Get Involved with the Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC)!

If you’re looking for a way to get involved during your time at UNC, as well as gain incredible experience caring for uninsured/underinsured patients within our very own community, join SHAC! The Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) provides free health care and services to underserved populations while engaging UNC Health Science students in interdisciplinary service-learning activities.

SHAC’s Mission:

1. Provide free health services to our uninsured and underinsured neighbors in Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Durham.
2. Partner with communities to develop and implement sustainable programs.
3. Create an interdisciplinary service learning environment for students in the Health Science programs at UNC.

SHAC’s Participation: SHAC is run entirely by student volunteers from many schools within UNC-CH including:

• School of Medicine
• School of Nursing
• School of Pharmacy
• School of Dentistry
• School of Public Health
• School of Social Work
• School of Business
• Division of Physical Therapy (Department of Allied Health Sciences)
• Division of Occupational Therapy (Department of Allied Health Sciences)
• Division of Speech and Language Pathology (Department of Allied Health Sciences)

SHAC meets every Wednesday night and if you’re looking for a chance to practice the skills you’re learning in the classroom and practicum I highly recommend joining SHAC! I am a Social Needs Navigator (SSN) and we enter the patient’s room after they have been seen by the medical team. We assess the need for assistance with housing, food, rent, utilities, transportation, while ensuring the patients feel safe where they live. We provide referrals to dental care and mental health counseling and create follow-up plans for each patient, ensuring they feel supported every step of the way! I have grown immensely since joining SHAC and am so thankful to pour into the community alongside other students!