H-STAT is an interprofessional student-led organization dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of all people in Georgia through education, advocacy, and service. We believe that emerging health professionals carry both the privilege and responsibility of shaping a more just, equitable, and compassionate healthcare system. Our work centers on empowering students to advocate for evidence-based policy, social justice, and community wellness while engaging directly with the communities we serve. Our student and trainee members are encouraged and mentored to be leaders in their respective fields and communities to advance health equity in Georgia.

We support policies that expand access to comprehensive, affordable healthcare for every person in Georgia. This includes strong support for Medicaid expansion, universal healthcare models, affordable prescription drugs, telehealth expansion, mental health access, substance use treatment, and disability-inclusive care. We affirm the importance of evidence-based medicine and reject any political or ideological interference with patient care. We also support full access to reproductive and abortion care, maternal and perinatal health improvements, contraception access, gender-affirming care, and all forms of care that safeguard bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom.

H-STAT recognizes climate change as a public health emergency and supports bold environmental health action. Climate change through extreme heat, air pollution, severe weather, vector-borne disease, food and water insecurity, and community displacement poses increasing threats to Georgia’s health. We advocate for policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand clean energy, strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable communities, protect outdoor workers, and ensure that healthcare systems are prepared for climate-driven challenges. We support clean air and water protections, reduction of industrial pollution, remediation of toxic exposures, and environmental justice policies that address the disproportionate harm borne by low-income, rural, and marginalized communities. A stable climate and healthy environment are essential foundations for population health.

H-STAT is committed to addressing the full spectrum of the social drivers of health, recognizing that health does not exist in isolation from social and economic systems. We support efforts to ensure affordable housing, end homelessness, strengthen food security, expand transportation options, and promote economic stability through fair wages and worker protections. We advocate for equitable school funding, trauma-informed educational environments, school-based health centers, access to nutritious food, and community wellness initiatives. We also support building walkable communities, improving green spaces, and ensuring access to healthy natural environments.

We believe in a community-centered approach to safety and well-being. H-STAT supports gun safety measures, community-based violence prevention, expanded crisis response teams, and public health–oriented alternatives in emergencies. We advocate for a rehabilitative, not punitive, justice system that prioritizes social support, mental health care, harm reduction, and pathways to reintegration rather than incarceration. We support ending cash bail, reducing police violence, and strengthening civil and human rights protections for marginalized communities. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare and beyond. H-STAT supports immigrant rights and pathways to citizenship, protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, disability rights, anti-discrimination laws, and the dismantling of structural racism in health systems. We believe that every person regardless of immigration status, race, income, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ability deserves dignified, accessible, high-quality care.

H-STAT is dedicated to the well-being of health trainees and healthcare professionals. We advocate for mental health support, safe working conditions, protection from harassment and workplace violence, fair compensation, manageable workloads, and institutional cultures that promote respect and interprofessional collaboration. We do not engage in “scope creep” debates; rather, we affirm that all qualified healthcare professionals should be allowed to practice to the full extent of their training in service of patient well-being. We believe that civic participation is essential to a healthy society. H-STAT will engage in nonpartisan advocacy efforts to advance health priorities aligned with our guiding principles and will collaborate with local, state, and federal governments, agencies, or community organizations to enact legislation and advance efforts that positively contribute to the health of people in Georgia. H-STAT supports expanding voter registration, improving access to the ballot, and fostering civic engagement across the state. Because many of the most important determinants of health are shaped by policy, we work to ensure that every person can participate fully in the democratic process that influences community health.

Finally, we support ethical innovation and global health responsibility. This includes advocating for responsible use of health technologies, protection of patient privacy, digital equity, pandemic preparedness, vaccine access, and global health partnerships that promote dignity and sustainability.

In promoting these principles, H-STAT will financially invest and support community organizations, initiatives, and investment opportunities that are aligned with our mission and aforementioned principles. All decisions that require significant financial investment or material resources from H-STAT will be voted on by its Board of Directors and must be aligned with the aforementioned Guiding Principles. Together, these principles guide H-STAT’s commitment to building a healthier, more equitable Georgia. A Georgia where every person has the opportunity to thrive, and where future health professionals champion justice, compassion, environmental stewardship, and community-driven change.