Health Coaches Program

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Get practical experience helping chronically ill patients set and achieve their health goals!

Specifics about the Health Coaches Program:

  • Course series includes Health & Wellness Coaching (BIOL 306CBL) and Health Coaches Internship (BIOL 307CBL).  Health & Wellness Coaching is a one semester, one unit course offered each spring; it must be completed prior to the Health Coaches Internship.
  • Completing the Health & Wellness Coaching course guarantees students a 0.25 unit Health Coaches Internship (if they choose) as well as an advantage when applying to become a Peer Wellness Tutor or Wellness Intern on campus.
  • Work one-on-one with your own patient to address their unique health challenges during the Health Coaches Internship.
  • Course is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors (Seniors will not have an opportunity to complete a subsequent internship or Wellness Tutor role on campus.)

Requirements:

  • Grade of 3.0 or better in both BIOL 101 and BIOL 102

Important notes:

  • These courses DO NOT count towards Biology or Biomedical Sciences major requirements for upper level Biology courses.  
  • To participate in the Health Coaching Internship and interact with patients, students are required to submit proof of current vaccinations and pass an illegal drug screen and background check.
  • Completing both BIOL 306CBL Health & Wellness Coaching and BIOL 307CBL Health Coaches Internship meets the Experiential Learning Component for either the Biomedical Sciences major or the Public Health minor/major.
  • The Health & Wellness Coaching course meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings 9:40-11:10AM.

Course descriptions:

BIO 306 Health & Wellness Coaching with CBL

Health & Wellness Coaching students will increase their understanding of the role of different members of the health care team, gain perspective on the nature of chronic disease, and learn skills including motivational interviewing. Multiple physicians and health care administrators will speak to students about a variety of topics including the role of the health coach, population health, empathy, end of life care, cardiovascular screening, diabetes mellitus, motivating patients, and the changing face of medicine.  This will prepare students to be Health Coaches Interns for Canton Potsdam Hospital and work with a chronically ill community member. Students will also learn more about topics that affect their own wellness and that of their peers including sleep, nutrition, building positive relationships, making health decisions, managing homesickness, setting health goals, physical activity, caffeine, and stress management.  Students will also learn about academic support, career exploration, and wellness resources on campus, which prepares students to serve as Wellness Interns or Peer Wellness tutors on campus. This course includes an experiential learning component known as Community Based Learning (CBL). The CBL component will require students to participate in a community placement outside of class time on a weekly basis throughout the semester.  On average students can expect to spend up to/at least two hours per week in the community in order to practice the communication skills being discussed in class. This course does not count towards Biology major credit.  This course cannot be taken pass/fail.

BIO 307CBL Health Coaches Internship:

During this internship, students work with a chronically ill individual.  After the initial patient visit and introduction, students spend 1-2 hours a week with their client, establishing rapport and setting and achieving health goals.  Students will meet regularly with their internship supervisor, Dr. Carolyn Zanta.  The majority of these meetings will be clinical conferences, where students present their clients’ health challenges, unique circumstances, and current goals. Students will reflect on and document their internship experience for pass/fail course credit.  Successful completion fulfills the Experiential Learning Component requirement for the Public Health major/minor and the Biomedical Sciences major. This course does not count towards Biology Major credit.  This course must be taken pass/fail.