When you think of the phrase “Social Determinants of Health”, you may not understand what that means. In fact, before the other week, even I did not know what that phrase meant. As I met with Dr. Jeanette Jacobs, a teacher at the CAST Med High School, she explained to me what this phrase meant and how it impacts each and every one of us in different ways. Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age that affect their health outcomes and quality of life. Examples of these can be things like the safety of our neighborhoods, access to greenspaces, access to quality education and health care. Health Literacy is also considered an SDoH.

Because the State of Texas does not require Health Education as a graduation requirement (Each local school board determines whether it should be placed in the high school curriculum as a graduation requirement). students in SAISD do not have the opportunity to achieve any level of health literacy, let alone Critical Health Literacy, which enables students to address SDoH. (Dr. Jacobs’ research and continued research is on Critical Health Literacy and Social Justice Education.) So, Dr. Jacobs is running a Community Health Club collaboratively with UT Health Science San Antonio, to facility Health Literacy.

Well, in addition to the Community Health Club, Dr. Jacobs is addressing SDoH through increasing diversity that feeds into the healthcare workforce pipeline. She is currently partnered with Baptist Hospital Mission Trail, UT Health, SAVE Clinic and TSAOG for health career exploration and experiential learning encounters as her students actively engage in continued exposures to the various health careers that might appeal to them.

The students under Dr. Jacobs also has the ability to graduate with three industry-based certifications: Phlebotomy, Medical Assisting and Medical Interpreter. Her mantra is ” Show me your skills and talents, and I’ll find you a place in the healthcare industry”. Dr. Jacobs states that without these academic partners the program outcomes at CAST Med would not be possible. ” They truly care and embrace our students as their own and earnestly seek to provide robust and relevant experiences that facilitate their career interests and outcomes”.

Other experiential learning opportunities that take place at CAST Med are through outside professionals who come to share their stories and through these opportunities, enrich the lives of the students. One example is when Rachel Benavidez, the Vice President of Communications and Strategy, at VIA, came to speak with the students on public transportation. She spoke to the need for policies aimed at improving public transportation. Public transportation is a SDoH and impacts our community is so many ways. She also discussed the strategies that VIA is working on over the next few years to improve their service and access to all individuals in San Antonio.

World renown Dr. Leo Lopez from UT Health San Antonio also came to CAST Med to speak with the students on SDoH and Health Literacy. As a film director and TEDEx speaker for issues on SDoH and health equity policy, Dr. Lopez shared his life story with the students, leaving them with a direct connection to someone local who has come back to address the health disparities on the Southside. Dr. Lopez appealed to the students to do the same, due to the health disparities on the South side.

The future is bright for the students at CAST Med High School as they lead the change for health equity through SDoH.