COM Student Wellness Program

The Student Wellness Program for the MUSC College of Medicine exists to cultivate a culture of wellness and increase student’s productivity by empowering individuals to be self-managers of their health. Our program is designed to promote the well-being and resiliency of our medical students.

The College of Medicine takes pride in its identity as a school focused on the individual learning experience and the well-being of its students. The curriculum is rigorous and demanding, and students must work very hard to meet all standards. Providing excellent student support is imperative and is realized through the work of many College of Medicine administrators, faculty, and deeply committed student wellness leaders who strive to prioritize meeting the needs of students.

Academic Coaching Program

Academic Coaches are preclerkship faculty identified based on their understanding of the FLEX curriculum and proven experience and success in guiding students through the rigors of medical school. The assignment of an academic coach to each student is intended to provide an immediate point-of-contact for the student and to ensure that each student is connected to all of the available resources. Our goal is to assist you in reaching your personal goal.

Monitoring Progress—Your academic coach will receive updates on Block Exams and other graded activities.

Availability—Following your initial meeting, subsequent meetings are determined by academic need and/or requests by students.

Requirements and Expectations

• Initial group meeting with your academic coach
  • Introductions.
  • Establish contact information (MUSC email).
• Individual meeting following Block 1 Practice Exam
  • Your coach will review your practice exam and provide feedback via email.
  • Your coach may request a meeting to provide specific guidance/resources.
• Individual meeting following Block 1 Exam
  • All students will meet with their academic coach to review the Block 1 Mastery Sheet.
• Subsequent individual meetings
  • Regular meetings are scheduled for students depending on specific academic needs.
  • Your coach is available to you.

COM Team Peer Mentoring Program

The purpose of the COM TEAM Program is to prepare medical students for academic success by integrating peer mentoring for support and guidance.  All first year College of Medicine students are assigned to a COM TEAM group consisting of nine students. Ninety second year students are selected annually as COM TEAM Leaders, and are assigned to each group to serve as mentors. 

COM TEAM Leaders serve as a positive role model by sharing their educational/professional experiences and offer advice, insight and overall support to students as they get acclimated to a new academic environment. Throughout orientation and the first semester of medical school, COM TEAM Leaders facilitate lunch meetings to discuss pertinent topics depending on where in the semester you are.

COM TEAM Leaders are also expected to maintain contact with their peers to check in and answer questions you may have. In addition to four COM TEAM leaders, two faculty preceptors participate in the program as faculty mentors and also serve as facilitators for the Foundations of Patient Care (FPC) Theme.

Current Wellness Programs/Initiatives

• Mental Wellbeing Discussion Series – monthly discussions revolving around topics such as work/life balance, stress management, preventing burnout, and more.
• COM Cup – The College of Medicine’s annual health and wellness day held each spring. This is a day of friendly competition amongst treehouses and to spend time with students and faculty.
• Personal Wellness Plans (PWPs) – Each medical student is encouraged to fill out a personal wellness plan at the beginning of their first year. These are templates designed to outline your wellness goals and asks you how you will manage stress. It is encouraged that students revisit these plans periodically as they go through medical school into residency and beyond.
• Financial Literacy workshops – Held annually for each class of medical students. These workshops include topics such as finding a financial advisor, student debt repayment, insurance and more.
• Wellness Challenges – Held periodically to challenge students to get active.

Assistance for Resilience and Confidence (ARC) Peer Mentor Program

The ARC program is a network of peer mentors that are available to provide support to students facing academic and/or personal challenges. ARC peer mentors are trained by the Office of Student Affairs and are available to meet with students based on the challenges they may be facing. All ARC peer mentors have faced adversity and have expressed interest in helping students in similar situations. Mentors provide one-on-one support, success strategies, and guidance to students facing adversities and to returning students. ARC Mentors are also available to speak in group settings as needed.

What challenges can ARC mentors help with?

Mentors can assist with a variety of challenges such as remediation exams, Step 1 preparation, returning to school after an academic or personal leave, and personal health issues.

Request a Meeting With a Mentor

To request a one-on-one or group meeting with any of our peer mentors, please reach out.

Contact Us

Email
843-792-6645
Follow us on Instagram @musc_com_wellness