Convening Medical and Behavioral Health Providers from the Central Valley: Highlights from the 2025 SJVIBH Convening

On May 17, 2025, the second annual San Joaquin Valley Integrated Behavioral Health (SJVIBH) Convening was held at the Piccadilly Inn in Fresno, CA. Open to students and professionals across the community, the all-day event welcomed a wide range of attendees, including primary care providers, pediatricians, recreational therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed psychologists.

The 2025 Convening began with a keynote address by Dr. David G. Stewart, Dean of California School of Professional Psychology, who highlighted the importance and need for integrating behavioral health in primary care. This was followed by a graduate student panel featuring Alliant International University, Fresno students, who shared insights from their clinical practicum experiences in rural communities at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and a Rural Health Clinic (RHC).

After a brief intermission with lunch provided, two professional panels were held. The first panel featured Dr. Kia Yang (Valley Health Team), Dr. DeAnna Waugh (Adventist Health), and Dr. Jonathan Terry (California Health Sciences University), and was moderated by Dr. Ya-Shu Liang, PhD (Alliant International University, Fresno). This panel explored integrated training opportunities and partnerships developed to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals, especially in Central Valley.

The second panel focused on mental health services within the correctional system and was moderated by Dr. Tamar Kenworthy (K & L Clinical Forensic Practice and Alliant International University). Drs. Bao V. Trinh, Luz Vargas, and Elijah Morrow from Pleasant Valley State Prison shared their perspectives and experiences working across disciplines to provide care to incarcerated individuals, highlighting the critical role of interdisciplinary approaches in correctional settings.

According to completed general surveys, all participants rated the Convening as “good” or “excellent.” Many cited the opportunity to network and connect with diverse professionals in the community as the most valuable aspect of the event, and expressed interest in having more time for networking in future Convenings. One participant noted that “learning the different approaches being taken by different agencies to integrate behavioral health into primary care” was the most significant insight gained. Others suggested including a panel of medical students to better understand their perspectives and experiences in integrated behavioral health.

With the successful conclusion of the 2025 Convening, the need for continued dialogue and integration of behavioral health into the broader healthcare system is evident. Many local healthcare professionals expressed interest in ongoing events that foster learning and collaboration across disciplines to advance integrated behavioral health efforts. The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Behavioral Health Project team extends heartfelt thanks to all Convening participants and supporters for their continued encouragement and passion in strengthening our community.

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Moagolia Lor is a Clinical Psychology PsyD doctoral student at Alliant International University, Fresno. As a native to the San Joaquin Central Valley, she has developed a great desire to contribute back to her community. Her clinical interests include working with LGBTQIA+ and AAPI populations, specifically Hmong women, and eating disorders.