Wellness

Medical training is a marathon. We all have days when we feel like nothing is going as expected, we’ve let others down, and we question our abilities and decision to go into this profession. Something I’ve found helpful to stay afloat of it all is to dedicate time at the end of every day to acknowledge what I’m grateful for that day — from the quiet serenity of my morning walk to the hospital, to the wonderful people I get to learn from and work with every day, to the fact that I am privileged to share someone’s most vulnerable moments during illness and hold their hand throughout their recovery. Despite how difficult it may feel to stay positive, we are truly so incredibly lucky to be where we are, doing what we do. Being grateful for the big and little things can help us build resilience and continue to take the challenges we face every day in stride.

Starting medical school can be such a mix of emotions. For many of us, it is one of the most significant accomplishments of our lives so far. On the other hand, medical school can be an all-consuming endeavor and represents the pinnacle of academic rigor. As we become immersed in our class and learning community, it’s understandable to lose a little perspective. To me, gratitude is the act of regaining that wider perspective. Yes, medical school is difficult, and at times, we may not enjoy every moment of it. But it is also a dream come true for us all. Gratitude is being able to see this opportunity not as the daily grind but as the dream of yesterday. Stepping back and seeing the bigger picture often puts things in perspective. Gratitude is finding that perspective as often as you can and holding onto it tight. Whatever today may bring, the chance to do it was all of our dreams not long ago.

When I’m overwhelmed, I like to take a moment to picture the day I learned I got into WashU Med, to reread the texts I sent out to my family and friends, to relive the joy of knowing that I finally get to start this journey. I know it sounds corny, but it helps me to recenter, be grateful for the people in my corner, and remember what it’s all about. How privileged are we to be doing what we’ve been dreaming of doing? In our career ahead, we will be with patients on their best days and their worst days, bearing witness to their most intimate moments, listening to their fears, offering them healing and comfort in situations where few others can. It’s an incredibly special thing, so in stressful moments — and trust me, there will be many — I encourage you to reflect on the mountain you climbed to get here and the amazing things you will be a part of in the years to come. You got this.

Each student is assigned to one of three societies when they first arrive: Erlanger-Graham, Cori, or Lowry Moore. Your society comprises students in all four years, in addition to faculty, and is a great way to make friends when you first arrive and connect with professors and faculty. Throughout the year, the societies will hold different events including game nights, dinner with professors, and the esteemed society cup, an annual competition that pits the societies against each other in a friendly, yet spirited, series of events. Societies are a great way to connect with your peers and build lasting relationships within the community.

I love my coaching group (shoutout to The Denn)! Coaching groups at WashU Med are a group of eight to 10 students in your class who are paired with a coach. There are so many benefits of coaching at WashU Med, but I’ll break it down into two categories: social support and academic support.

From the social perspective, you meet with your coaching group (almost) weekly, and it’s essentially a time for you to exchange your thoughts and feelings about medical school, ask for advice, and just have a good time with eight to 10 built-in friends. One of the great things is that your coaching group never changes, and you stick together throughout your four years of medical school, so these people really become some of your closest friends and best support system. In addition, your coach (your group leader) is an entrusted faculty member who you can always contact with questions, comments, or concerns about literally anything. I cannot emphasize enough how having a coach and coaching group has provided me such a supportive and encouraging environment to adjust to medical school and be the best version of myself.

From an academic standpoint, your coach also serves as your academic advisor. What’s really great is that every coach is a physician, so they’ve been through what you are going through before, and they are very familiar with the Gateway curriculum. Consequently, when you have your one-on-one meetings with your coach, they are an excellent resource to support you in your learning at every phase of the curriculum.

If you’re in the position of managing your own finances for the first time while being a medical student, it’s easy for financial wellness to feel stressful or overwhelming. After all, it’s true that medical students largely have no income and can have significant expenses, even in a lower-cost-of-living city such as St. Louis. What’s helped me the most is to create and stick to a budget as much as I can. I budget out everything — besides fixed expenses like rent and utilities, I also have a budget for gas, for coffee, for learning expenses, and for nail appointments! Having a spreadsheet to keep track has helped me make sure that I know how much I’m spending on needs versus wants, but also that I have enough money for little treats and spontaneous nights out with friends throughout the month.

