Health Equity & Diversity Certificate Program

Wednesdays @ 12-1pm via Zoom | September 29 – December 1, 2021
Click here to register – Deadline: September 24

In the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement are but a few of many jarring examples that not all people receive access to health care or wellness resources that are supportive of their needs. Amongst our campus community, we have witnessed first-hand how one’s identities such as age, race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, occupation, and citizenship affect one’s ability to respond to and cope with the multiple, and often overlapping, crises that affect our holistic health and wellness. Therefore, moving forward, we must acknowledge that a holistic understanding of health equity and diversity is crucial for the continued success of all pillars of the UCI campus community.

The Health Equity & Diversity Certificate Program advances the College of Health Sciences’ commitment to these principles. This program is sponsored by the UCI Health Affairs Office of Education and is available to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, as well as staff and faculty members of the UCI Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences and UCI Health.

This certificate will be useful for those who seek to establish or advance in careers in the health sciences, whether as health care providers, educators, researchers, or administrative staff. The interdisciplinary curriculum will also provide practical and relevant opportunities for enrollees to envision positive contributions to the campus climate of UCI, regardless of their area of study or work. Participation in the program is free of charge.

Course Offerings:

1. Core Course (10 weeks, Fall 2021)
   • Previous Course Topics (Fall 2020/Winter 2021):
     • An Introduction to Integrative Health
     • Trans Affirming Care
     • The Compounding Crises of a Global Pandemic
2. Specialty Courses (5 weeks, Winter/Spring 2022)
   • Previous Course Offerings (Spring 2021):
     • “Social Determinants of Health in Southern California”
     • “A Macro Approach to Microaggressions”

The Health Equity and Diversity Certificate Program courses will be facilitated by Dr. Xavier Hernandez, Diversity Education Officer for the UCI Health Affairs Office of Education. The curriculum will consist of recorded and live lectures by experts from throughout the UCI community, and select readings and viewings from academic and popular media publications.

All participants in the certificate program must begin with enrolling in the 10-week Core Course in Fall 2021. After completion of the Core Course, participants will be free to select 5-week Specialty Courses in future quarters based on their availability and interest. The UCI Health Affairs Office of Education will offer certificates of completion for each individual course.

Course Meetings will last one hour per week via Zoom, and will align with Weeks 1-10 of academic instruction in each respective quarter. The curriculum examples listed above are for reference only; the final 2021-22 curriculum is yet to be determined.

UCI students should be aware that this program will not offer UCI course credit. Completion of the certificate should be listed on your resume under “Honors and Awards” or a similar category related to extra-curricular achievements. Staff and faculty should consult with their supervisors to determine the appropriate application of the certificate program to their professional goals and tracks.

If you have any additional questions about the Health Equity & Diversity Certificate Program, please contact Xavier Hernandez at xhernand@hs.uci.edu.