CHS Mission
- Recruit and retain diverse students, faculty and staff in all CHS programs.
- Continue to revise our curriculum to be responsive to racism and social inequalities in health in the communities we serve.
- Train and support our students to become culturally-competent healthcare professionals through education, community outreach, and multidisciplinary experiential learning opportunities.
- Integrate our students to the(ir) local and global communities to provide quality clinical and public health services.
- Empower our graduates with the knowledge, resources and tools to disrupt the structures and systems that perpetuate racism and health disparities in black and underrepresented communities.
On-Campus Student Activities
Physical Therapy Multicultural Leadership Alliance
Prior events have included: Inclusive Language in Healthcare, and LGBTQIA+ Community and related health disparities.
Pro Bono Clinic
Opening March 2021, Arcadia University’s student-run Pro Bono Clinic offers no-cost physical therapy services to underinsured individuals.
Public Health Week
Arcadia’s annual celebration of National Public Health Week (NPHW) focuses on various topics, like 2021’s events on addiction, climate change, resilience, and careers. The topics reflect the daily themes of rebuilding, galvanizing climate change, and building COVID-19 resilience set by the American Public Health Association (APHA).
Physician Assistant Diversity Committees
PA Class of 2021 and 2022’s committees discuss health disparity issues – Autism, Indigenous access to healthcare, and a hosted panel discussion on diversity and inclusion in medicine.
Alex Cristofori ’21M, MPH shared how his work as a peer mentor in recognizing that students felt that discussions of race, inequality, and diversity in medicine were missing from their education in health care.
Testimonials
Arcadia University’s Public Health program has retained such inspired students, who work to build up the program in order to make it a community of practice and service, who activate their educations in an effort to improve contemporary inequities and concerns that affect so many people’s quality of life. Upon entering into the MPH program, I find myself in awe of these academic peers who are so driven to contribute to their communities. The mutual support from these cohorts of
Arcadia’s Psychology and Sociology programs inspired Zac Fiss ’21 to help children cope with crises. While working at a therapeutic nursery through our Intern Philly program, Fiss was offered a position with Devereux’s Children Behavioral Health Services. On campus, launching Arcadia’s Psychology club and serving as a resident assistant confirmed his path: “It exposed me to different needs, backgrounds, and issues.”
Milestones for Racial/Ethnic Minorities
As the University continues addressing health disparities across its communities, the College seeks five-year goals to grow racial/ethnic minority populations of students, staff and faculty based on its current members and recognizing room for inclusion.
*Racial/Ethnic Minorities include American Indian/Alaska Native; Black/Non-Hispanic; Hispanic; Multiple Ethnicities; Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander; and Non-Resident Aliens.
New Knight to Know: Sanaa Alston ’27
Major: Sport Management & Pre Physical Therapy Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Athletics: Would like to be a part of women’s basketball. Why Arcadia? I chose Arcadia because it’s a small college that'...
