Explore high-demand, high-paying career pathways and workforce development programs to help you get there
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing career fields, with opportunities that provide family-sustaining wages, long-term security, and opportunities to give back to your community. Daisy Han, VP of Career Launch at Making Waves and a youth workforce development expert, and Erick Roa, COO at Making Waves and a human resource and hiring expert, hosted this practical conversation on how high school students can explore careers, gain experience, and make connections in the healthcare industry.
You’ll hear which jobs in the Bay Area are in the highest demand, what employers really look for, and how to prepare for success starting in high school. You’ll hear about new career development programs and internship-style opportunities at Making Waves – ones that offer high school students in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County opportunities to gain hands-on experience and grow their network, all while getting paid!
Top-Paying Healthcare Jobs – And How to Land One: webinar recording
Top-Paying Healthcare Jobs – And How to Land One: slide deck
The webinar slide deck includes a review of the job market landscape, high-quality and high-paying entry level roles, insights into what employers are looking for in hiring, and new career development programs at Making Waves.
Key takeaways
- Understand the healthcare job market: Learn which roles in the health and medical fields are most in demand and pay family-sustaining wages in the Bay Area. We’ll explore questions like which healthcare jobs are the best bets in today’s economy and what credentials hiring managers respect the most.
- Discover multiple entry points to starting a career in healthcare: Learn about options for certifications and stackable credentials that can open doors in healthcare without requiring a four-year college degree.
- Gain insider hiring insights: Hear directly from an HR and hiring expert about what stands out in applications and interviews – and what to avoid when applying for jobs, internships, externship, clinical experiences, and career technical education or workforce development programs.
- Explore job pathway programs with Making Waves: Get an inside look at HealthX, Pathways to Health, and Career Spark – programs designed to connect young people to high-wage, high-demand career pathways and jobs.
Meet the panelists
Daisy Han, VP of Career Launch at Making Waves and youth workforce development expert
Daisy Han (she/her) is Making Waves Education Foundation’s Vice President of Career Launch. In this role, she leads the design and implementation of career-connected learning experiences that accelerate economic mobility for first-generation students and students of color.
Daisy brings two decades of experience as a social impact entrepreneur, nonprofit founder (x4!), racial equity strategist, and education leader. A proud Bay Area native, Daisy earned her B.A. from UC Berkeley and holds graduate degrees in education from both St. Mary’s College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
What Daisy finds most meaningful about working at Making Waves is the opportunity to transform systems with and for students—centering equity, purpose, and long-term impact at every step.
Erick Roa, COO at Making Waves and HR and hiring expert
As Chief Operating Officer at Making Waves Education Foundation, Erick Roa (he/him) is responsible for partnering with all of members of the organization to create and implement talent-facing policies, procedures, and rituals that promote a thriving, equitable, and inclusive team culture grounded in Making Waves Education Foundation’s core values and commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
Before joining the team, Erick partnered with numerous nonprofit and social impact organizations across the United States to design and implement strategic talent plans across the talent life-cycle (hire to retire). He began his career as a high school English teacher in his hometown, Brooklyn, NY. This is where he discovered his love for creating spaces where people feel safe and a sense of belonging and community.
As a Latino, first-generation high school and college graduate, Erick has a deep and personal connection to the Making Waves Education Foundation mission.
New career program opportunities for high school students in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County
HealthX Fellowship
For juniors and seniors in high school, this HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway is designed to introduce you to the world of healthcare — through hands-on and work-based learning, skill-building, real professional connections, and opportunities to build your future. Plus – there is a $1,000 stipend!
Pathways to Health
For juniors and seniors in high school, the Pathways to Health: Paid Career Program is a hands-on, earn-and-learn career exploration program. Over four immersive days, you’ll gain real-world skills, connect with healthcare industry professionals, and tackle an authentic nuclear medicine challenge – all while getting paid for your participation.
Career Spark
Career Spark: Explore Your Future is a free, three-day career awareness program for 9th and 10th high school students. Whether you have a career in mind or no clue at all, this program is about exploring options, asking questions, gaining connections and mentorship, and discovering what matters to you.
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