AltaMed Health Services Adopts Roosevelt High School Academy of Medical and Health Sciences

Partnership Encourages The Next Generation Of Minority Health Leaders And Builds Healthy Communities

LOS ANGELES, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Today, AltaMed Health Services and the Roosevelt High School Academy of Medical and Health Sciences announced a multi-year school adoption program. The partnership is aimed at encouraging minority students to pursue health service careers and highlighting the importance of healthy lifestyle choices. Programs to be implemented include medical related field trips, a backpack donation program, guest speakers, job shadowing internships, health education, and obesity programs, to name a few elements of the partnership.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa—a Roosevelt alumnus—was on hand to kick off the partnership. "When we began The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, this was exactly the type of program we had in mind," he said. "Organizations like AltaMed, who have the resources and interest in connecting with our youth, are essential to our success going forward."

AltaMed President and CEO Castulo de la Rocha is also a Roosevelt graduate. He promises a presence at the school for years to come. "This is the first of many visits to the Roosevelt Campus, our entire team is committed to reaching out to the community and connecting with students who may have an interest in the health care field," he said. "Not only that, but we'll be working to ensure all of the Academy's students are accessing available health resources."

AltaMed's Mobile Health Unit was onsite for students to tour. Members of AltaMed's Medical Leadership team, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Martin Serota, reviewed the equipment with students and talked to them about the next school year's upcoming events.

The alliance with AltaMed is part of The Partnership for LA School's ongoing "Adopt-A-School" program, which provides its schools and businesses the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships that serve and support students. 

About the Partnership:

The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools was founded in 2007 as the cornerstone of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's strategy to improve education in Los Angeles.  It is a unique collaboration between the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District to turn around LA's lowest performing schools and to create a model for doing so district wide.  The largest non-district school operator in Los Angeles, the Partnership today manages 21 schools with approximately 18,000 students and 1,500 employees.  The Partnership is a 501(c) 3 non-profit education management organization with nearly 30 employees. For more info: www.PartnershipLA.org.

About AltaMed Health Services:

AltaMed is Southern California's leading nonprofit health care system delivering integrated primary care services, senior care programs, and health and human services for the entire family. AltaMed's team of multicultural and bilingual physicians and health care professionals deliver superior quality care through an integrated delivery system of 43 sites and an affiliated Independent Practice Association (IPA) of contracted physicians in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

SOURCE AltaMed Health Services