By Clare Roche, AcademyHealth
Who?
You! AcademyHealth encourages students from a wide range of academic backgrounds to participate in our robust student chapter program. Currently, AcademyHealth is home to 26 student chapters from universities and colleges across the U.S. and Canada. Our student chapters are based in various schools and disciplines including: health services research, health policy, public health, nursing, medicine, health administration, dentistry; the list goes on. We believe that through multidisciplinary collaboration, students can experience a more comprehensive learning experience.
What?
Student chapters were created to enhance the learning and professional development experience for students in health services research and health policy. Typically, a chapter is comprised of elected leadership, a faculty advisor, and students enrolled in multidisciplinary programs related to health services research and/or health policy. Each chapter is required to meet once a semester, but on average our current chapters host four events each academic year. Events can range from faculty-student socials to viewing a webinar to hosting a speaker series – the possibilities are endless.
Where?
As long as you are a student located at an accredited college or university, initiating a student chapter program is free.
When?
We’d love to have you enroll and receive your benefits as soon as possible. Should you have any questions about the program or application process, please contact Student Membership and Chapter Coordinator, Clare Roche.
Why?
Student chapters are a vital part of the AcademyHealth community, and we are committed to ensuring their long-term success. To that end, there are countless benefits in forming and participating in a chapter. AcademyHealth offers chapter members discounts on event registrations, access to career resources, networking and mentoring opportunities, and funds for hosting your own events on campus.
How?
There are a few things you need to complete prior to being an official AcademyHealth student chapter:
- First, you’ll need to identify chapter leadership, including selecting a Faculty Advisor. The make-up of the rest of your leadership is up to you. We encourage you to create a structure that will best address your needs.
- Second, you’ll need to create requirements and guidelines for your chapter. We’ve made this step easy by providing you with model bylaws that you can locate on the AcademyHealth website.
- Third, a percentage of your student chapter body will need to register as AcademyHealth student members. As a nationally recognized organization, we’re happy to work with you and your school to receive funding for this fee.
- Finally, you must submit a student chapter application. This application is the final step to beginning a chapter at your university or college.
Once the application has been approved, your chapter will be able to participate in monthly check-ins and receive benefits from AcademyHealth. We look forward to you joining the AcademyHealth family!