Ilia Lopez, associate director of Inclusion and Community Partnerships at UNITE-LA, will serve as the new co-chair of the South Los Angeles Area Health Education Center (AHEC). AHEC works to improve access to quality health care for medically and economically disadvantaged communities through strong academic and community partnerships.

After serving on the advisory committee for more than a year, Ilia will now partner with the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC) and Carlos Lanese, senior workforce manager and South Los Angeles AHEC center director, to help plan and facilitate quarterly meetings.

Led by CCALAC, a longtime partner of UNITE-LA, South LA AHEC plays a critical role in addressing health care workforce shortages by building career pathways and expanding training opportunities. CCALAC represents 67 nonprofit community health centers across more than 450 sites in Los Angeles County, serving nearly 2 million patients annually. Click here to learn more.