By Jeesoo Suh, Youth Advisory Council member. The following reflects Jeesoo’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. Welcome, summer! The christening of July 2026, remaining ever-faithful with the 20-year nostalgia cycle, has ushered in the comeback of capris, babydoll tops, bizarre sandals, and… measles? After the CDC declared measles eliminated from the United States a … Read more
The 2026 ‘Be the Change’ Youth Training Program was a great success! We hosted 16 youth presenters across 7 different presentations covering topics such as reproductive health and youth autonomy, youth testimony and policy impact, confidence in building relationships with your providers, and more. Our youth participants, presenters, and Youth Advisory Council enjoyed a week … Read more
By Ketan Tamirisa, SBHA YAC Member By Ketan Tamirisa, Youth Advisory Council member. The following reflects Ketan’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. When people talk about school-based health centers (SBHCs), they often focus on what services are offered: checkups, vaccines, mental health support, referrals, health education, or help when something feels wrong. Those services matter. … Read more
By Muntaha Rahman, Youth Advisory Council Member 2024- 2026 Throughout my childhood and early school years, my school-based health centers were crucial in providing my peers and I with necessary and fundamental access to a wide variety of health resources. For many students, these centers meant the world; although health care in other areas was … Read more
By Sahana Srikanth, Youth Advisory Council member. The following reflects Sahana’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. So, who actually works in an SBHC, and what do their roles entail? Across the United States, there are over 3,900 school-based health centers (SBHCs) currently in operation [1]. When we talk about these SBHCs, we often focus on … Read more
By Kauree Bennett, Youth Advisory Council member. The following reflects Kauree’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. Being open as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the current political climate can be intimidating. Why should our healthcare reflect that? The fear of being exposed, lack of access, and ridicule are among the many consistent experiences … Read more
By Rikhil Ranjit, Youth Advisory Council member. The following reflects Rikhil’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. Severe weather, school shootings, pandemics. During times of crisis in a community, it’s students that sit at the epicenter of its impact: health risks, emotional blows, splintered routines. I remember during the COVID-19 pandemic, the accumulating ambiguities and questions … Read more
By Joey Kaji, Youth Advisory Council member. The following reflects Joey’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. If you have been on social media recently, you have seen the rise of wellness videos and influencers. Between all the technical jargon and the vast amount of knowledge needed to understand health, scientifically backed healthiness has been branded … Read more
By Annabel Sparano, Youth Advisory Council member. The following reflects Annabel’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. My interest in medicine first drew me into spaces where healthcare inequity is impossible to ignore. Through volunteer work and involvement in healthcare organizations, I’ve encountered families facing preventable illnesses, food pantries filled with children, and substance-abuse summits where … Read more
By Joey Kaji, SBHA Youth Advisory Council member The following reflects Joey’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. As a senior in high school, I know that right now is a time for big changes. However, one change that is often overlooked is the shift in healthcare management. In school, I’ve heard my friends complain about … Read more
