The organic formation of a wellness committee: A unique, student-led approach to implementing a wellness program in medical school

Perspect Med Educ. 2020 Aug;9(4):260-263. doi: 10.1007/s40037-020-00574-4.

Abstract

Background: Medical school wellness programs are rapidly becoming a prevalent feature of medical education. The wellness component of medical education is addressed by a multitude of different approaches, but is often led by administrative faculty rather than students.

Approach: The first-year medical student authors collectively established a medical school wellness committee that is entirely student-driven. The goal of the wellness committee was to organize and promote student ideas centered on six aspects of wellness.

Evaluation: The formation, initial successes, and hurdles to the inception and continuation of the committee are described in a repeatable way.

Reflection: This perspective provides insight into a student-led innovation that was formally accepted by faculty and administration to serve as part of the university's overall wellness initiatives.

Keywords: Medical student wellness; Student-led programming; Wellness programs.

MeSH terms

  • Education, Medical, Undergraduate / methods
  • Education, Medical, Undergraduate / trends
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Health Promotion / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Schools, Medical / organization & administration
  • Schools, Medical / trends*
  • Students, Medical / statistics & numerical data*