Desert Healthcare District · Zone 2
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“Desert Hot Springs and the North Coachella Valley have been underserved for too long.”
Sarah Fry, RN
ABOUT SARAH
An 18 year resident of Desert Hot Springs, Sarah Fry is a registered nurse and college educator who is already tackling the Coachella Valley’s shortage of healthcare professionals.
Sarah grew up in Moreno Valley, the oldest of four. Her father started out as a gardener and worked his way up to civil engineer, going back for his bachelor's degree while Sarah was in college. Her mother returned to school for a biology degree and became a high school science teacher. Those decisions changed the trajectory of the family, and they taught Sarah how much the circumstances around a household shape the opportunities inside it.
At College of the Desert she trains nurses and health professionals, manages millions of dollars in public and grant funding, and has led a major expansion of the nursing program to meet local workforce demand - a priority she will keep as a member of the Healthcare District Board. Her work now reaches well beyond nursing into multiple academic disciplines and programs.
Over the years she came to see how tightly education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and community health are wound together. That is why she is running, and it is how she intends to serve.
What she has built
Led a major expansion of College of the Desert's nursing program to meet local workforce demand
Started dual enrollment health pathways with local high schools
Brought a radiologic technology program to the valley with a local partner
Managed public and grant funding of up to $8 million
Collaborated on a medical school pathway for the Coachella Valley
Engaging Partner Award, OneFuture Coachella Valley, 2024
Sarah sees two sides of our healthcare crisis
Students eager for careers in healthcare
Families struggling to find care when they need it
Young people in this valley want these jobs. The training, the seats, and the pathways have to exist locally for them to take them.
The same families paying taxes into this District are the ones driving south, waiting months or skipping the care they need altogether, because there is not enough access where we live.
SARAH'S PLAN
Invest in care close to home
Grow our local healthcare workforce
Ensure transparency and results
Prioritize expanding revenue and grants into primary, dental and behavioral healthcare: clinic capacity, mobile care, and rides to appointments.
We can train and retain the nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers we need with dual enrollment pathways, college programs, and partnerships that will bring new opportunities to the valley.
Measurable results and achievable goals for our community to improve healthcare outcomes and lower healthcare costs.