The Centers for Disease Control state that health equity is achieved when every person has the opportunity to "attain his or her full health potential" and no one is "disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstances." Achieving health equity requires ongoing societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and healthcare disparities. Health equity education involves equipping future health care professionals with knowledge about and skills for intervening at the intersection of medical and social care, whether at the individual, system or population level.

GME learners who rotate at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and are committed to working with underserved populations are eligible to obtain an SFGH Certificate in Health Equity. Completion of the certificate program demonstrates the achievement of educational competencies considered fundamental to future work with vulnerable populations. Participants must meet programmatic competencies and the complete a scholarly project related to practicing skills to meet the needs of underserved populations. The certificate will be available to categorical and special track residents based at UCSF (not only SFGH) if they complete all program requirements.

The educational domains, competencies and milestones that are addressed as a part of the Certificate in Health Equity are outlined in the program's STEP UP Competency Map. This document is updated regularly as new activities for learners are identified. To learn more about or enroll for the Certificate in Health Equity program, please fill out the relevant forms on the Online Enrollment and Tracking System.