Strategic Initiatives

The opening of the Triton Health and Wellness Building on July 14, 2026 was more than the inauguration of a new campus facility. It marked the next chapter of student and community wellness at UC San Diego.  

Located in Triton Center, the new heart of the UC San Diego campus, the building expands and centralizes support for students, providing access to physical health, mental health and well-being resources. Now, services and programs offered by Student Health and Well-Being (SHW), UC San Diego Health and the School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry are united under one roof. This includes Student Health Services (SHS), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Health Promotion Services (HPS), and the College Mental Health Program (CMHP). For the first time, a physical therapy unit is also available to students in the new Rehabilitation Services unit. 

This first-ever Strategic Plan for Student Health and Well-Being will serve as a framework and guide for our Cluster as we meet the current and emerging health and well-being needs of our students. This plan will ensure we remain focused on the health and well-being for the student community we serve, continue delivering equitable high-quality innovative services and inclusive approaches, and celebrate diversity with the goal of adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviors contributing to the academic success and personal development of all students.

In Summer 2024, SHW launched a new initiative to expand access to care for students without UC SHIP and reduce out-of-pocket costs for students and their families. In collaboration with UC San Diego Health’s Revenue Cycle, Credentialing, Contracts, and Information System teams, the initiative focuses on expanding third-party billing capabilities within Epic, our electronic medical record system.

Project Management Team:
Karina Ivanyan 
Dulce Dorado 

Timeline

• July 2026:  SHW launches new Epic Billing Expansion project as part of Access-to-Care initiative 
• February 2026: Pilot phase launches with billing for UnitedHealthcare PPO plan) 
• September 2026: Implementation Phase 2 with billing for most Aetna, Anthem, Blue Shield, Cigna and UC Care PPO plans for eligible services  
• January 2027: Implementation Phase 3  

At SHW, we’re continuing to optimize Epic with a clear goal: make it easier for students to access care and easier for our care teams to deliver it. Our work this year has already expanded digital access through mobile and kiosk check-ins (self-arrival), improved arrival visibility through AV displays, and integrated workflows across the new Triton Health and Wellness Building environment.

We’re also transforming Optometry and Radiology workflows through PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems) integration, streamlining how diagnostic images and results are accessed and shared throughout the care process, helping our teams get the information they need, when they need it.

In partnership with UC San Diego Health’s Epic Clinical Applications team, we’re building a more connected, efficient, and technology-enabled student healthcare experience!

Project Management Team: 
Dulce Dorado 
Kelly Grande 
Pauline Deguzman

Timeline

• July 2026:  SHW launches new Epic Optimization project