At UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, our work extends far beyond the classroom. We are out in our communities – locally and globally – and out in the field working to advance health equity for all through research, education, and public service.
COVID-19 Response & Recovery
Since the start of the pandemic, Wen Public Health has spearheaded several projects to promote community health, address COVID-19 disparities, and reduce the burden of disease.
Antibody screening finds COVID-19 nearly 7 times more prevalent in O.C. than thought
In Summer 2020, Wen Public Health researchers, in partnership with Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), conducted a large-scale, population-based study to better understand the true prevalence of the virus in the county. The study mobilized volunteers of students, staff, and faculty who administered antibody testing in a sample of approximately 3,000 Orange County residents.
New UCI service is staffed by trained undergraduates in public health
The UCI COVID-19 Chatline was created to provide fact-based guidance for individuals with general questions about the virus. Staffed by undergraduate volunteers and supervised by Wen Public Health faculty and doctoral students, the chatline allows individuals to communicate online and in real time with trained public health students and get links to relevant internet sources.
Training will emphasize cultural sensitivity, health equity issues
Wen Public Health partnered with the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) and the Orange County Health Equity COVID-19 Community-Academic Partnership to offer a Health Equity Contact Tracing Workshop. The workshop trained roughly 700 public health practitioners, students, community leaders, and residents to perform COVID-19 contact tracing with a fundamental focus on health equity.
