Anchor universities as leaders in the well-being movement: lessons learned from the University of California Healthy Campus Network & pandemic.

The University of California (UC) Healthy Campus Network (HCN) is a robust network of diverse coalitions across 10 UC campuses, 5 UC teaching hospitals, and UC Agriculture & Natural Resources working to promote individual campus and systemwide changes toward a culture of health and equity. The success of this work has been evident in the HCN's ability to quickly pivot to meet emergent needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, including social support through the UC Diabetes Prevention Program, tap water access for essential workers through the UC Healthy Beverage Initiative, and food security efforts through the UC Global Food Initiative. Building a culture of health and equity across a large public university system generated valuable lessons learned which enhanced the UC's preparedness and resilience in the face of the pandemic, and other institutions may benefit from these best practices to respond effectively to emergencies and thrive in states of relative normalcy.