Current Students
Advisors / Guidance Committee
Entering students are assigned a faculty advisor from the core members of the Health Services and Policy Analysis Faculty group in the School of Public Health. Students can opt to change advisors after the first semester, or may add another faculty advisor to form a guidance committee. It is recommended that students meet with their advisor(s) at least twice a semester, if not more. Students should take responsibility for initiating and scheduling meetings with their advisors and, in the event of special issues or concerns, can also meet with the Program Director, Will Dow.
Student Buddies / HSPA Student Group
New students are also assigned a “buddy” from among current students to assist with the transition to graduate life at Berkeley and to provide the benefit of their experience in the HSPA program. The HSPA students are active in their own right as a recognized student group on campus; as such, they receive funding from both the Graduate Assembly and the HSPA Program for their own social activities, such as a welcome BBQ for new students and their families.
Student Offices
There is a PhD student office for use by School of Public Health doctoral students located on the 5th floor of University Hall. Current students can assist the new students with entering and use of the facilities, which include workstations and some lockers. Students who have a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) appointment are generally able to use those research offices as their workstations when they are not in class. Graduate Student Instructors (GSI) have access to a shared office to hold office hours in; they sign up for use of the office with Greta Gebhardt in the HPM Division (hpm_mph@berkeley.edu).
HSPA Program Office
The Graduate Academic Advisor and Program Manager for the HSPA PhD program is located in 247C University Hall. Dion Shimatsu-Ong, is available to assist students with any program-related issues.
The Faculty Director of the Program and Head Graduate Advisor is William Dow.