Well-Being Program
Focused on providing the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV community with a variety of well-being resources designed to support the nine dimensions of well-being.
About
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine Well-Being Program’s mission is to create and sustain a culture of well-being for our students, residents, fellows, faculty, and staff. This is accomplished by teaching and promoting the skills, understanding, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that will instill a lifetime of well-being and meaning. Our program aims to introduce and encourage help-seeking behaviors that support the mental and physical health of all medical trainees, faculty, and staff. Through this mission, we seek to enhance our community’s overall well-being, utilizing targeted resources, thoughtful programming, and specific training along with a detailed curriculum. The ultimate goal is that these practices will endure throughout their lives.
If you have any questions about the program and the services we provide, please contact us at som.well-being@medicine.unlv.edu.
Getting Help - Quick Consult Guide
Program Goals
- Empower the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine community with the skills and opportunities necessary to create and maintain a healthy and holistic lifestyle to support themselves now and in the future.
- Promote a culture within the school of medicine community that encourages members to access the necessary programs to maintain their well-being and mental health.
- Foster a community of well-being and support throughout the school where self-awareness and self-care are fundamental to the training and ongoing education of our healthcare community.
Upcoming Events
Why Does Well-Being Matter?
We believe supporting the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine community means providing opportunities that address emotional well-being and resilience. By doing so, we create a space where its members can take care of themselves, their families, communities, and patients.
As students, residents, and fellows embark on their journey to become practicing physicians, they are likely to feel a variety of emotions — pride, excitement, and trepidation to name a few. While they are working toward the career they have dreamt about for years and see their presence at the school as a rewarding opportunity, they may also feel overwhelmed from the academic, emotional, and personal challenges. Similarly, the well-being of our faculty and staff also plays a pivotal role in their success in the organization. Multiple studies suggest that when employees feel good, they perform better.
Our program allows our community to learn the tools and skills that will support each of the nine dimensions of well-being. By providing all members of the school of medicine community with a variety of well-being focused opportunities, we believe that we can support their overall well-being, thus enhancing their overall quality of life.
Well-Being Wheel
Well-Being Program Dimensions
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine Well-Being Program strives to support our community through nine dimensions of well-being.
Being aware of your emotions. Learning to recognize, understand and cope with your life and emotions in healthy ways. Finding things in your life to feel excited and optimistic about. Seeking assistance from friends, family or professionals when needed.
Resources
- Free and confidential mental health support is provided through UNLV’s Student Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) as part of the C.A.P.S. fee.
- UNLV's Bibliotherapy provides visitors with book suggestions on topics such as well-being, mindfulness and meditation, coping, relationships, and body image.
- The You at UNLV portal is available to anyone with a UNLV email. Creating an account provides resources and tools in multiple well-being domains.
- EarlyAlert.me is a confidential, wellness self-monitoring tool that sends weekly check-ins through text messaging and offers instant referrals to support resources for various aspects of wellness, including emotional, financial, academic, relational, and physical wellness. Students can create a free account here.
- In addition to a dedicated psychologist for our medical students, we also provide BetterMynd virtual teletherapy for our students. Watch this short video to learn how to create your free account.
- Residents can visit the Resident Wellness Resources webpage for information about resident well-being spaces including lounge areas and gym, upcoming resident well-being events, and additional mental and social well-being assistance.
- The UNLV Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to employees, spouses, children (depending on age), and financially dependent parents over the age of 65. A variety of resources are available through EAP including mental health assistance, and guidance on many diverse topics. EAP is managed by ComPsych. Register and enter Organization Web ID: UNLVEAP
- The Partnership for Research, Assessment, Counseling, Therapy and Innovative Clinical Education (The PRACTICE) is UNLV's mental health training clinic. Not only do they support training and research, but they also provide mental health services.
- UNLV's Center for Individual, Couple and Family Counseling provides counseling to individuals, couples, and families in a variety of areas.
Understanding how the environments in which you spend your time affect your physical and mental well-being. Being respectful and protective of our planet and its resources.
Resources
- Culinary medicine is provided as part of students’ ongoing curriculum. Faculty and staff are also welcome to utilize the website resources and create an account to explore the course materials. These classes are an opportunity to learn how proper nutrition not only fuels our bodies and mind, but also supports our community in providing integrative care to patients.
- RebelSAFE is the UNLV emergency notification system. The RebelSAFE mobile app allows users to report crimes or other emergencies, and you can also receive notifications through the app. All students, residents, fellows, faculty, and staff are encouraged to download the app. RebelSAFE emergency phones are located throughout the Shadow Lane campus for emergencies.
- The UNLV Food Pantry supports university community members who need food assistance. If you are able to support them, the UNLV Food Pantry can always accept donations. For information about receiving support or donating, please email them at food.pantry@unlv.edu.
- The UNLV Student Support Spot offers UNLV students food and toiletries, in addition to support in areas such as housing, transportation, child care and digital access needs and/or insecurities.
Being aware of your current financial status, managing your financial responsibilities, and making informed decisions about your financial future. Appreciating that everyone’s financial circumstances and values are individual to them.
Resources
- Students are encouraged to visit the Student Financial Services webpage for information about tuition, fees, scholarships, and more.
- The AAMC Financial Information, Resources, Services and Tools (FIRST) webpage offers a wealth of information for students and residents to help them manage their finances.
- GradSense offers tools, including a budget calculator, to help students and residents plan for current and long-term financial goals.
Valuing lifelong learning through ongoing curiosity about all there is to learn. Responding appropriately to things that challenge you intellectually. Sharing your intellectual talents with your community.
Resources
- The director of academic support services, along with two learning specialists, are available to assist students with creating academic study plans, scheduling success check-ins, and connecting students with peer tutors. Students can schedule appointments in person or virtually.
- Education assistance is available to most UNLV academic and administrative faculty and family members through the UNLV Grant-In-Aid program.
- Academic Impressions (AI) is available to all members of the UNLV community. AI provides a variety of leadership and personal development training through diverse training modalities. Use your ACE account to create an account today.
- Students with disabilities are supported through UNLV’s Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC assists students needing accommodations, advocacy and support in ensuring equitable access at UNLV.
Engaging in work that not only provides your life with purpose, but also reflects your personal values. Exploring a variety of career and volunteer opportunities that allow you to contribute your unique skills in meaningful ways.
Resources
- The My MD-to-Be Program provides a student’s support network with regular emails detailing what their student is currently experiencing in medical school. These emails help loved ones better support and communicate with their medical student.
- Medical students are able to participate in A Whole New Doctor: Advanced Coaching Program, which provides coaching and leadership training throughout their medical education.
- Visit The Med Commons for resources designed to support physician families in the areas of: careers, family and relationships, financial and health and wellness.
- The Nevada Physician Wellness Coalition (NPWC) is available to support physicians who may be facing stress, burnout, grief, substance abuse, etc. The NPWC also provides well-being resources to support physician well-being.
- UNLV's Anti-Black Racism Task Force is committed to address inequities on UNLV's campus through programming and services. Their priorities are: equity and inclusion, campus and student safety, and supportive campus.
- UNLV's Military and Veteran Services Center strives to provide a variety of support opportunities to student veterans and active-duty military.
Creating a healthy and caring lifestyle for yourself, that will guide you as you age, that includes movement of your body, proper nutrition, and regular health care. Experimenting with movement and nutrition to find the things that make your body and mind feel its best.
Resources
- UNLV Health, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine's affiliated clinical practice, offers care in ear, nose and throat (ENT), family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry and mental health, and surgery.
- Ongoing well-being programming including group exercise, meditation, therapy dogs, and chair massage. Special events are planned regularly to meet students’ social and physical well-being. Residents, faculty, and staff are often included to participate in these events, as well.
- All students have access to UNLV’s Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The center is on the main campus of UNLV and is free to all school of medicine students as part of their health and life facilities fees. A variety of activities are offered, in addition to a state-of-the-art fitness center and an aquatic center.
- The school of medicine student gym, located on the fourth floor of the Kirk Kerkorian Medical Education Building (MEB), is open for both students and residents. Badge access is required for both.
Pursuing knowledge and skills to make healthy, informed and respectful decisions about your sexual self. Promoting a culture of consent, and clear communication and acceptance of limits.
Resources
- The Care Center of UNLV is a confidential support service for members of UNLV’s community that have been affected by sexual violence, abuse, and/or stalking.
- Students, residents, fellows, faculty, and staff can report a concern through the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine Office of Compliance.
- The LGBTQ+ Community Center of Southern Nevada provides a variety of programs, resources, and services to support the Southern Nevada community. Contact them at 702-733-9800 or their 24-hour crisis hotline at 702-745-4600 or 833-740-0500.
Developing a sense of connection and belonging through healthy relationships. Establishing a support system of friends, family, or an organizational membership that will encourage and reinforce healthy decision-making. Being authentic and respectful of everyone you encounter by appropriately communicating your thoughts and ideas.
Resources
- Each class elects one member to serve as the well-being representative. Well-being representatives work alongside the director and manager of well-being and integrative medicine to ensure that well-being programs and offerings are meeting the needs of students.
- An integral part of medical school is student life. Students are encouraged to participate in organizations of interest to them or to work with faculty members to start new clubs/organizations that meet their needs.
- Faculty and staff of UNLV can visit UNLV’s Faculty/Staff Wellness webpage. This page offers a variety of resources and links to support the various well-being domains.
Understanding and respecting that we each find spiritual well-being in different ways. Finding a daily practice that provides you opportunities to reflect and develop your own personal beliefs and values.
Resources
- The well-being room, located on the fourth floor of the MEB, provides students with a quiet and peaceful environment where they can meditate, rest, or just sit and relax or unwind. Badge access is required.
- The Center for Mind-Body Medicine has been an integral part of Las Vegas’s well-being journey since October of 2017. Mind-body medicine skills are embedded into much of what we do at KSOM. Students, residents, faculty, and staff also have the opportunity to participate in Mind-Body skills groups to learn a variety of techniques to increase their resilience and to find new ways to cope with stress and increase their mindfulness.
Meet Our Team
Anne Weisman, PhD, MPH, LMT
Kathryn Pauli, MA, MEd
By being attentive first to their own well-being, students will be more compassionate and more attentive to the health needs of their patients.
Anne Weisman, PhD