Addressing social determinants of health shown to reduce healthcare spending

The program not only benefits patients, but also our volunteers. We have between 30 and 40 volunteers working at any one time, providing over 65 hours of clinic coverage a week. Many volunteers are part of the minority health professional pipeline and come from the same community as ZSFG patients. Priority recruitment takes place from San Francisco community and state colleges, and we strive to ensure that we reach a variety of students who may be considering health careers. As Health Advocates, student-volunteers gain invaluable hands-on experience working with patients in healthcare settings and opportunities for close mentorship with UCSF faculty.