Health Coach Program at UC Riverside
The Health Coach Program is a community-based collaborative aimed at reducing the number of patients with uncontrolled chronic conditions by training health coaches to support patient care by working with integral healthcare teams in a clinical setting.
Our health coaches are pre-medical and pre-health students currently enrolled as juniors and seniors at an undergraduate institution or recent college graduates.
Through weekly follow ups and continuous communication with their patients’ health care team, health coaches: help patients build progressive goals, become true advocates for their patients, and establish a rapport that allows them to identify patient’s existing barriers to healthier lifestyle habits.
The Health Coach Program, which began in 2013, is a partnership between the UCR School of Medicine and Riverside University Health System.
Health Coach Program Schedule
The Health Coach Program requires a minimum commitment of 260 volunteer hours through an academic calendar year.
HC Academic Year Program (September - June)
A minimum of two 4- hour shifts per week required.
Application Opens
February 1, 2021
Application Closes
Priority Deadline: March 17, 2021
Final Deadline: April 28, 2021
Selected Candidate Interviews
Those that are selected to interview for the Health Coach Program, will be notified directly and should expect a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) the week of May 10, 2021 that will be scheduled during approximately a 1.5 hour time-block.
Training
Coaches have found their training and experiences have helped solidify their passion for medicine as well as improve their interpersonal and clinical skills.
Training sessions health coaches should expect, will include:
- Chronic conditions and diseases (ex. prediabetes, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity)
- Nutrition 101
- Goal Setting & Motivational Interviewing
- Electronic Health Record Training (ex. EPIC)
- HIPAA regulations
Please note: All health coaches will also be required to complete volunteer on-boarding requirements through Riverside University Health System before they can begin in-clinic training and shadowing. This onboarding process is usually completed between the months of June - August.
Applying for Health Coach Program
The Health Coach Program application is currently CLOSED. Our next application cycle will open on February 1, 2021.
For more information, please contact the Program Coordinator Jacklyn Loya, MPH at healthcoaches@medsch.ucr.edu