Healthcare Excellence through Education
OUR PURPOSE
Gila River Health Care’s Elev8 Initiative is committed to strengthening its tribal healthcare system and its workforce now and the future by elevating each individual’s journey.
• Fostering the interests of K-12 students in healthcare careers.
• Supporting healthcare professionals in their careers.
• Cultivating community health and wellness.
PLANNING FOR HEALTHCARE CAREERS
Think About Your Future and Climb the Ladder to Success!
Careers:
• What do I love doing?
• What subjects are easy for me?
• What are my hobbies?
• What am I passionate about?
• Do I like helping people and my community?
Education:
• Get the job you want with job security.
• Make more money.
• Advance your career.
• Take care of your family.
• Have a higher life expectancy.
• Give back to the community.
WHY A CAREER IN HEALTHCARE?
Make a difference?
• Help improve lives. Help save lives.
• Provide better access to health care in your community.
• Help improve the standard of health care in medically underserved, rural, and inner-city communities and underrepresented populations.
• Advances in Medical Technology.
• Aging Population.
• Shift from Inpatient to Outpatient Care.
HEALTHCARE CAREERS OPPORTUNITIES
• Audiology
• Clinical Lab Technologist
• Community and Public Health
• Dentist
• Many Assistant type Positions
• Medical Records Technician
• Nurse • Optometrist
• Phlebotomist
• Physical/Occupational Therapists
• Physicians/Surgeons
• X-Ray Technician
• Podiatrist
• Psychologist
• Social Workers
ELEV8 GILA RIVER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
How can Elev8 enhance my career?
• Funding for professional growth and workforce retention.
• Become Subject Matter Expert in healthcare field.
• Interdisciplinary /interprofessional training and skills development.
• Achieve Certification(s).
• Continuing education through attendance/ participation in educational and industry conference(s).
• Simulation experiences and training.
• Networking through Administration and healthcare leadership.
STUDENT HIGHLIGHT
We are incredibly proud to announce that Natasha Juan, a shining star from the Gila River Health Care Elev8 Initiative, has been named the 2024 High School Student of the Year Award Honoree!
Natasha’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence inspire us all. This prestigious recognition highlights her exceptional achievements and bright future ahead.
Please join us in celebrating Natasha and her amazing accomplishments!
Natasha, member of the Gila River Indian Community, is 17 years old, and is in her senior year at Coolidge High School. She is in the Pharmacy Science Program at Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT) and would like to continue her education in college with a health career focus. Academically, she has maintained a GPA above 3.0 throughout high school and has been on the honor roll every year and was inducted to the National Honor Society her freshman year. Currently she is ranked 29th of 151 in her senior class. Not only is she academically inclined she is also an athlete. She has been on the varsity softball team since her freshman year and has garnered recognition for her skills and leadership on the softball field. She was selected for the 3A South Central All Region 1st team her sophomore and junior years. She has volunteered her time in helping others in the community and has been involved in programs that will help her achieve the goals she has set for herself. Natasha is also involved with the Tribes Club and participates in community service projects with the club.
Student Program
Ready to “Scrub in” for a health career?
Join us for Saturday Scrubs this school year at
Gila River Health Care
Saturday Scrubs is the next step following our successful 2024 Summer Scrub program—a health career exploration initiative designed to help students ages 14 and up discover their passion for healthcare. Through professional lectures, hands-on labs, and real-world experiences, participants will gain invaluable insights into the medical field and start preparing for a bright future in health care.
Interested? Email us at StudentProgram@GRHC.ORG to learn more.
Explore Careers at:
GRHC.ORG/EXPLORE-CAREERS/
For more information, contact StudentProgram@GRHC.org
Call or Text (520) 610-3529
MEET OUR PROGRAM LEADERS
Dr. Navaz Dolasa, Pediatrician
Pediatrics Director
Frances Antone, Physician Assistant
Pediatrics Department
Frances Villescaz, MPH
School Health Services Program Coordinator
Anita Esquer, MHI, BSN, CRNI
Education Director
Grace Watson, EMCT-E
EMS Training Supervisor – EMS Department
Dr. Uriel Castaneda, Pediatrician
Pediatrics Department
Jennifer Harvey
Medical Staff Services Manager
Candy Braby, RN
School Health Services Director
Patrick Peterson, EMCT-P, MPO
Division Chief – EMS Department
Mario Torres, Jr.
Campus Administrator
AMERICAN INDIAN HEALTH - AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER (AIH-AHEC)
The AIH-AHEC and Tribal partners, provide a number of educational experiences for students and volunteers in many different specialties.
AIH-AHEC seeks to provide students in healthcare professions with unique and rewarding community-based education and training, both clinical and non-clinical rotations and internships, in rural and underserved Indigenous communities.
The purpose of the health professions training program is to increase the healthcare workforce in Arizona’s Tribal facilities and communities.
Resources:
• AHEC Scholars
• The Elev8 Initiative is supported by the American Indian Health – AHEC and AzAHEC programs to enhance the Indigenous health care workforce.
Certified by The Joint Commission, recognized for
excellence in patient care
