The disruptions of COVID have accelerated the embrace of community health workers in the United States and around the world. The processes of testing, helping families quarantine, treat and recover amid the economic and social traumas...

The aha! moment for Isabella Mendoza, a junior at California’s Pepperdine University and currently applying to dental school programs, came when she first heard about social determinants and public health as a high schooler in the Loma Linda University Health Discovery and Transitions to Success programs.

Damaris Govea was disheartened. After immigrating to the U.S. from Mexico as an 18-year-old, she’d worked hard to learn English and earn a college degree, but she couldn’t break through to a satisfying career and was continually sidelined into low-paying jobs. One day, tired of knocking on doors closed to opportunity, Govea decided to change everything.

Mohamed Jawara is used to being flexible and fast on his feet. After immigrating to the U.S. from Sierra Leone as a 12-year-old, he attended five middle schools in three year as his mother pursued better job opportunities, often working two shifts to make ends meet.