Global and Community Health

disease

Undergraduate Experiential Learning

Global and Community Health (GCH) students are engaged in various student organizations, internships, volunteer and career opportunities. There are innumerable ways to examine and apply GCH learning objectives both inside and outside the classroom.

Global and Community Health Taskforce

The Global and Community Health Taskforce (GCH 190) is one part of a two-part senior capstone project that all GCH students must complete to graduate with a degree in Global and Community Health. The taskforce class is composed of both GCH B.A. and GCH B.S. students working together to address a global health issue with real-world impacts and serve their communities by applying the skills they have gained in the classroom. Students learn how to research and write scientific papers on topics like incarceration, food systems, access to essential medicine, and more, and apply solutions that are relevant within Santa Cruz County, California, and the public health sphere at large. 

GCH 190 class
student journal cover

Journal of Social Medicine (JSM)

The UCSC Journal of Social Medicine is produced by a team of undergraduates from diverse academic disciplines. This student-led team is committed to providing a space for our undergraduate peers to submit their work, and for our readers to broaden their understanding of the ongoing multidisciplinary research at UCSC.

Visit the journal website

Affiliated student organizations

There are a multitude of ways to engage in global and community health issues via on-campus student groups.  Also, if you have an update to your student organization’s details below or you wish to add your organization to our website, we want to hear from you! Please email Heather Gardner at hagardne@ucsc.edu.

Emergency Medical Slugs

EMS is the only organization at UCSC with a focus on pre-hospital and emergency medicine-based healthcare. We train our members in first-aid and basic life support skills at our general body meetings. We also provide volunteer opportunities, where we provide free medical/first aid care at various on-campus events.

Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM)

CAM encompasses medicine outside of conventional medicine, including but not limited to Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), herbal medicine, and other physical practices. This club aims to introduce and advocate for CAM as a holistic way to heal the body and provide preventative health practices. Through this club, we wish to spread knowledge on medicines and practices that touch on daily life and clinical research in a different light—from little habits that can help us avoid illness to clinically approved practices in cancer research.

SOMOS Latinx en Medicina

A pre-health organization dedicated to uplifting Latinx students pursuing careers in healthcare. Support Latinx students in pre-health pathways through mentorship, workshops, and networking by promoting health equity and cultural awareness in healthcare.

American Red Cross Association Club

Our club works with the Santa Cruz branch of ARCA to promote volunteer opportunities to students as well as community engagements.

Medusa

Medusa is the first club at UCSC that explores modern advancements in healthcare utilizing AI. We blend the fields of both medicine and tech to bring forth a better world for us all. Our club is open to people of all fields and majors.

Planned Parenthood: Generation Action

UCSC’s Planned Parenthood Generation Action is an organization supported by Planned Parenthood Mar Monte that promotes sexual health education and advocacy, as well as reproductive justice.

Pre-Veterinary Club

Community for students interested in pursuing veterinary medicine and other animal-related industries.

Medlife

Medlife is a non-profit organization that partners with low-income communities in Latin America and Africa to improve access to medicine, education, and community development projects. Our UCSC chapter focuses on service-learning trips where students can obtain shadowing and volunteer hours, as well as local volunteer opportunities and community building.

ACE Pre-Health Community

ACE PHC is a student-led organization that helps support UCSC students with resources to aid their personal and professional development.

Medical Brigades

We provide aspiring healthcare professionals an opportunity to gain experience in a medical clinic setting and make an impact in global health.

Aspiring PA Association

Committed to educating pre-PA students about their future health profession by organizing activities and providing mentorship support.

American Medical Student Association

Helping pre-health majors pursue medical careers through service and professional opportunities.

Universities Allied for Essential Medicines

Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) is a student-led organization that works to ensure that publicly funded medical research results in affordable and accessible medicines for all. UAEM advocates for equitable licensing practices, transparency in biomedical innovation, and prioritizing global health needs in university research and development.

Partners In Health Engage

Student-directed club advocating for better health systems through education and cause-specific campaigns.

Kappa Gamma Delta

As the only pre-health sorority at UCSC, KGD is a community of women committed to providing academic and professional guidance to students interested in healthcare careers.

Pre-Dental Society

The Pre-Dental Society at UC Santa Cruz was founded in Fall 2007 and focuses on providing members with the resources needed to become competitive dental school applicants.

Project Smile

Student-led nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting oral health disparities in Santa Cruz.

Youth Health Focus

YHF is dedicated to medical outreach, health advocacy, and supporting youth well-being through education and community involvement.

Pre-Optometry Society

Official UCSC Pre-Optometry club 👁️

Operation Smile

Raising awareness for cleft lip and palate.

Student Doctor Alliance

We aim to offer undergraduates support and opportunities to broaden their exposure to the healthcare field. 🧬🧪🥼

Hopeful Hearts Project

Hopeful Hearts Project at UCSC is a student-led organization dedicated to spreading joy, comfort, and human connection to vulnerable communities. We provide personalized care packages and heartfelt letters to hospice patients and hospitalized children, while promoting dignity and self-care through hygiene kits for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Last modified: Nov 19, 2025