Undergraduate Toolkit

  • Step 1: Reach Out

    To start a chapter, contact:

    📧 healthimpacthub@gmail.com

    HIH will:

    • Help you get set up

    • Share starter materials and branding

    • Connect you with advisors and other chapters

    Step 2: Get Connected Nationally

    New chapter leaders should:

    • Join the HIH National GroupMe

    • Create a school-specific GroupMe for their chapter

    • Create and maintain its own Instagram account using the following naming convention: @XXXhealthimpacthub (XXX = school or campus identifier)

    This ensures:

    • Connection to national initiatives

    • Easy collaboration across campuses

    Step 3: Communication Structure

    Each chapter should maintain:

    • One main GroupMe for all members

    Dedicated spaces (channels or threads) for each subcommittee

  • Chapters may adapt this structure based on capacity and needs.

    1. Chair – The Chair provides overall vision and leadership for the chapter. They facilitate general meetings, ensure alignment with HIH’s mission, and serve as the primary liaison to the national Health Impact Hub team. The Chair supports subcommittees, helps set priorities, and represents the chapter in institutional or external spaces.

    2. Vice Chair – The Vice Chair supports the Chair and assists with day-to-day operations. They help maintain documentation, meeting notes, and internal organization, and serve as a liaison with programs (e.g., MD/DO, MPH, MPP, JD) at the home institution —if applicable— or nearby graduate schools. The Vice Chair may also coordinate onboarding and internal communications.

    3. Legislative Liaison – The Legislative Liaison coordinates advocacy and policy-related activities. This role maintains contact with local representatives, legislative aides, and advocacy partners, tracks relevant policy developments, and helps connect subcommittee work to real-world legislative opportunities.

    4. Community Outreach Coordinator – The Community Outreach Coordinator builds and sustains partnerships with local organizations, community leaders, and campus groups. They help identify speakers, coordinate events, and ensure that chapter activities remain grounded in community needs and collaboration.

    5. Public Relations Officer – The Public Relations Officer manages the chapter’s digital presence and visibility. This includes maintaining social media accounts, promoting events and initiatives, highlighting subcommittee work, and coordinating with national HIH platforms for cross-promotion.

    6. Treasurer – The Treasurer oversees chapter finances and budgeting. They track funds, manage expenses, and ensure compliance with university policies and funding requirements. This role may be minimal in early stages and expand as the chapter accesses funding or hosts larger events.

  • Undergraduate chapters:

    • Operate locally while aligning with HIH’s national mission and values

    • Serve as entry points into health policy, advocacy, and research

    • Collaborate with graduate and professional students

    • Participate in national HIH initiatives while driving local projects

    Undergraduates may:

    • Join existing subcommittees

    • Start new topic-specific subcommittees

    • Support local advocacy efforts

    • Contribute to national projects and events

  • Subcommittees are the primary engine of work within HIH.

    Key Principles

    • Anyone can start and run a subcommittee

    • Subcommittees are topic-based, not program-based

      • (e.g., Mental Health, Health Economics, Women’s Health, Climate & Health)

    • Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to participate and lead

    Basic Subcommittee Structure

    Each subcommittee typically includes:

    • Lead (student)

    • Advisor (faculty, clinician, policy or community expert — HIH can help connect)

    • Point persons from medicine, public health, policy, and law (when available)

    • PR point person to support dissemination

    Each subcommittee is expected to produce at least one output every other month.

    Subcommittees may also appoint subcommittee chairs or coordinators as needed.

  • Health Impact Hub Podcast

    The Health Impact Hub Podcast is a national platform designed to feature conversations with leaders across health, policy, medicine, public health, law, and advocacy.

    The podcast centers on:

    • Leaders’ journeys into health and policy work

    • Reflections on current and emerging health issues

    • Commentary on policy debates, systems change, and community impact

    • Lessons learned from advocacy, governance, and clinical leadership

    The goal of the podcast is to create accessible, narrative-driven conversations that help students better understand how health systems function in practice — and how individuals can navigate and influence them.

    Undergraduate students may engage with the podcast by:

    • Pitching episode ideas or topic themes

    • Proposing guests aligned with HIH’s mission

    • Assisting with background research and preparation

    • Conducting interviews under HIH guidance

    • Hosting or co-hosting episodes when appropriate

    Podcast episodes may also serve as official subcommittee outputs. It also functions as a thought leadership and educational platform that complements HIH’s advocacy, research, and policy work.