Aileen Dinkjian
San Antonio Regional Hospital
Upland, CA USA
"Go with your gut passion and see where it takes you."
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Aileen's work combines: Medicine, Government, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
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.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Political Science
Cal Poly Pomona
Graduate Degree
Public Health
George Washington University
Doctorate
Education
University of Southern California
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
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.
2.
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.
3.
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.
4.
Returning to California, I leveraged my background to secure a role developing health programs at the University of Southern California while completing a doctorate.
5.
My family, especially my grandfather and aunt in healthcare, instilled in me a mission to advance community wellbeing that guided me towards leadership roles.
6.
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.
7.
Now, as an assistant vice president championing population health, I lead initiatives to improve community health outcomes in the San Bernardino area.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
If I speak up, I might not say the right things or it might come out wrong.
How I responded:
Growing up, I struggled with communication because I come from a first-generation immigrant family. I experienced some doubt and imposter syndrome. I felt like if I spoke up at work, I might say the wrong thing or it might come across wrong. As I gained more experience and sought guidance from mentors, I overcame those challenges.