A Healthcare Career Rooted in the Community

Community Resource Center Coordinator Araceli Marquez has become deeply embedded in the fabric of Adventist Health White Memorial. Beginning her career when she was a Cal State LA undergraduate studying public health, Araceli enrolled in a 10-week summer internship and never left. “After my internship they offered me a position and I just feel blessed and fortunate that I get to work here,” said Araceli.

In fact, working and going to school became such a honed skill for Araceli that she recently completed her Master’s in Public Health (MPH) in December 2023 at Cal State Northridge. A full-time job and a Master’s program did provide some stressful time management decisions, but also led Araceli to incorporate some self-care habits that have translated to a dedicated fitness regime. “It’s my time to relax and just make sure I can deal with the stressors of life,” explains Araceli.

Fitness also played a big part in the research projects that Araceli brought to her community work at our Community Resource Center. Her first, “Aging with Dignity” was an idea in collaboration with the Community Fitness Instructor who was working with her senior fitness members and overheard some negative feedback about their fitness needs and their own self-perception of aging. Together, Araceli and the instructor designed a program that would chart each individual’s results with an easy-to-read biometrics chart for body mass, muscle, weight, and their personal fitness goals. “I’m passionate about health literacy,” states Araceli. “Anything that can bridge that disconnect between terminology and reaching your health goal is a big win for me.”

Another research project, during her Master’s program, was more theory based for now, but would address the obesity issue she sees in the Latino community. Her goal is to address the specific needs the Latino community struggles with around obesity in nutrition, physical activity and cultural stereotypes. Tying all of these needs into a program that emphasizes the strength of the Latino culture, for example gardening education, and making that connection for long term health.

Araceli’s own long-term plan involves growing in her role at the Community Resource Center and pushing for a more seamless medical system that advances how the hospital can connect to the community. “Currently a patient may have many medical records and different specialists and their doctors are not in communication with each other,” explains Araceli. “We need to help our patients with this information and make it easier for them.”

We’re grateful for all of the work conducted at our Community Resource Center and thankful that Araceli Marquez chose Adventist Health White Memorial to further her education and continue our strong commitment to serving the community.