In this newsletter, I will be communicating with you on a regular basis, responding to student suggestions for how we can build an even more vibrant and enriching learning community for the MD Program at Yale School of Medicine (YSM). I will be referring to ideas from the LCME Independent Student Analysis, as well as from conversations with you at Medical Student Council (MSC) meetings, our lunches, and other venues. I plan to include a handful of topics in each update, so that each update is concise and easy to read.
So that you can easily track improvements, we will post all past You Said, We Did updates on the YSM LCME webpage, organized by topic. If you have questions or feedback about any update item, or the format of this newsletter or the webpage, please share your thoughts with me at jessica.illuzzi@yale.edu. We want to ensure this is a useful resource.
Below is a list of the topics covered in the first newsletter:
You need more timely access to mental health and wellness counseling.
We did...
Based on recommendations by the Student Mental Health and Wellness Committee, a newStudent Mental Health and Wellness Programwas started at YSM in September 2021. The program provides access to one-on-one counseling, group counseling, and numerous activities devoted to student wellness. There currently is a social worker (Director Lisa Ho) and wellness counselor (Sundari Birdsall). A third member, a PhD psychologist, is joining the team soon and will be available to meet students starting in January. We encourage students to use this YSM resource.
The Student Mental Health and Wellness Committee will be sending out a survey to gather student feedback on the new program in order to optimize it even more.
You said you wanted more equitable access to UWorld to study for USMLE.
We did...
Through support from the Yale Alumni Fund, we have enabled all students to receive access to one year of USMLE Step II UWorld Prep without impacting financial aid packages. This includes access to practice shelf exams. We also are providing vouchers for all MS2 pre-clerkship students and students in the ATP to have access to USMLE Step 1 practice exams. This provides an opportunity to consolidate or review material. A recent Curriculum Update provides more details on how to access these resources.
You said...
You need places to store and secure belongings on campus and at YNHH.
We did...
We identified 120 lockers at the Sterling Hall of Medicine for MS1 and MS2 students, located beneath the Rotunda, and created a sign-up system to be assigned to one of these lockers. Everyone who requests a locker will receive a combination lock.
Lockers also are available for students during YNHH Clerkships and the ATP. These lockers are on the third-floor connector between YNHH and the Hunter Building, near surgery, SP3 Bypass Corridor. We currently are working with the other hospitals to identify more places to store belongings at other sites.
Additionally, there are lockers in TAC, outside the second floor labs, which are provided for MS1s to use for labs. A recent Curriculum Update discussed how MS1s get one of these TAC lockers.
You said...
Summer heat made living and sleeping in the Harkness Dormitory very difficult.
We did...
Over the summer, we worked with Yale Housing to install air conditioning units in every room, other than on the 4th floor, which already had air conditioning. A total of 151 units were installed.
You said...
Students were being over-stretched in assisting with outreach and recruiting events.
We did...
We created a paid student ambassador program and currently have two students in this role. We met with admissions staff to discuss the need to reach out to other administrative staff in medical education for help organizing and running events during admissions season.
Again, I look forward to your questions or feedback.
