The California Health Professional Student Alliance (CaHPSA) is proud to announce that it is now the official autonomous student program of PNHP California. CaHPSA is a group of medical students, health professional students, and undergraduates who aim to cultivate leadership and advocacy skills while bringing about change in the health care system. We work primarily through grassroots legislative advocacy, peer education and chapter development. We support publicly financed, privately delivered, guaranteed healthcare for all Californians.

CaHPSA members welcome the collaboration and mentorship of PNHP California members. If you would like to get more involved with CaHPSA students near you, please use the resources below to learn more about student movement for single payer.

1. California Health Professional Students Alliance Read CaHPSA’s Constitution here.

2. Check out the CaHPSA Facebook

3. Want to get involved? See our statewide officer position descriptions here. Elections usually happen between March and May, although some spots may still be open. Contact the Shearer Student Fellow to see how you can get involved.

4. Contact Joey Foy, the 2011-2012 Shearer Student Fellow.

5. PNHP National Students page

2011- 2012 CaHPSA Leadership
Throughout the last year, CaHPSA has made some positive changes. We have updated our constitution, mission statement, vision statement, bylaws and goals. We have also created a few new leadership positions to meet the demands of our growing alliance. With a good solid base that was built by previous students, the only place we have to go is up! See the new Officer Bios here.

Latest News

Now Accepting Applications for the 2012-2013 Shearer Student Fellow Position

PNHP California is now recruiting a new Shearer Student Fellow for the 2012-2013 academic year. This unique, fully funded fellowship is specifically designed for an enthusiastic health professional graduate student seeking to develop leadership, public speaking, organizing, advocacy, and health policy skills with the support of peers and physicians. The Fellow is well positioned to engage a wide variety of organizational partners and coalition members, and to work to continually build a base of young leaders among emerging healthcare professionals. This is an annual position, rotating to a new student each year. More information here.

Other News

CaHPSA Benefit Concert Raises Money for Lobby Day

The CaHPSA-Chico Chapter organized a benefit concert on December 22nd, to raise money for Lobby Day. With the help of several talented local musicians, CaHPSA raised over $1,100, which was put towards the Lobby Day scholarship fund to allow more students to attend. More than 100 people attended the event and learned more about the mission of CaHPSA and the growing single-payer movement in California.

Local CaHPSA members reached out to their networks of friends and families so that all costs of this event were covered or donated. Each of the musicians graciously donated their time, as did the volunteers who helped make this event a success. A local community theatre donated the venue. Shearer Student Fellow, Joey Foy, spoke about the difficulties many Californians face attaining healthcare, and the single-payer movement’s proposed solution to the healthcare crisis in our state: Senate Bill 810. The local PNHP chapter helped advertise and encouraged members to donate money to support the event.

Robin Bacior, one of the musicians involved in the concert, added an emotional appeal when she spoke about her personal struggle to obtain affordable health insurance as an independent musician. The Railflowers also spoke about their many friends in the music industry who lack health insurance and encouraged the audience to get more involved with this movement. CaHPSA plans produce more events like this throughout California as a way to raise money and awareness, and continue to spread our message to a larger audience.

Past News
CaHPSA: Coming to a University Campus Near You
By Noah Fern

Another successful healthcare conference for CaHPSA
By Joey Foy

The 2010 -2011 CaHPSA Student of the Year
By Molly Tavella. MPH

Which way forward for health care reform in America:  Massachusetts or Vermont?
By Dan Lichtenstein Boris

Newsletter: CaHPSA Chapter Spotlight: April
By Meredith Gibbons, MS1

Single-Payer Student Activism Still Strong in the Wake of Federal Reform
By Molly Tavella, MPH