College Health Leadership Summit
They came from 14 different colleges and universities across Washington state. More than 100 students with a passion for health care and the drive to make a difference met at Seattle's Town Hall last week, for the first ever College Health Leadership Summit.
The students came together to share their thoughts on how to improve health on college campuses. The Summit drew on a year of research by the Healthiest State in the Nation Campaign and focused on five key campus issues:
• Prescription and Over-The-Counter Drug Misuse
• Sexual Health
• Mental Health and Depression
• Health Insurance, and
• Physical Activity and Nutrition.
Participants had the opportunity to interact with health experts and campus health administrators during informative discussion panels. Students also participated in small group breakout sessions, which provided a comfortable forum to assess the roots of each specific health problem and identify potential solutions. These focused discussions proved to be a highlight of the day: students commented that it allowed a rare chance to connect with peers from other schools and exchange valuable ideas on improving campus health.
Prior to the CHLS, the Washington Health Foundation conducted focus groups around Washington State. Here are the findings of that research.
Moving forward, WHF will work with Summit participants to implement campus-based reform with the goal of ensuring that the state's colleges and universities remain models of healthy community living.
Here is a welcome video from the Attorney General Rob McKenna welcoming participants to the Summit:
