Medical Student Well-Being Programming Ideas

Try these out at your local chapter. But first...

Tips to maximize the attendance and benefits of the Well-Being program (or any program!) you host! SURVEY THE CLASS - Use the enclosed survey to gauge the interest of your classmates for particular program ideas! If people feel they have a choice, they are more likely to think the final program choice is valuable! ADVERTISE the program - Teach the students it is an important issue! (enuf said-you are probably sick of me saying this word!) CO-SPONSOR - Don't waste your hard earned chapter funds on pizza! Get other organizations involved and share the cost! Not only will this save your chapter money, it will maximize attendance. Also, some programming ideas like a "Med Student Survival Week" are more effective if a variety of organizations get involved. Remember, AMSA is hosting the event, and the other organizations are co-sponsoring or supporting the event! DELEGATE - See if there is a person in your chapter who is really into the well-being issue…this person may have more time and interest to devote to this topic if you are too busy or it's not your "big issue." (Eg, A Well-Being Coordinator) ASSESS THE CHAPTER FOR HIDDEN TALENTS - Many med students have "hidden exciting lives" in which they are a yoga instructor, aerobics teacher, fitness trainer, are married to a nutritionist, have a massage therapist as a spouse, or love to bake! Use the local talent to keep costs low and the interest high!

PROGRAMMING IDEAS

The following are grouped according to the most likely time commitment the PARTICIPANTS in the program would have to make. Most of these ideas are taken directly from the survey AMSA chapter officers completed during the COC. As always, if you have any questions about how to run the program, how to advertise, or how to start, don't hesitate to call your DSP at 1.800.767.2266 ext 270.

Lunch Time Well-Being Projects

1. Med Student Survival Week…a Week of Wellness Programs-see programs below and pick five or so...
2. Relationships in Med School-have second or third years be on a panel and discuss starting, maintaining, ending a relationship during med school.
3. Effective Study Habits: many schools have a department devoted to this topic…use this department as local talent.
4. Time management strategies..This can be done by upper-class folk, professional agency, university business school resources.
5. Panel Discussion on Specific Classes…have second/third years talk about anatomy, biochem, physio, etc. Can focus on books to buy, good resources, etc.
6. Tour of the school's resources. Physically take the students to each of the different resources available already at your school…eg. The gym, the wellness center, psych services, massage school, etc.
7. Speaker on Effects of Sleep Deprivation
8. Lunchtime Massage Circle
9. Lunchtime/Breakfast Prayer Group
10. Spirituality and Wellness Discussion
11. Finger painting session during lunchtime!
12. Make Pasta sculptures
13. Prayer Group/Drumming circle/Tai chi
14. Lunch with the Dean Series. Have the Dean come in to give informal talks about a variety of subjects of interest to the med school...committees, clerkships, grades, boards, career choice, scheduling your life, etc.
15. Specialty Tours. Have informal tours of specialties of interest to first and second years with a doctor in that field

Evening Projects

1. An AMSA Exercise Club…can be based on running, swimming, walking, squash, aerobics, basketball, soccer, yoga, etc.
2. Weekly Yoga Class
3. Local massage school come in to teach massage techniques.
4. Culture Club…group to go to museums, concerts on a monthly basis.
5. Tourist Club…group to see the sights of your home city!
6. Games Night
7. Easy/Fast/Healthy Potluck…have everyone bring their favorite fast and healthy food WITH COPIES OF THE RECIPE!
8. Couples Night…invite married/partnered class members to an event.
9. Singles Night…host a party in which all single people have to bring along a single friend to the party.
10. Movie Night
11. AMSA Coffee House…provide coffee and snacks and a topic for discussion…come up with discussion topics (religion, sex, politics) and paste specific questions on the coffee cups.
12. Open Mic Night…have an open microphone for people to get up and say/perform/discuss whatever they want.
13. Big Sib/Little Sib Program

Plus, check out our AMSA Local Project Directory for more ideas, as well as grant opportunities.

ANY of these ideas can be done any time you like, although some of the projects work best as an 'Interest Group' type of deal (eg, Tourist Club). And certainly, this is not an exhaustive list! If you have cool ideas not listed, please feel free to send them to me so I can share them with everyone.

Check back soon for some easy things your school can do to improve well-being (like having a vending machine that has only healthy snacks instead of candy).

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