Nourishing Mind, Body and Soul

USD-Palomar Health Partnership Promotes Health and Wellness

On a stage located immediately in front of the burgeoning construction space that will soon become the epicenter of health and wellness at the University of San Diego, USD President James T. Harris III, DEd, and Palomar Health President and CEO Diane Hansen announced a transformative new partnership that will positively impact the campus community.

“Partnering with Palomar Health will set a new standard of inclusive wellness,” Harris said. “I am also excited about the important and transformative connections this [partnership] will facilitate with the community we serve.”

(USD President James T. Harris III, DEd, addresses the crowd at the USD/Palomar Health partnership event at the University of San Diego. Photo: Alé Delgado)

Chief among the new initiatives between USD and Palomar Health is the naming of the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center at the University of San Diego. The three-story, 80,000 square-foot facility currently under construction will set a new standard for inclusive wellness resources and practice facilities for the university’s student-athletes. 

Scheduled to open in January 2025, the wellness center represents a shared commitment to promoting health education, research and community engagement. This collaboration leverages Palomar Health’s expertise in healthcare services and the University of San Diego’s dedication to academic excellence and student well-being.

Some additional partnership goals and future opportunities include: 

• Palomar Health providing placement opportunities for marriage and family therapy students from USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences, as well as nursing students from USD’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science. 
• Palomar Health and USD collaborating to develop initiatives and services for USD community members, such as music therapy, stress management, biofeedback, pet therapy and behavioral therapy.
• Palomar Health providing telehealth capabilities to the USD community in the future.
• Palomar Health working with USD on additional opportunities for health and wellness programs for USD employees and alumni.

(USD President James T. Harris and Palomar Health President and CEO Diane Hansen pose with Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science students. Photo: Alé Delgado)

The wellness center, the central fixture of the partnership, will provide accessible indoor and outdoor spaces where the entire campus community can find connections between physical activity, diet and nutrition, mental health, inner self, engagement and belonging. 

The facility will also include an innovative teaching kitchen that will meet the needs of the university and its surrounding community for holistic wellness resources. Programs can include nutrition workshops, healthy cooking classes, connections to community/school gardens, farmer’s markets and local restaurants, as well as food and culture programs.

The collaboration between Palomar Health and USD underscores their shared values of innovation, compassion and community service. By combining their strengths, both institutions aim to drive positive health outcomes and create lasting impacts in the region.

“We are excited to join forces with the University of San Diego to create a wellness partnership that provides top-tier health services,” said Hansen. “Our work with USD represents our dedication to reimagining a culture of proactive health, lifelong learning and community empowerment.”

— USD News Center