Trinity County Medical Pathways connects rural students with mentorship, career guidance, and real-world exposure to healthcare — with the hope that they may one day return to serve our communities.
A structured mentorship program that follows students longitudinally — guiding them from first interest all the way to a healthcare career. Trinity County faces an ongoing workforce shortage; this program is the on-ramp.
One-on-one conversations to surface what a student is genuinely curious about — and to translate "I want to help people" into a real, named profession.
A written guide tailored to each student: the courses, certifications, and prerequisites that bridge high school to allied health, nursing, or medicine.
The pathway is full of roadblocks — financial, academic, geographic. Ongoing mentorship helps each student find their way around each one without losing momentum.
I'm aware of how much access and exposure mattered to me — and how little of that exists for students in rural communities like ours. This is my attempt to change that.
A structured, student-led program proposed for Trinity High and Hayfork High. Open to grades 9 through 12. Monthly meetings, student leadership, and three guaranteed shadowing experiences a year. Owned by a community partner — independent of any single mentor, designed to outlast any one person's involvement.
After school, during lunch, or on the weekends. Hosted independently at THS and HHS. Open to all grade levels.
Stem cell biology, cardiovascular disease, cancer, healthcare career spotlights — supplemented by local physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals.
Named student leadership positions. Responsibilities kept simple — a 10-minute presentation, a career research share, a topic prepared for the room.
Trinity County's small community size makes a personal mentor model feasible — and the multi-grade structure builds in peer mentorship from day one.
A physician, a nurse, and one field of personal interest — chosen by the student, at local healthcare facilities. Members who turn 18 may be eligible for extended hospital observation through community healthcare partners.
Suturing labs, ultrasound demonstrations, CPR training as funding and facilities allow. Currently, an aspiration, not a guarantee — but something worth working toward.
The program is growing in phases — from one-on-one mentorship today toward a full career pipeline program rooted in Trinity County.
Expanding mentorship and integrating into the school system to reach more Trinity & Hayfork High students.
Building a network of healthcare professionals invested in the next generation. Working with COMET / UC Davis School of Medicine and partnering with Trinity Together to launch the Health Sciences Club.
UC Davis partnerships, field trips, and expanded programs — including medical student rotations and residency placements — to lower the barriers of access to care in Trinity County.
I'm a UC Davis medical student with interests in Emergency Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology. I grew up in Trinity County where I spent my free time playing video games, fishing, mountain biking, and snowboarding!
I built this program — and this site — to stay connected with my community and to mentor the students coming up behind me. Moving from high school into college, trade school, or a healthcare career can feel overwhelming, especially out here. I hit plenty of roadblocks on my own path. My goal is to help students navigate theirs with more clarity and confidence.
I originally planned to become a firefighter. In high school I joined the Weaverville Volunteer Fire Department as a Fire Explorer, later becoming a volunteer firefighter, and started an associate degree in Fire Science and Technology at Shasta College. Along the way I took an EMT course — and that was the spark.
I went on to work for Trinity Life Support, the two-ambulance company covering nearly all of Trinity County. That's where I fell in love with medicine. I aimed first at paramedic, then nursing, and finally — when a mentor helped me understand my passion more clearly — at becoming a physician.
That idea felt out of reach at first. The more I sat with it, the more motivated I got. In 2023 I started a Biomedical Sciences degree at CSU Sacramento and completed a two-year Spanish-for-healthcare certification, which expanded the patients I can connect with. During that time I also conducted research on cider fermentation environments, studying the relationships between bacteria and fungi.
In 2024 I took the MCAT and applied to medical school. In May 2025 I graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. and a minor in Spanish. In July 2025 I started at the UC Davis School of Medicine, where I was accepted into Rural-PRIME — a track focused on training future physicians to serve rural communities.
I'm passionate about mentorship, and committed to helping close the healthcare gaps rural communities face — starting with the one I came from.
Whether you're a healthcare professional who wants to give time, a Trinity County student looking for mentorship, or a community partner — please reach out.