HEC
Healthcare Equity Coalition Brown University
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Student-Led · Founded at Brown University

Closing the gaps in healthcare access, together.

The Healthcare Equity Coalition partners with local health organizations, advocates for meaningful policy change, and co-develops multilingual health education materials — so every community has a path to quality care.

Get Involved Explore Our Pillars
3Core Pillars
10+Partner Orgs & Offices
2×Meetings Monthly

Who We Are

  • A student-led coalition pioneered at Brown University
  • Working directly with RI legislators, state agencies & community clinics
  • Building a cross-campus network across Ivy League & Providence-area schools
Co-Founded By William Wang & Anthony Rodas-Camacho Class of 2030 · Brown University
3Pillars of Impact
10+Partner Orgs & Offices
6Director Seats on Leadership Team
2026Founded at Brown University
Who We Are

What is the Healthcare Equity Coalition?

The Healthcare Equity Coalition (HEC) is a student-led organization pioneered at Brown University that advances healthcare equity in the United States by partnering with local community health organizations, advocating for meaningful health equity policy changes, and co-developing multilingual health education materials to close gaps in access and outcomes.

Mission

To close the gaps in healthcare access facing underrepresented and underserved communities.

Vision

To create a world where every person has equal access to quality healthcare.

Values

Equity in healthcare, solidarity within our community, and empowerment through education.

Meet the Co-Founders

Two students who pioneered HEC at Brown University.

William Wang

William Wang

Co-Founder · Class of 2030
Health and Human Biology
Basketball · Running

Anthony Rodas-Camacho

Anthony Rodas-Camacho

Co-Founder · Class of 2030
Neuroscience & Public Health
Guitar · Reading

Our Approach

Three pillars, one mission

Everything HEC does falls under public education, community support, or political advocacy — working together to close the gap in healthcare access.

Public Education

  • Create accessible content that breaks down complex healthcare policy
  • Host workshops, panels, and speaker events on healthcare access and rights
  • Develop shareable, multilingual resources that partner organizations can use

Community Support

  • Translate partnerships into hands-on service — clinic support & insurance navigation
  • Assist with translation, interpretation & resource coordination for non-English speakers
  • Mobilize the community through campus & cross-campus collaborative events

Political Advocacy

  • Work directly with legislators & state agencies to advance statewide healthcare equity legislation
  • Research policy issues and prepare materials for stakeholder meetings
  • Track legislative sessions to find moments where student voices matter most
2× Monthly

How We Meet

One full-group meeting to align on progress across all three pillars, and one subcommittee meeting to dive deeper within your pillar. Our first in-person meeting will be scheduled in September, based on member availability.

Join a Meeting
Current Partnerships

Who HEC is working with

We're proud to collaborate with government offices, community health organizations, and our home institution to move health equity forward across Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Senate
RS
Rhode Island Senate
RI House of Representatives
RH
RI House of Representatives
Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner
OH
Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner
RI Department of Health
RD
RI Department of Health
City of Providence
CP
City of Providence
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
LG
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Dorcas International
DI
Dorcas International
Childhood Lead Action Project
CL
Childhood Lead Action Project
Clínica Esperanza / Hope Clinic
CE
Clínica Esperanza / Hope Clinic
Brown University School of Public Health
BU
Brown University School of Public Health
University of Pennsylvania
UP
University of Pennsylvania
Rhode Island Senate
RS
Rhode Island Senate
RI House of Representatives
RH
RI House of Representatives
Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner
OH
Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner
RI Department of Health
RD
RI Department of Health
City of Providence
CP
City of Providence
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
LG
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Dorcas International
DI
Dorcas International
Childhood Lead Action Project
CL
Childhood Lead Action Project
Clínica Esperanza / Hope Clinic
CE
Clínica Esperanza / Hope Clinic
Brown University School of Public Health
BU
Brown University School of Public Health
University of Pennsylvania
UP
University of Pennsylvania

Rhode Island State Government

  • RI SenateSenator Melissa Murray · Senator Linda Ujifusa
  • RI House of RepresentativesRep. Enrique Sanchez
  • Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC)Primary care access & policy

State & City Agencies

  • RI Department of Health (RIDOH)Health Equity Institute / Health Equity Zones
  • City of ProvidenceMayor's Office of Policy · Dept. of Housing & Human Services
  • Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Dorcas International

  • Refugee & immigrant services

Childhood Lead Action Project (CLAP)

  • Lead poisoning prevention & advocacy

Clínica Esperanza / Hope Clinic

  • Free clinic for uninsured Providence residents

School of Public Health

  • Community Engagement OfficeDirector Sarah Bouchard · Dr. Larry Warner
HEC Network

Building a cross-campus coalition

We're building an HEC network across Ivy League schools, colleges nationwide, and other Providence-area schools — culminating in a spring Healthcare Equity Summit (likely hosted by Brown) where schools present research, hear from guest speakers, and network with peers working on health equity.

