News Profile

The director of Student Health Services at California State University, Long Beach, Renee A. Twigg, has her work cut out for her. Between assisting and planning events on campus and managing different aspects of the student health center, where does one find time to breathe?

“Without my staff, Student Health Services wouldn’t be what it is today.” Twigg said. “One person certainly cannot do it all.” Twigg gives well-deserved credit to the large staff at the student health center. The phone operators, the pharmacists, the cashier, the doctors, the nurses, the receptionists, the clinicians, the radiologists, down to the people in charge of managing medical records are what pull everything together.

Many costs of the student health center are covered by tuition,” said Twigg. “Prescriptions and appointments are next to nothing compared to a regular medical office, especially for students without health insurance.” Many students in college do not have health insurance, which makes the student health center all the more convenient.

“Students without health insurance is a growing problem on campus and for the entire country” Twigg says that many students will not visit a doctor when they are in need of medical attention simply because they do not have insurance. Student Health Services solves that problem, for the most part.

“Obviously there are numerous problems that the student health center isn’t equipped to solve, but for many of your basic problems, we have answers and solutions.” Twigg said. Problems arise when students ignore their health.

After hesitation, Twigg said that the one message or word of advice she would like to communicate to all the students on campus would be for them to stop by and visit.

“A regular check-up is the best thing you could do for yourself, I think of it as a preventative measure.” It doesn't make a difference if the check-up is an on or off campus medical center.

“I chose to work on a campus because I enjoy working with and helping students. I know what it’s like to be in their shoes, always at school or work, avoiding illness when it comes. I want to help them,” said Twigg. “I enjoy my job, it’s fulfilling.” Despite the fulfillment Twigg gets from her job, every task faces challenge.

“Sometimes my job is very stressful, coordinating events, making sure things run smoothly; it doesn’t always work out the way I plan,” said Twigg. Sometimes planned events end up never happening. “I’m not always in control.”

Behind all of the events, behind all the planning, there you find Renee Twigg.