Launched in the Spring 2020, the Health Disparities & Service Program aims to increase student awareness and develop best practices when working with various populations in the context of healthcare. In this seminar series, speakers from various disciplines will discuss how health disparities impact different populations and explore individual and policy best practices for future healthcare professionals. Students will have the opportunities to hear from experts on a range of topics and engage in discussion with them and with their peers.
Students from all majors and degree levels are welcome to participate. Registration will be sent out through the PPAO listserv and is on a first come, first serve basis.
Service Program Requirements
- Must attend 4 out of the 5 presentations offered.
- Participate in a Structured Reflective Dialogue session held via Zoom. A Google form will be sent through the PPAO listserv which will include a list of available dates / times for the month of April. This last session is mandatory and will give participants a chance to discuss and reflect on the topics covered in the various informational sessions provided by the program. Students will breakout into small groups on Zoom and will be given selected prompts to work through using the knowledge gained from the speaker series. During the second half of the session, students will be invited back to the larger Zoom meeting to discuss some of the themes and takeaways from their group discussions.
- Complete 50 hours of service-oriented volunteering with organizations that work with various populations. Students will be provided with a list of pre-approved organizations at UGA and in the Athens community. Volunteering hours may be done through multiple organizations, but all must be from the approved list and requires documentation. A volunteer sheet will be provided to keep track of hours and will need to include a signature of a staff member or leader from the organization. Volunteering must be done during Spring Semester, January 12 to April 27, 2026. If you would like credit for Experiential Learning your volunteering must be completed by May 5, 2026. Please see the list below.
- Submit a reflection paper containing a minimum of 1,000 words, discussing what you have learned and how this will inform your future professional practices due May 5, 2026. If you would like credit for Experiential Learning, you will need to submit your paper by May 5, 2026. Students will be asked to address the following prompts:
- What do you think was the most meaningful part of the program?
- What is something you learned that surprised you or resonated with you?
- Discuss how you will continue to engage in issues of health disparities.
- Discuss the role of educating yourself on various issues and the role of self-reflection when working with various populations.
After successful completion of this program, students will earn Experiential Learning credit and receive a certificate from the Pre-Professional Advising Office.
Please note that you need to double check with your college that they have approved this activity for Experiential Learning Credit on engage.uga.edu. If you do not see this listed, speak with your academic advisor to confirm whether or not this program will count for EL.
Please note, this is not an official UGA certificate that will appear on your transcript.
Approved Volunteering List Volunteer Log
Health Disparities and Service Program Guest Lecturers
The Pre-Professional Advising Office is proud to introduce our guest speaks for the 2026 Health Disparities and Service Program. All presentations will be held virtually via zoom.
- Dr. Katherine Ehrlich – Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 4pm – Risk and Resilience Among Vulnerable Populations
- Dr. Tracy Rackensperger – Monday, February 9, 2026, at 4pm – Treating People with Respect in Healthcare: Eliminating Stereotypes.
- Dr. Rebecca Wells – Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 4pm – Health Equity for People with Disabilities
- Dominique L. La Barrie – Monday, March 2, 2026, at 4pm – Inequality’s Toll: How Systems of Power Shape Health and Higher Education
- NED Maiorino, PhD & Jasey Jones, LCSW – Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 5pm – Challenges in Mental Health Care Access: Diagnoses, Treatment, and Outcomes
Registration for the HD&S Certificate Program will open December 8th, 2025. First come, first served. There will be no waitlist. Once the program reaches capacity, registration will be closed.
Interested in becoming a speaker for this certificate program on the topic of health disparities and health service? Please email Taz Qadri – [email protected].