Gregory Lin University of Pennsylvania — Pre-med Student, UPenn Chapter Leader
What's Next

Potential projects & collaborations

Early-stage initiatives we're planning to pursue with our partners, organized by pillar.

Public Education

Reaching communities with clear information

  • Working with RI Dept. of Health to distribute translated health flyers
  • Plain-language explainer on rising insurance costs, ahead of a state hearing
  • On-campus info sessions about local health resources and how to access them
Community Support

Hands-on service with our partners

  • Volunteering with local Health Equity Zones (HEZ) that need extra hands
  • Trained interpreters helping at Clínica Esperanza and health events
  • Youth health workshops at Providence community centers — nutrition, mental health, first aid
Political Advocacy

A student voice in the statehouse

  • Student testimony at hearings for bills limiting corporate control of healthcare (S2459, S2492, S2950)
  • Plain-language bill explainers and op-eds for other students
  • Sign-on letter showing student support, delivered to legislators
Future Leadership

New roles opening this fall

We're growing HEC's leadership body — and building a cross-campus board to bring student leaders together from across Ivy League schools and other colleges to grow HEC's reach.

  • Applications and full role details will be shared in the coming weeks
  • Directors attend additional monthly meetings, all major events, and leadership development
  • Cross-campus board grows HEC's presence beyond Brown
Ask About Leadership Roles
6 Core HEC Director seats leading overall operations
4 New director spots opening this fall

This is a significant leadership commitment — but a rewarding way to help shape HEC's direction from the ground up.

Next Steps

Get involved with HEC

We're just getting started — here's what's launching soon, and how to be part of it.

Launching Late August

Website & Social Media

Our official presence is on its way, with resources for members, partners, and the community.

  • A public bill tracker, showing where key legislation stands and what support is needed
  • Regular social content breaking down bills & health policy news in plain language
  • Translated health resources & flyers, available anytime for partners and community members
  • Volunteer opportunities and events posted as they come up
  • A blog on why we're backing certain bills, member opinions, and reflections from partner work
  • We're also considering a podcast with partners, policymakers, and students
Volunteer Sign-Up Open

Volunteer Logistics

We're building a volunteer roster so our partner organizations can plan their programming around real numbers.

  • Fill out the volunteer form to tell us your commitment level and interest in partner volunteering
  • Clínica Esperanza, for example, asks for a minimum of one 3-hour session per week
  • You'll get at least 2 weeks' notice before any volunteer session — all sessions count as service hours
  • We're recruiting all year, so bring your friends along
Fill Out the Volunteer Form

Volunteering is more fun with people you know — feel free to bring friends along.

Bills we're following

Three 2026 Rhode Island Senate bills aimed at reining in corporate consolidation of healthcare — the focus of our political advocacy pillar this session. Our full interactive tracker launches with the site.

Full Tracker Coming Soon
S2459 Held for Study
RI Ban on the Corporate Practice of Medicine Act
Would prohibit corporations from directly practicing medicine or controlling physicians' clinical decisions in Rhode Island.
Introduced 2/6/26 · Lead sponsor Sen. Linda Ujifusa + 8 co-sponsors · Senate Health & Human Services held for further study 3/3/26
S2492 Held for Study
Healthcare Material Change Notice Act
Requires healthcare entities to give the RI Attorney General & Dept. of Health 180 days' written notice before major transactions like mergers or acquisitions.
Introduced 2/6/26 · Lead sponsor Sen. Linda Ujifusa + 9 co-sponsors · Senate Judiciary held for further study 5/7/26
S2950 Held for Study
Private Equity & REIT Healthcare Investment Oversight
Requires private equity firms & REITs investing in RI healthcare providers to notify the AG of material changes and post a bond with the Dept. of Health.
Introduced 3/4/26 · Lead sponsor Sen. Lori Urso + 7 co-sponsors · Senate Judiciary held for further study 5/7/26

"Held for further study" is the RI Senate's common procedural step for pausing a bill without a formal vote — sponsors can reintroduce it next session. Source: Rhode Island General Assembly bill records.

Want to be part of closing the gap?

Whether it's volunteering, joining a pillar, or just staying in the loop — we'd love to have you.

Email Us See Our Work
Get In Touch

Join the volunteer roster

Fill out the form below to tell us how you'd like to get involved, or reach out to us directly — we'd love to hear from you.

Contact HEC

Have a question before you sign up? Reach out to either co-founder directly.

William Wangwilliam_wang6@brown.edu
Anthony Rodas-Camachoanthony_rodas-camacho@brown.edu
Response timeWe typically reply within a few days
Social mediaLaunching soon

HEC Volunteer Interest Form

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