Alumni Spotlight: Ana Mejia on How FACES Supports Students in Developing their Healthcare Careers

Meet Ana Mejia (she/her/hers), a participant in the Public Health Institute’s FACES for the Future Coalition.

Ana participated in the original FACES program at Children’s Hospital Oakland (now called CHAMPS) in 2005 and during her time with FACES, she had many engaging rotations. One that stuck with her the most was her rotation with the Medical Social Department, where she found her passion for helping others and providing support within the mental health field. When asked about what FACES means to her she said, “It’s a place of support, a place where I found my passion and fell in love with the career I have now. If it wasn’t for FACES I wouldn’t be where I am. That rotation helped me find a career I love.” 

Since her time at FACES, she graduated from Holy Names University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and returned to the university to receive her Master’s in Counseling Psychology in 2013. Ana currently works as a program director for Lincoln Families: a non-profit organization dedicated to providing mental health services to youth and families.

FACES showed Ana that a second-generation Chicana can hold a position in the health field. 

Ana hopes other students can follow her path and feel inspired to reach their dreams. She stated, “I want students of color to know that it is possible.”

PHI’s FACES for the Future Coalition delivers the FACES program model to communities seeking to prepare high school students for entry into the health professions by developing their own pipeline programs. FACES incorporates best practices in youth development, stakeholder engagement, and workforce development strategies.

A version of this impact first appeared on the FACES for the Future website.