East Bay Students Explore Healthcare Careers at Fourth Annual Academic Advantage Event
Walnut Creek, United States – February 22, 2026 / Muir Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery of Walnut Creek /
Concord, CA (February 17, 2026) — As California faces worsening healthcare workforce shortages, including projected deficits in physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals over the next decade, more than 60 East Bay high school students gathered in Concord for the fourth Academic Advantage medical careers event, aimed at strengthening the future Bay Area healthcare pipeline.
Hosted this year by Dr. Brad Williams, DMD, MD, of Muir Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery, the event was held at the Cal State East Bay Concord Center and brought together students from across Contra Costa County with medical and dental specialists, as well as allied health professionals, for firsthand insight into careers in medicine, dental, and related healthcare fields.
Academic Advantage was originally launched in 2021 by Dr. Nestor Karas, founder of Muir Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery, as a long-term response to what providers were seeing across the healthcare system: increasing retirements, burnout, and fewer students entering medical training programs.
“If you look at job growth across the country, healthcare continues to be one of the fastest-growing sectors, and that trend is expected to continue as our population ages and technology advances,” said Dr. Brad Williams of Muir Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery. “But navigating a career in healthcare can feel long and daunting. I had to figure much of it out on my own, and it wasn’t always easy. If we can inspire even one student or help make that pathway clearer, then we’ve done our job.”
Featured speakers included:
- Dr. Brad Williams, DMD, MD – Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
- Kyle Cuenin, DDS – Orthodontist
- Tiffany McClure, MD – Family Medicine
Students attended presentations, participated in small-group discussions, and met one-on-one with healthcare professionals and career counselors to learn about academic preparation, college planning, and real-world career experiences. In addition to career exploration, students were invited to apply for two $250 scholarships and multiple job-shadowing opportunities from each featured speaker through the practice’s website following the event. Scholarship recipients and the selected student for the job-shadowing experience will be announced in early March.
Now in its fourth year, Academic Advantage continues to focus on building early exposure, mentorship, and community engagement while contributing to broader efforts to strengthen the medical workforce in the Bay Area.
About Academic Advantage
Academic Advantage is an annual medical careers initiative launched in 2021 to introduce high school students to healthcare professions through direct engagement with practicing clinicians and educators. The program focuses on early exposure, mentorship, and practical insight into academic preparation for careers in medicine and allied health, to strengthen the future healthcare workforce in the Bay Area.
About Muir Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery
Muir Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery is a Walnut Creek–based oral and maxillofacial surgery practice serving Contra Costa County and the East Bay. Led by board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Dr. Nestor Karas, DMD, and Dr. Brad Williams, DMD, MD, the practice specializes in dental implants, full-arch restoration, wisdom teeth removal, bone grafting, and advanced oral surgical procedures, providing comprehensive surgical care using modern technology and evidence-based techniques.
Contact Information:
Muir Oral, Facial, & Dental Implant Surgery of Walnut Creek
122 La Casa Via, Ste 223
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
United States
Nestor Karas
19259336190
https://muiroralsurgery.com/
