Latina Voices, Future Healers

On a spring Saturday morning, the halls of Valley Children’s buzzed with a different kind of energy. For more than 250 girls and young women, a routine hospital setting had been transformed into a place of possibility.

Students from Central California high schools and colleges gathered at Valley Children’s for the Adelante Mujer Conference, a day dedicated to exploring careers in healthcare and shining a spotlight on Latina representation in medicine.

The day opened on a celebratory note when the Kerman High School Mariachi Band surprised the audience with a lively performance, setting the tone for what would be an inspiring and empowering event.

From there, students heard directly from Latina doctors, physicians and healthcare professionals who openly shared their career paths, challenges, and triumphs, many of which mirrored the experiences of the young women listening.

At the heart of the conference was keynote speaker Dr. Carmela Sosa, a Fresno native, complex care pediatrician and medical director of Valley Children’s Guilds Center for Community Health.

Dr. Sosa spoke passionately about addressing the social barriers that impact children’s health and well-being across the Central Valley, reminding attendees that a career in healthcare is not only about medicine, but about advocacy, equity and community care.

Throughout the conference, students participated in a resource fair and networking sessions designed to help them take tangible steps toward future careers: asking questions, making connections and beginning to see themselves in roles they once only imagined.

The conference included breakfast, lunch and raffle prizes, such as iPads, Stanley tumblers and gift cards, and it was all free, removing barriers to participation and reinforcing the event’s commitment to access and inclusivity.

By opening its doors to the Adelante Mujer Conference, Valley Children’s continues to invest in the next generation of healthcare professionals, empowering young women to envision a future where they belong, lead and serve.