University of the Pacific's School of Health Sciences’ (SHS) three-campus footprint enables students to deliver free health services directly to communities that need it the most, helping bridge the healthcare gaps in Northern California and the Central Valley. 

Of the nine schools and colleges at Pacific, SHS is the only one that offers programs across all three campuses: Sacramento, Stockton, and San Francisco. The Sacramento Campus is home to Nursing, Nutrition, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Social Work. The Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology Departments are located on the Stockton Campus. Audiology is based on the newly renovated 6th floor of the San Francisco Campus. Additionally, the Health Sciences Department offers its programs entirely online.

Community engagement is a key strategic priority for SHS, as it strengthens the school's partnership with the community and helps improve health and wellness. By hosting and participating in community health fairs, students gain practical experience while supporting communities that may lack access to affordable health services and education. Having a presence in three major cities broadens the reach of SHS, enabling students to contribute more significantly to these communities.  

This winter, Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students opened the doors to the Memory Cup Collective Café on the Sacramento Campus. The seasonal café created a welcoming space dedicated to supporting community members experiencing movement and memory changes while providing valuable hands-on learning experiences for students. Inspired by OrangeDay Sengawa in Japan, also known as the Café of Mistaken Orders, the café supported participating community members with patience and flexibility, fostering experiences in which mistakes were welcomed. This experience helped participants build authentic connections through meaningful occupations while engaging with the campus community. 

When interviewed by OTD student Gisselle Marquez, participating community member Jim cheerfully reflected on the social aspect of this experience. “When you work 50 years and suddenly, you’re not in that social space anymore, you want to talk to different people. So, when I see people come in, I say, ‘Oh, I want to talk to them!’” 

Memory Cup Collective Café was awarded a California Foundation for Occupational Therapy Seed Money Grant, in recognition of the creativity, collaboration, and commitment that drove the inaugural team's efforts to address real-world needs and improve lives.  

On the Stockton Campus, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students provide balance assessments to senior community members. Since 2013, the DPT department has hosted the Annual Balance Clinic in collaboration with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and Stockton Institute for Continued Learning. During these clinics, students conduct fall risk assessments and provide education, resources, and recommendations to improve balance and help seniors stay safe in the community and at home. Serving the community with mobility and balance concerns strengthens students' clinical reasoning and communication skills, helping them become compassionate, patient-centered providers. 

“These events help students see the real difference they can make in someone’s life,” says Physical Therapy Professor Dr. Preeti Oza. “These transformative experiences shape students into physical therapists who value not only clinical excellence, but also meaningful human connection and community service.” 

In collaboration with the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry on the San Francisco Campus, Doctor of Audiology students participate in the Annual Senior Smiles & Wellness Health Fair. This year, students provided hearing screenings to approximately 50 community members; they evaluated for signs of hearing loss and, if needed, offered recommendations for follow-ups at the Hearing and Balance Center. The experience provides students with a unique opportunity to serve individuals for whom they have no medical charts to review. This allows students to quickly assess each person’s hearing needs and provide individualized care. 

“Participating in this community service event was an opportunity to work with a broader segment of the community than we would normally see in a day-to-day clinic,” says Audiology student Sophia He. “It provides the underserved geriatric population with a chance for specialized hearing and health care.” 

2026 was the first year the Senior Smiles event was also offered on the Sacramento Campus. While Audiology and Physical Therapy students volunteered on the San Francisco Campus, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Social Work students participated at the Senior Smiles event at Dugoni’s Pacific Health Care Collaborative clinic. 

These recent community engagement activities only scratch the surface of the impact SHS students are making. Community service events provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and become compassionate health care professionals while improving the health and wellness of the community they will serve after graduating. 

Every day, SHS students are doing impactful work that makes a difference. See more stories on the SHS social media channels.