Student health advocate

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Unique to UCLA, the SHA Program, or Student Health Advocate Program, allows UCLA students with an interest in health care and public health to encourage healthy behaviors among their peers. Started in 1974, the SHA program is run by UCLA's Health Education department and is overseen by the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center.

SHAs serve in two major roles: in the residence halls of UCLA, and as volunteers at the Ashe Center. SHAs working in the residence halls work closely with their counterparts in the Office of Residential Life, focusing their programming on residents living in their community. SHAs in the residence halls provide simple first aid and primary care, referrals to other campus health services, and provide personal counseling to students in addition to implementing programs designed to educate residents or improve their overall wellbeing. SHAs working at the Ashe Center volunteer as clinical assistants, checking patients in, taking vital signs, performing minor first aid under the supervision of a clinician, and can also specialize in areas such as radiology and optometry.

The SHA mission statement has four core values, which are Free, Friendly, Confidential, and Convenient. Each SHA strives to fulfill all four values during their service to the UCLA community. SHAs are chosen each academic year through a competitive application process, and are required to take a 10-week long course in student health in addition to refresher training before the start of each school year.