What is Cal UPHC?

What is public health?

​In 2003, Cal UPHC was formed in conjunction with the Public Health major at UC Berkeley. Sponsored by UC Berkeley School of Public Health and the ASUC, Cal UPHC is the first public health group on campus formed to provide students with a professional and supportive network.

Our coalition is composed of an executive board, our award-winning publication The Public Health Advocate, and four primary committees: Community Health, Environmental Health, International Health, and Health Policy and Advocacy.

Our mission is to help students gain R.E.A.L. experience in the field of public health through Research, Education, Action, and Leadership.
We are a professional organization that strives to give students the skills to excel in the field of public health.

According to the CDC, “Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through:

1. Promotion of healthy lifestyles,
2. Research for disease and injury prevention, and
3. Detection and control of infectious diseases.

Clinical professionals like doctors and nurses focus primarily on treating individuals after they become sick or injured. In contrast, public health professionals try to prevent problems from happening or recurring; this is done through implementing educational programs, recommending policies, administering services, and conducting research.

"A large part of public health is promoting healthcare equity, quality, and accessibility.”

– CDC Foundation (CDC is the nation’s disease prevention and wellness promotion agency)