COM Outlook - Winter 2016

College of Osteopathic Medicine 3 W hen Elaine M. Wallace, D.O., M.S., M.S., M.S., became dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine in February 2015, one of her initial aims was to address a problem that has perpetually plagued medical students—the frequently destructive repercussions that result from dealing with unrelenting stress. During her inaugural meeting with the college’s Administrative Council in February, Wallace shared the results of a survey entitled “Comprehensive Statewide Multidimensional Evaluation of Med- ical Student Wellness in the State of Florida” that included student participation from the nine existing Florida medical schools. Although only 22.1 percent of the medical student population com- pleted all or part of the survey, the results were compelling in that they told a story of substance abuse, marked increases in stress and suicidal ideation, and an overall decline in wellness after matricu- lation. Alarmingly, more than 46 percent of the respondents had recently questioned their decisions to enter the medical profession. Scott Colton, B.A., APR COM/HPD Director of Medical Communications and Public Relations Wellness Initiative Alleviates Anxiety, Maximizes Health for Medical Students (Continued on next page)