School of Public Health hosts first Pathways to Public Health: Empowering the Next Generation summer workshop

This past summer, San Diego State University’s School of Public Health (SPH) hosted the first Pathways to Public Health: Empowering the Next Generation summer workshop.

The workshop, in partnership with the Live Well Center for Innovation & Leadership at the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, gave high school students in San Diego County the chance to learn and engage with different public health sectors.

Over the course of a week, 34 students participated in various activities hosted by SPH programs. SPH faculty supported the activities with presentations, resources, and materials to make the workshop both educational and engaging.

“SPH staff worked closely with teachers and staff from multiple high schools to recruit students and ensure diverse representation among participants,” said Geysil Arroyo, a SPH instructor who helped lead the workshop.

Students were selected from around 16 local high schools, including High Tech High, San Diego High School, and Lincoln High School.

In one workshop activity, students learned about social determinants of health then worked in teams to create visual maps of how “different social and environmental factors can influence the health of individuals and communities,” Arroyo said.

“On another day, students visited SDSU’s Environmental Health laboratories, where they received an introduction to environmental toxicology, health research, assessment, and applied methods,” she said.

The final day of the workshop featured a panel of professionals who spoke about the various pathways to public health careers. They highlighted the importance of opportunities like internships and volunteer experience toward building hands-on experience in the field.

The workshop concluded with words from Elizabeth Hernandez, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, and SPH Director, Eyal Oren.

“Their participation reinforced the shared commitment between SDSU and the County of San Diego to developing and inspiring the next generation of public health leaders,” Arroyo said.

To end the workshop, students were awarded certificates of completion for their participation.