Rachel Poulain, MPH

Biography

Rachel Poulain, MPH is Documentary Film Producer at the Health Equity Institute and Lecturer in the Cinema Department at SF State University. She teaches Documentary for Health and Social Justice, an innovative transdisciplinary course where students partner with community organizations to create films for social change. 

Rachel is also Associate Producer and Public Engagement Director for AMERICAN BIRTHRIGHT, a forthcoming documentary and public engagement campaign, produced by California Newsreel, that links early childhood development to a more prosperous and equitable society. Rachel was Associate Produce and Director of Outreach for the award-winning documentary series UNNATURAL CAUSES: IS INEQUALITY MAKING US SICK? 

Prior, Rachel was Communications Associate at the California School Health Centers Association working to engage and foster advocates for school-based health centers. She began her career in the health communications field as a Research Associate and Communications Production Manager at PolicyLink, a national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity.

Rachel holds a BA in Communications and a Master of Public Health from San Francisco State University.

Current Projects

Documentary for Health & Social Justice

• HEI fosters partnerships between students and community-based organizations to create documentary films for health and social justice. These are not promotional films, rather they seek to explore an issue, raise solutions and best practices, and above all invite action for health and social justice. Ultimately, success is measured by the extent to which residents, practitioners, advocates and other stakeholders can use these films as tools to educate, organize and advocate for change. 
• Watch the Highlights