream bigger.

Continuing a Powerful Tradition

After wrapping up their workshops, students completed an exit survey reflecting on their favorite parts of the day and what they learned. The conference reinforced one core message: there’s more than one way to make a difference in healthcare. From pharmacy and dentistry to behavioral health and pediatrics, students saw firsthand the variety of paths they could take.

Want to experience the energy of the day? Check out our event recap video, featuring student voices, workshop highlights, and insights from providers and organizers alike.