According to the Public Health Foundation, community partnerships “…focus on understanding and developing relationships within the community; advancing collaboration while ensuring community power and ownership; defending public health policies, programs, and services; and evaluating effectiveness to improve community health and resilience.” Community partnerships are important to reach health equity while empowering communities, as well as limiting any power dynamics. Sustainability is also achieved through community partnerships; it creates a long-lasting relationship and impact for the community. Collaborative efforts and trust play a valuable role in community partnerships, which is why efforts and initiatives like these become successful.
As a Global and Community Health student at UCSC, a main focus of my classes has been the frameworks of community partnerships. There is an emphasis on how research will impact or benefit a community, and, finally, on why we are doing the research: to achieve health equity.
During my time at UCSC, I also had the opportunity to experience community partnerships hands-on. My involvement with MEDLIFE, whose mission is to “empower the underserved in their fight for equal access to healthcare, education, and a safe home. To achieve our mission, we take a different approach to international medical relief: listening, collaborating, prioritizing sustainability, and always following up has allowed me to see how community partnerships work beyond the classroom.” During my time abroad, I saw how community partnerships are essential to ensure that humanitarian or health equity initiatives are successful and on the right path to help.
Through MEDLIFE, I have been able to form community partnerships here in Santa Cruz. In my roles as Secretary and External Vice President, I have led opportunities for our members to volunteer or be a part of professional development sessions. Through professional development opportunities such as CPR certifications, resume workshops, and professional health panels, students at UCSC have the resources to continue and be successful in their path to becoming healthcare professionals. In a campus recreation setting, I have been able to participate in a team bonding committee where we created opportunities for the student staff to connect with each other and destress, like a field day. My participation in this committee has also allowed me to find ways to encourage staff with banquets or potlucks, where they can come together and enjoy their hard work of the quarter.