UC Berkeley Community Health Fellows will tackle homelessness and more
- 3 min. read ▪ Published
Across the Bay Area, public health leaders are working to break cycles of homelessness, substance use, community violence, and mental illness. They are reimagining how to tackle these deeply interconnected challenges, prioritizing coordination, reducing bureaucratic barriers, measurable outcomes, and accountability.
With generous philanthropic support, UC Berkeley School of Public Health is launching the Bay Area Community Health Fellows Program to build the talent pipeline for this important work.
The goal of the new program is simple and ambitious: Build a stronger pipeline of public health leaders who are ready not only to study complex problems, but to help solve them.
It will reach this goal by creating paid, hands-on opportunities for UC Berkeley public health graduate students to work with frontline community organizations and local government agencies across the Bay Area that otherwise would not have funding to support these students. Each year, starting in Summer 2027, up to 35 MPH students will complete paid practicums with partners who are tackling some of the Bay Area’s most pressing health issues while building more connected and accountable systems. Additionally, the funding will support the fellows’ professional development through workshops and seminars with faculty and alumni, the school’s changemaker and leadership training, and scholarships for students pursuing dual training in public health and social work.
“This initiative will mobilize our school’s collective expertise—faculty, students, and alumni—around the urgent challenges facing our local communities,” said Chief Social Impact Officer Claudia Williams. “Students come to Berkeley not just for a world-class education, but because they are committed to building the health of our communities.”
Community Health Fellows will bring fresh capacity to organizations working on the front lines of public health in San Francisco, Alameda County, and Richmond. Just as important, fellows will gain the kind of practical experience that shapes careers and creates lifelong commitment to community health.
“Public health is at its best when it is grounded in community, focused on prevention, and committed to action,” said UC Berkeley Public Health Dean Michael C. Lu. “The Community Health Fellows Program reflects the best of our school and mission. It will help prepare our students to lead with both skill and purpose, while strengthening the organizations and communities that are creating a healthier future for the Bay Area.”
By investing in students and strengthening partnerships with community organizations and local government, the school is helping build a regional talent pipeline rooted in service, action, and impact. The Community Health Fellows Program will ensure that UC Berkeley School of Public Health’s brightest minds are exactly where they are needed most: in the community, driving lasting change.
To sign up to learn more about the program and to be notified when students and organizations can apply (likely in November of this year), please fill out this form and/or send an email to Fred Dillon, UCBPH Director of Partnerships and Strategy, at fdillon@berkeley.edu.
