Explore the Spring 2025 IssueUC San Diego Magazine
Published Date
Story by:
- Veronika Clough
Article Content
This story appears in the spring 2025 issue of UC San Diego Magazine as “Transforming Health Care.”
As UC San Diego has grown and evolved over time, so have the health and well-being needs of its diverse student population, now more than 45,000 strong.
“People achieve well-being in a variety of ways,” says Dr. Edward Junkins, executive director, Student Health and Well-Being. “We try to meet our students where they are, acknowledge and celebrate their intersectional identities, and ensure that they not only have access to these re
Slated to open in 2026, the new four-story Triton Health and Mental Health Program. In addition, UC San Diego Health will offer Rehabilitation Services, Occupational Medicine and Express Care, making them more broadly accessible to students, faculty, staff, alumni and non-affiliates.
UC San Diego and UC San Diego Health share a common vision: a thriving campus community with access to fully integrated, collaborative health and well-being reant step forward in bringing that vision to life
Transforming Student Health
The goal of Student Health and Well-Being is to foster a healthier, more compassionate campus environment that supports students throughout their UC San Diego journey.
“We strive to deliver care and education that’s innovative, compassionate and accessible at a world-class health care institution, empowering every individual to prioritize their health and well-being in a stigma-free environment.”
“We can’t expect students to thrive and succeed academically unless they feel connected, resilient and healthy in both mind and body,” says Junkins. “We strive to deliver care and education that’s innovative, compassionate and accessible at a world-class health care institution, empowering every individual to prioritize their health and well-being in a stigma-free environment.”
The new building will include services that emphasize proactive, preventative care, offering a full continuum of care on campus. “Members of our Triton community — including UC San Diego faculty, staff and researchers, in addition to students — will be able to make appointments and be seen by UC San Diego Health providers,” says Junkins. “These providers work closely with researchers to deliver leading-edge care that improves outcomes and experiences.”
In the new building, registered students will continue to have access to state-of-the-art and on-site primary care, urgent care, optometry services and a pharmacy. A new, dedicated wellness lounge will offer health-based programs addressing the multiple dimensions of well-being, encouraging students to develop behaviors that promote lifelong health.
For the first time, UC San Diego Health Express Care will offer after-hours services for students, faculty, staff and the general public. In addition, rehabilitation services, including sports medicine for scholar-athletes and occupational medicine for campus employees, will also be available.
A Commitment to Well-Being
The top floor of the Triton Health and Wellness Building will be dedicated to mental health services, housing CAPS alongside the Department of Psychiatry’s College Mental Health Program. This joint location will enable for culturally sensitive, evidence-based treatments for general and complex mental health issues. Psychiatrists, psychologists and other licensed mental health providers will promote healthy choices and education, allowing for early intervention and assessment, streamlining the continuum of care and improving treatment for students.
In addition, a planned expansion of Health Promotion Services will further provide education and well-being programs to help students navigate the transition from adolescence to adulthood by offering educational and preventative restudents will learn how their sexual health, alcohol and other substance use, and mental and physical well-being intersect with their academic and personal goals
UC San Diego is reaffirming its commitment to holistic, integrated care for the campus community, ensuring every Triton has the renter at
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