2026 CHPC Statewide Convening
September 22–23 · Oakland, California
More Critical Than Ever: Building a Health Workforce From California Communities
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Health Career Connection, the administrative home of the California Health Professions Consortium (CHPC), is proud to bring together health workforce leaders from across California for two days of learning, connection and collective action.
Participants will explore strategies to strengthen health career pathways, expand and sustain California’s health workforce, support regional collaboration and build a workforce that is rooted in and responsive to California communities.
Location: California Endowment, 2000 Franklin St, Oakland, CA 94612
CHPC Co-Directors: Dr. Kathy Flores, UCSF & Jeff Oxendine, Health Career Connection
Program Director: Melissa Torres-Montoya, JD, MPH
CHPC brings together the people and organizations shaping California's health workforce.
Health Pathway Programs: Learn from pathway alumni and leaders building opportunities for students to enter and advance in health careers.
Health Care & Professional Associations: Hear how statewide organizations are responding to workforce needs and advancing a more expanded and equitable workforce.
Philanthropy & Funders: Explore the role of private philanthropy in sustaining health workforce development and career pathway strategies.
Regional Collaboratives: Hear progress, lessons learned and promising practices from health workforce collaboratives across California.
Higher Education & Pathway Leaders: Connect with leaders advancing medical, health professions and community-based workforce pathways.
Statewide Workforce Leadership: Examine the California health workforce ecosystem and opportunities for stronger alignment and collective action.
Two days focused on the people, partnerships and strategies shaping California's health workforce
The 2026 CHPC Statewide Convening centers on a timely question: how can California build, support and sustain the health workforce its communities need?
2026 CHPC Statewide Convening
Day 1 · Tuesday, September 22
| Time | Session | Speakers / Details |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Registration Opens | |
| 11:30 AM | Lunch Served | |
| 12:00 PM | Opening Remarks | |
| 12:15 PM | Panel 1 · Successful Health Pathway Program Alumni |
Kyle Navarro, MSN, BSN, RN, PHN — Alameda County CLPPP
Brian Monroy Ramirez — UC Berkeley School of Public Health Griselda Aguilar, MD — Natividad Whitney Jemison Kennedy, MPH — Kaiser Permanente |
| 1:15 PM | Keynote · Jane Garcia | CEO, La Clínica de La Raza, Inc. |
| 1:45 PM | Panel 2 · Funding Health Workforce Development & Health Pathways Through Private Philanthropy |
Kathryn E. Phillips, MPH — California Health Care Foundation
Glenda Monterroza, MPH — Kaiser Permanente Marisol Aviña — The California Endowment Michell Nielsen, MSHCA — CalOptima Health |
| 2:30 PM | Break | |
| 2:40 PM | Featured Speaker · Libby Abbott, MPH | Deputy Director, Healthcare and Workforce Development, HCAI |
| 3:10 PM | Featured Awardee · Bob Montoya, MD | |
| 3:20 PM | Panel 3 · Health Professional Associations Working Toward a More Expanded and Equitable Health Workforce |
Megan Houston, MPH — California Academy of Family Physicians
Erika Frank, JD — California Hospital Association Brie Colangelo, RN, BSN — California Primary Care Association Garrett K. Chan, PhD, RN — HealthImpact |
| 4:00 PM | Featured Speaker · Lupe Alonzo-Diaz, MBA, MPA |
President & CEO, Physicians for a Healthy California |
| 4:30–6:30 PM | Reception at Agave Uptown |
Day 2 · Wednesday, September 23
| Time | Session | Speakers / Details |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | Check-In & Breakfast | |
| 8:50 AM | Welcome & Day 1 Recap | |
| 8:55 AM | Presentation · An Update on the California Health Workforce Ecosystem |
Jeff Oxendine — President & CEO, Health Career Connection
Melissa Infusino, MPP — Vice President, Workforce Development, |
| 9:30 AM | Panel 4 · Regional Collaboratives: One Year In — Progress & Best Practices |
Hayley Mears, MA — Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County
Sheila Thornton — OneFuture Coachella Valley Paul I. Lanning, MS, EdD, CFRE — HealthForce Partners California Nicole Magnuson, EdLD, MBA — Live Well Center for Innovation |
| 10:15 AM | Panel 5 · California Medicine Scholars Updates and Lessons Learned |
Kaitlin Jackson, EdD — California Medicine Scholars
Charlene K. Green, PsyD — UC Davis School of Medicine Kenneth Bush-Moreno, MS — UC San Diego School of Medicine |
| 11:00 AM | Break | |
| 11:15 AM | Panel 6 · Lessons Learned from Health Professions Pathway Programs |
Jennifer Ostergren — Cal State University San Marcos
Mi-Sook Kim, PhD — CSU Dominguez Hills Teresa Cofield — UC Riverside School of Medicine Lilia De La Cerda, MPH — Fresno State |
| 12:15 PM | Lunch Provided | |
| 1:00 PM | Adjourn |
Building California's health workforce together
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Featured Speakers and Awardees
Keynote Speaker
Jane Garcia, CEO, La Clínica de La Raza, Inc.
Featured Speaker
Libby Abbott, Deputy Director, Healthcare and Workforce Development, Department of Healthcare Access and Information (HCAI)
Featured Awardee
Bob Montoya, MD
Featured Speaker
Lupe Alonzo-Diaz, MBA, MPA, President & CEO, Physicians for a Healthy California
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Health
Together, let's build a strong health workforce and improve
community health nationwide.
