Cha headshot

Emerson Fellow

PaHua Cha

17th Class, 2010-2011

Originally from Portland, Oregon, PaHua is a 2010 graduate of Stanford University, where she earned a degree in human biology. PaHua co-led the Stanford Sweat-Free Campaign and worked on the Living Wage Campaign for Stanford workers. PaHua was also the co-founder and president of the Stanford Hmong Union and a resident staff member in the Asian American themed dorm on campus.

Field placement: Baltimore City Health Department

Baltimore, Maryland

PaHua helped initiate the first comprehensive, city-wide food security assessment for the Baltimore City Health Department. She conducted interviews with community stake-holders and researched resources and data gaps on food insecurity in the city. She crafted a city-wide assessment with recommendations on eliminating food insecurity among school-age youth in Baltimore. Her work contributed to the creation of a comprehensive framework for tackling food insecurity and hunger throughout the City.

Policy placement: Families USA

Washington, D.C.

PaHua worked with the health policy team to develop policy briefs, papers, and fact sheets for state and local advocates on how the new health care legislation affects low-income consumers. She also researched and wrote about how income volatility among households impacts insurance exchanges and the use of comparative effectiveness, as well as Medicaid and CHIP.

Publications