I’ve also found that many of the people I’ve met and friends I’ve made are very open to making or changing plans to account for different levels of financial wellbeing. I’ve had a lot of fun nights with friends cooking together at one of our apartments instead of going out to eat, or attending a free concert in Forest Park instead of one with a pricier ticket. At WashU Med, you’ll find classmates on every side of the financial spectrum, but my advice to you is don’t be afraid to advocate for your financial wellbeing! St. Louis has a plethora of great things to do that are free or low-cost, and I’ve found some of my favorite spots in the city by being open about my budget and asking upperclassmen and St. Louis natives about activities within that range. If you ever feel like you’re struggling, the Office of Student Financial Planning can be another great resource for talking through a budget and a financial wellness plan — including one-on-one appointments with a financial aid advisor.

Physical wellness is a large component of my overall wellness, and I can confidently say that WashU’s multiple recreational facilities have everything I could want and more for my workouts. I mostly frequent Sumers Recreation Center at the Danforth Campus, as it is a much larger facility than 818 Fitness at The Core Apartments and has more equipment (including four Peloton bikes with a subscription), a lap pool, an indoor and outdoor track, and numerous free workout classes each day. As undergraduates also use this facility, it can get a bit busy during peak hours, but I’ve never had a problem with all the machines I’m hoping to use being taken. Sumers Rec is about a 10-minute drive, or three stops on the MetroLink lightrail, from the Medical Campus, so on days when I’m looking for a quick post-class workout, I’ll stop by 818 Fitness as it still has all the cardio machines, free weights, squat racks and a deadlift platform to have a full workout. In addition to these great gym facilities, be on the lookout for emails from society leads or student life coordinators with sign-ups for free pilates, cycling, and barre classes hosted by a local fitness studio, which happen about once a month!

Student Health Services is very quick about responding to your emails and requests. I needed to establish my primary care physician here at WashU Med soon after arriving since I had a prescription need. I went in for an establishment of care appointment that took roughly 10-15 minutes, and I was able to send them a request for my prescription to be filled. They had it filled within a day, and I was able to pick it up right at the Student Health Services office. The office is conveniently located in the East Building right behind our main lecture hall. It was a two-minute walk to grab my prescription and have my appointments. Additionally, we are required to receive a flu shot every year, and the student health services had a walk-in clinic available every day for a month to give us plenty of opportunities. It took just a second, and I did not have to submit any proof of my vaccination because it goes right into the WashU Med system. It is no cost to get a flu shot from Student Health Services which was also very nice. The only downside is that there is no online portal to message your physician or access your data, but they are available over the phone and via email.

To me, wellness is all about finding balance and making time for the things that recharge me even in the midst of the demands of medical school. Whether it is getting lost in a good book, taking a peaceful walk through the park, or laughing with friends, these moments help me stay grounded and energized, but more importantly they give me the space to breathe and help me stay focused on what matters most beyond my studies.

Wellness for me is being able to take care of myself and having time outside of school for my hobbies and to hang out with friends. I was worried that I was going to sacrifice many of the things I enjoy doing once medical school started, but the Gateway Curriculum makes it easy to create your own schedule, which provides a lot of flexibility. I have been able to keep up with my workout routine, hang out with friends, and spend quality time with my partner on a weekly basis. Whatever wellness means to you, I can guarantee you that you won’t have to sacrifice it to be a successful medical student!

To me, wellness is happiness and balance. The students and faculty make it easy to forge supportive relationships, prioritize self-care, and explore events in the community. In my free time, I enjoy going on food crawls with friends, exploring the running trails in Forest Park, and playing pickleball and tennis. Regardless of what your interests and hobbies may be, St. Louis has plenty of accessible opportunities to relax and unwind!