COM Outlook - Winter 2016

College of Osteopathic Medicine 5 Based on the exceedingly positive feedback Arcos and other faculty members received following the inaugural wellness activities, the foreseeable goal is to incorporate wellness activities into periodic Academical Society meetings, which will allow students and faculty members to engage in detailed discussions. “We will begin meeting more regularly with the students in 2016 within their societies to discuss wellness,” Arcos said. “Our hope is to provide additional opportunities to maintain student wellness outside of the society meetings as well.” The establishment of a targeted student wellness program is simply a continuation of the college’s overarching goal to pro- mote and provide a holistic approach to health and wellness for all who work and study at the College of Osteopathic Medicine. “The osteopathic profession is based on the paradigm of mind, body, and spirit in an atmosphere of wellness. Despite this, our medical school education spends years of time teaching us to take care of others, but little time teaching us ways to take care of ourselves,” said Wallace. “The Student Wellness Committee was designed to assist student doctors in making healthy personal choices through- out their medical careers in order to decrease their likelihood of conditions such as isolation, anxiety, substance usage, obesity, and depression. “The college’s faculty and staff wellness committees are com- mitted to doing the same,” she added. “As a result, educational and interactive programs are presented throughout the year to engage anyone associated with the COM in wellness. Our goal is clear—to make the COM, and all associated with it, the healthiest place on campus.” Barbara Arcos discusses a wellness topic with an interested student. Janet Hamstra, Ed.D., M.S., director of preclinical education (right), enjoys a moment of levity with several first-year students. Inaugural Event Student Wellness Orientation Cruise Elaine Wallace (right) greets the students as they board the Student Wellness Cruise. August 5, 2015