Frequently Asked Questions about Peer Health Educators (PHES)
If your questions are not answered on this page, please contact Jarreau Bowen at health@stanford.edu.
Login to the Current PHE Infectious Disease Report
- On this page:
- What is a PHE?
- What is great about being a PHE?
- What education and training are mandatory parts of the PHE program?
- Who is eligible to apply to be a PHE for 2010-2011?
- Do I have to be a particular major to apply?
- I’m overseas during Winter Quarter 2010. Can I still apply for 2010-2011?
- I’m a freshman right now and I really want to be a PHE one day. How can I be a successful applicant?
- How do I become a PHE?
What is a PHE?
A PHE is a residential staff specialist who actively promotes and supports student health, wellness and safety.
PHEs are affiliates of Wellness and Health Promotion Services (HPS)
at Vaden Health Center. They are supervised by HPS and their Resident
Fellows.
A PHE
- is a role model for healthy living
- provides culturally inclusive health education programs, support and information regarding campus health and safety issues, “hot” topics and policies
- provides health coaching, peer counseling and resource referral
- tends to minor colds and ailments; provides referral for other health issues
- assists with campus infection control and helps promote safety measures by working closely with Vaden staff
- advises residential staff members on health issues and is an integral part of the staff team
What is great about being a PHE?
- Learn about a wide range of health topics
- Connect with residents
- Be a vital part of a residential staff team
- Be the “go to” person for health issues
- Develop your leadership and presentation skills
- Develop your counseling and coaching skills
- Be part of the close-knit PHE community
- Make funny, fabulous health education materials
- Contribute to the health and well-being of the Stanford Community
What education and training are mandatory parts of the PHE program?
- PHEs must successfully complete “Health Promotion on the College Campus” (PED215, 4 units) Spring Quarter 2010, Tuesday and Thursday, from 3:15 to 5:05 p.m.
- PHEs are CPR/First Aid certified.
- PHEs return to campus one week before New Student Orientation for PHE early arrival training.
- PHEs participate in mandatory weekly meetings throughout the academic year.
Who is eligible to apply to be a PHE for 2010-2011?
PHEs applicants are current sophomores or juniors who have had previous experience and leadership in student service and/or health-related programs. They are enthusiastic and committed to promoting wellness and safety in the Stanford community. Freshmen are not eligible to apply.
You must:
- Be a current sophomore or junior
- Be on campus all three quarters of the academic year
- Successfully complete Pediatrics 215, the four-unit PHE Training Course in Spring 2010 titled “Health Promotion and the Campus Culture” (on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:15 to 5:05 p.m.). NO EXCEPTIONS!
- Have one year of guaranteed housing left
- Accept your PHE placement
- Be CPR/First Aid certified by September 2010 (we will help with this)
- Return to campus for training in mid-September 2010 (PHE training conflicts with Sophomore College and Honors College. Therefore, you may not participate in Sophomore or Honors College when serving as a PHE.)
- Attend mandatory weekly PHE meetings during the 2010-2011 academic year.
Do I have to be a particular major to apply?
NO. PHEs have a broad diversity of majors and interests!
We have classics majors, feminist studies majors, symbolic systems
majors and electric engineering majors, just to name a few. Pre-meds have
a lot of fun as PHEs as well.
I’m overseas during Winter Quarter 2010. Can I still apply for 2010-2011?
Yes. Please send an email message to health@stanford.edu as soon as possible.
I’m a freshman right now and I really want to be a PHE one day. How can I be a successful applicant?
Get involved with some of the many health groups at Stanford.
Great places to start:
- SHPRC (Sexual Health Peer Resource Center)
- HIV*PACT (HIV Peer Anonymous Counseling and Testing)
- HELP for Kids (Health Education for Life Partnership)
- USVH (United Students for Veterans' Health)
- The Bridge Peer Counseling Center
- MIRROR
- Vaden CPR/First Aid
- The Real World: Stanford
- Wellness and Health Promotion Services internships
See Get Involved: Volunteer Opportunities for more information.
All student leadership experience is also beneficial.
How do I become a PHE?
The selection process involves a written application and a first and second round of interviews. Because PHEs work closely with HPS and House staff, both HPS and Resident Fellows interview applicants in the Winter Quarter. Placements are announced by the Friday of dead week in Winter Quarter.
Applicants must attend one of the two mandatory information sessions in which you'll learn the "ins and outs" of the application process and hear firsthand about the PHE experience from current PHEs.
Peer Health Educator Information Sessions at Vaden Health Center, Education Center North (Second Floor):
- Dates to be determined
Application Due: Dates to be determined
Questions? Contact health@stanford.edu
Go to http://resjobs.stanford.edu/ to submit your application to be a PHE for 2010-2011.