Programs
UCSB CaHPSA hopes to inspire growth and education among all of its members while providing numerous opportunities for members to expand their professional skills.
Below are descriptions of the diverse programs that we offer. |
Education + DebatesCaHPSA highly values the education of its members. We host many training workshops that help members and other students improve their soft skills. These workshops focus on communication, such as our Public Speaking Workshop or our Mental Health Training Workshop, to help us learn how to communicate effectively and respectfully with people of diverse backgrounds.
CaHPSA hosts Journal Club meetings to foster knowledge and debate on topics relating to healthcare legislation. Journal Club breaks down healthcare systems, relevant Senate Bills, and different policies such as Obamacare, into easy-to-understand terms. Journal Club also hosts debates on the topics discussed during the meeting to foster critical thinking skills, strengthen ethical arguments, and promote confidence. |
Project White CoatProject White Coat (PWC) was launched in 2014 as a way to address the need for culturally competent and knowledgeable enrollment counselors in underserve communities. Our network of pre-health and medical students undergo extensive training through Covered California and become certified application counselors (CACs.)
PWC provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on training with our current health care system and opportunities to interact with people from various backgrounds who face different challenges accessing health care. Our students provide objective and informed advice. To this day, our students have helped over 400 people enroll in Medi-Cal or a private plan. Project White Coat members are a group of dedicated CaHPSA volunteers, and joining requires its own application process featuring increased participation expectations and a short interview. |
Lobby DayEach year culminates in Lobby Day, when our members travel to Sacramento and meet with State Senate and Assembly Members to lobby them for different healthcare bills to advance different CaHPSA healthcare initiatives.
Lobby Day is a two-day event. The first day focused on training and collaboration between health professional student leaders, physicians, public officials, immigration activists, and health policy experts. Our goal is to help students learn about the legislation we support, health care reform, challenges facing the undocumented, and preparing an effective meeting with legislators. The conference consists of presentations and workshops that prepare participants for their legislative visits on Day II. Each attendee is a member of a legislative team assigned to speak with the elected officials of their own district. The second day is the day of action, starting with a march on Capitol Mall, up to the steps of the Capitol where we hold a big rally. After the rally, we break into our legislative teams and go inside to tell our elected officials why we care about healthcare equality, the fundamental right to healthcare, and our support for the legislation of interest Over the past few years, we have supported bills such as SB 562 The Healthy California Act, Health4AllYoungAdults, SB 10, Health4AllKids |