By Cynthia Hubert

May 09, 2025

Sacramento State’s Health Hive is on the move, delivering free medical tests, immunizations, fitness screenings and more to people across the region.

Part of the College of Health and Human Services Center for Health Practice, Policy & Research, the Health Hive sends student caregivers and their professors to senior centers, nonprofit groups and special community events.

Trainees from Sac State’s Nursing, Physical Therapy, Audiology and other programs offer tests, therapies and information on issues ranging from avoiding falls to controlling blood pressure.

The program is a winner for Sac State students, faculty and the community at large, said Robert Pieretti, HHS associate dean for Students and Personnel.

“It’s a wonderful service-learning opportunity for our students, but it also benefits individuals in our community who might not be able to easily come visit us at Sac State,” Pieretti said.

HHS Dean Mary Maguire began thinking about a mobile health care project during the COVID-19 pandemic, when patients who typically visited the college’s clinics for evaluations and treatments were unable to come to campus.

“We started to think about how we might get some of these services into the field,” Pieretti said. “We also thought it would be great for our students, giving them a chance to learn about the needs of different communities and the obstacles that people face in accessing care.”

The college began developing the program in 2022, and as the pandemic waned, Health Hive continued to grow. Today, it provides a full range of health and community support services designed to reduce inequities and promote well-being.

Over the past two years, the Hive crew has visited dozens of community sites to deliver services including vaccinations, hearing screenings, childhood literacy programs and mental health resources to thousands of Sacramento-area residents.

“Our students are invigorated about interacting with people and getting a taste of things they will be doing in the future, and the demand from our community partners has been great.” -- Robert Pieretti, College of Health and Human Services associate dean for Students and Personnel

The latest of those visits took place on May 1, when the Hive team rolled up to ACC Senior Services in the Greenhaven area of Sacramento. There, HCC Administrator Jeri Shikuma praised the Sac State students, staff and faculty for their flexibility, professionalism and warm and caring manner.

“They are always so appreciated by our community,” Shikuma said.

“I love seeing the mix of ages and people from different backgrounds coming together and getting so much out of their brief moments of connection,” she said. “This has been such a great partnership for us.”

At an outdoor table in front of the ACC Senior Services building, Sac State students Lexi Malm and Fazila Shirinzada worked with older men and women who were interested in testing their hand and upper body strength using a gripping device.

“I think this is great,” said Shirinzada, a Health Science student, as she recorded test results. “It’s great to see such a diverse group of people. They ask a lot of questions and are excited to get information from us.

“A lot of our classroom work involves reading and memorizing,” she noted. “This is fun because it’s very hands-on.”

Inside the ACC building, Nursing students checked patients’ blood-pressure and made recommendations for controlling hypertension through diet and exercise.

“It feels good to be here. It feels practical,” said Sofiya Lytvynyuk. “We can apply the skills that we’ve learned, which is amazing.”

The future of the Health Hive looks bright, said Pieretti. One goal of the program is to purchase a van that would make it easier to transport both equipment and people.

“We continue to evolve,” Pieretti said.

“Our students are invigorated about interacting with people and getting a taste of things they will be doing in the future, and the demand from our community partners has been great.”

The growing interest in the Health Hive also reflects a serious need in the Sacramento region, he said.

“Ultimately, it’s about filling the gaps that exist in our health care system,” Pieretti said, “We’re helping to do that, and that’s a wonderful thing.”