Aileen Dinkjian
Assistant Vice President of Population Health
San Antonio Regional Hospital
Upland, CA USA
“Go with your gut passion and see where it takes you.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationAileen Dinkjian
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
I pursued political science in college, following in my grandfather's footsteps to become a lawyer, but realized through internships that law did not align with my passion for people and communities.
I discovered the world of public health after landing a job supporting the City of Chino's Healthy Communities initiative, inspiring me to pursue a master's degree in public health.
Gaining crucial experience in Washington, D.C. opened my eyes to health disparities while fueling my drive to create change through policy and community action.
Returning to California, I leveraged my background to secure a role developing health programs at the University of Southern California while completing a doctorate.
My family, especially my grandfather and aunt in healthcare, instilled in me a mission to advance community wellbeing that guided me towards leadership roles.
I worked my way up to direct health equity and inclusion efforts at a regional hospital, allowing me to improve care access alongside local partners.
Now, as an assistant vice president championing population health, I lead initiatives to improve community health outcomes in the San Bernardino area.
Education
High School
Bachelor
Political Science
Cal Poly Pomona
Political Science
Cal Poly Pomona
Doctorate
Education
University of Southern California
Education
University of Southern California
Career
Assistant Vice President of Population Health
I work to improve community health outcomes, focusing on equity and resource accessibility within diverse populations.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Medicine
Government
Helping People
Day to Day
As a health education leader, I put together programs covering nutrition, sleep, movement and healthcare careers, striving for those lightbulb moments when concepts click. Day-to-day, I ensure my team has what’s needed to conduct community outreach, making health information accessible. Mentoring public health interns is a blast! Though some days feel packed, supporting people wherever needs arise makes the hustle worthwhile.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for everyone
Go with your gut passion and try not to look back. You won't know if something is right for you or not until you actually try it and start gaining experience in that area.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"If I speak up, I might not say the right things or it might come out wrong."
