Public Health student delegation attends in-person CSU Health Policy Conference

The annual conference had to be canceled the past two years due to COVID-19.  The Northern California CSU programs met in-person at Cal State East Bay Campus on April 19, 2022, while Southern California CSU programs met at CSU Los Angeles. In addition to the SF State delegation, participants came from the CSU campuses of East Bay, Chico, Sacramento, Fresno, Stanislaus and Monterey Bay. The morning agenda consisted of a both sites hearing speakers remotely and in-person, which included remarks from California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly and other public health and legislative officials.  This included discussion about a range of public health responses, from COVID-19 to youth mental health and racial health inequities. More than 200 CSU students and faculty attended the conference at each location, interacting with public health leaders, faculty, and students from around the region.

One SF State Public Health student, Victoria Lacuesta, reflected, “A highlight of the day was hearing from four public health professionals from different counties (Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz). Knowing how they collaborate to solve issues in each county puts in a different level of working together to solve issues that we face today. It also tells you that making connections and building trust is key to success.”   

Another SF State student, Georgean Morado, said, “It was nice to hear their ideologies around community and how they work with the community. I also enjoyed hearing about how behavioral health is important and key for the future of public health.” 

Student attendees were Mikaela Beltran, Trinity Dubrow, Lia Duncan, Susana Carolina Gonzalez, Kohinoor Joshi, Victoria Lacuesta, Mireya Lopez, Georjean Morado, Nikkia Patterson, Nicolette Stanbridge and Willy Popoca Soto.