Wellness Committee

Promoting the Health of the Student Body

The Wellness Committee is committed to comprehensively promoting the health of Larner students and fostering a campus-wide culture that prioritizes medical student wellbeing, vulnerability, and interconnection.

Promoting the Health of the Student Body

The Wellness Committee is committed to comprehensively promoting the health of Larner students and fostering a campus-wide culture that prioritizes medical student wellbeing, vulnerability, and interconnection.

Mission Statement

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The Wellness Committee is committed to comprehensively promoting the health of LCOM students and fostering a campus-wide culture that prioritizes medical student wellbeing, vulnerability, and interconnection. We work toward these goals by facilitating interactive recreational and educational events, developing lasting wellness initiatives, and serving as an empathetic group of medical students and faculty who LCOM students can turn to for guidance and resources in times of need.

The Wellness Committee is comprised of three faculty members and six students from each class (2 CT campus and 4 VT campus). Students are elected to the wellness committee by their peers and meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month.

The Committee serves to promote the health of the student body through educational and recreational events within UVM LCOM. We cultivate wellness through well-being centered events, individual peer support, connection to wellness resources, and discussions with the administration about wellness incorporation or concerns. We also support Student Interest Group and student-led initiatives to increase well-being within our community.

Recurring Events

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Some of our recurring events include:

Monthly Fresh Fridays - where fresh produce is brought into the student lounge as a healthy snack break between classes.

Monthly Peer Support groups - usually held in conjunction with Fresh Friday, this event holds space for students to discuss any wellness-related issues with the Committee members in an accessible environment.

Tea at Twelve - A weekly snack break for second-year students during their Convergence course and while studying for Step 1 in January.

Mindfulness mini-series - A multi-session workshop on incorporating mindfulness into our lives and helping to manage stress.

Exercise classes - We host several group exercise classes, including yoga and spin classes, throughout the year.

End of year BBQ - First year reps host an end of year celebration for their class at one of the local parks, after their final exam of the year.

Recent Wellness Highlights

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Mental Health Panel: M1s were able to hear from various upperclassmen telling their stories about what resources and techniques they have used to navigate medical school.

Ski and Ride Night: Students went to Bolton for a night of skiing and snowboarding. Wellness subsidized night lift tickets and provided free rentals to those who did not have their own.

Monthly Wellness Hour/Peer Support: Wellness Committee leaders facilitated conversation with fellow students around the stresses of medical school, life outside of school, social unrest, and more, opening up a space for meaningful dialogue, vulnerability, and connection.

Orientation Wellness Events: Medical students lead a variety of wellness events for incoming first years during their orientation week, including rock climbing, yoga, a coffee walk, soccer etc.

Wellness Walks: Wellness Committee members organized a walk to help students experience the New England foliage with their classmates and learn about some nearby nature paths.

Wellness Initiative for Food Insecurity

Message from Wellness Committee:

To anyone facing food insecurity this Winter, the Wellness Committee would like to provide guidance on where to find free food items, household goods, and meals. We know money can be tight this time of year, and we want to make sure that basic necessities are covered. Please see the following list for resources that may be helpful with obtaining basic food supplies. The “Swipe Out Hunger” program through UVM Dining is unfortunately no longer accepting applicants, but stay tuned for future changes. If these resources do not suffice, please do not hesitate to reach out to OIE (inclusive.excellence@med.uvm.edu).LCOM Graduate Student Food Shelf: Located in the graduate student lounge in the Given Courtyard, 3rd floor, S356. Offers pasta, rice, canned goods, frozen veggies, and fresh fruit. UVM Rally Cats Cupboard: A food pantry open to all students and members of the Greater Burlington community. Located on the first floor of the Davis center. Offers shelf-stable foods as well as self-care supplies, baby items, and cleaning supplies. Intervale Farm Share: The Intervale offers free food pop-ups throughout the winter and has a weekly fresh fruit and vegetable share that you can sign up for in April. Click the link to join their mailing list. There is also a free winter vegetable pick-up on January 19th. Free Food and Hot Meals across Burlington: View this map to see where in Burlington you can take advantage of free food pantries and go for free hot meals. Or use this resource to find a food shelf near you.

The Wellness Committee is comprised of three faculty members and six students from each class (2 CT campus and 4 VT campus). Students are elected to the wellness committee by their peers and meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month. Come join us!

Meet CT M3 co2027 Wellness!

“As M3 Wellness Reps for the Connecticut campus, we’re here to support our classmates’ well-being through peer connection, resource sharing, and promoting a culture of balance and resilience throughout the clinical year.”