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Student Health and Wellness

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Home  /   Student Health and Wellness

A Message from Dr. Bagby-Stone:

Do you find it difficult to balance medical school and the rest of your life? Do you wonder about your future? Do you wish you were happier? If so, let’s talk.

Hi, I’m Stephanie Bagby-Stone and I have time in my schedule to meet with all medical students interested in improving their well-being. From my past experiences, I am aware that medical students need someone that will help them create balance and conditions which promote success, identify their strengths and values, and nurture their talents and creativity. I’m so excited to be able to talk to you about these things. My approach is greatly influenced by the Science of Happiness (Positive Psychology) which seeks to create thriving, meaningful lives. The science is clear—happiness and well-being have positive effects on the body and on performance.

As a graduate of the MU school of medicine, I’ve experienced PBL first hand. I spent many years as the chief psychiatrist at the MU Student Health Center providing care for undergraduate, graduate and professional students experiencing stress, burn-out and medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar and ADHD. I am very familiar with campus and community resource. In addition to providing coaching, I can help you by providing referrals for diagnoses needing treatment, medication management, psychological testing or psychotherapy.

Why schedule time to talk with me?

  • If you are experiencing distress and are in need of support or guidance.
  • If you want to learn ways to optimize your happiness and your success.
  • If you have ideas for needed wellness programs.
  • If you are simply curious.

If any of these reasons resonate with you, email me to find a time.

I am looking forward to talking with you!

Stephanie Bagby-Stone, MD

Faculty Liaison - Student Coaching
Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
HSE 100E

Adjusting to Medical School

Medical school requires long hours, dedication and changes in routine and study habits. First year students adapt to a curriculum unlike any ever experienced. Many students are used to performing at the top of their class. Grading in the curriculum the first year is Pass/Fail (second year grading Honors/Pass/Fail) which yield student scores closer to an “average” range. This may be an adjustment for some.

Due to the rigorous demands of medical school often students forgo self-care to focus on academics. While this seems to be a logical decision literature suggests that tanking study breaks yields more productivity. Additionally diet can also have an impact. While life activities can take away time from academics, they are an important aspect of balancing wellness and education.

Mizzou Med values student health and wellness and works to provide activities that promote overall well being of our students. Each class elects wellness representatives who serve on a committee in collaboration with the medical education office and faculty liaison to organize programs and activities promoting overall wellness and life balance.

Wellness at Mizzou Med

Student wellness is important to all of us at the MU school of medicine. Wellness activities and programs have been advancing over recent years and we are continuing to grow!

  • Our students are actively involved in creating our wellness programs and activities. Two wellness representatives are elected from each medical school class and are involved in the planning of wellness programming and activities.
  • Dr. Stephanie Bagby-Stone, our Faculty Liaison for Student Coaching, is available to meet with students for wellness coaching and to connect students with resources. She also meets individually with every M1 and M2 student for a wellness check-in.
  • We offer multiple wellness events in recognition of Show Me Compassionate Medical Education Day. The Missouri legislature passed Senate Bill 52 recognizing this day with the intention to bring awareness to medical student well-being, mental health, stress management, and student treatment. These activities have focused on helping students to connect and to raise awareness of mental health risks and resources.
  • Health and Wellness Block Talks are offered each block, at noon with lunch provided, with topics including medical student mental health, campus resources, fitness, nutrition, stress management and mindfulness. Other topics for discussion include burnout, coping with failure and resilience.
  • Other wellness activities have included health and wellness newsletters, volunteering opportunities, food fairs, and various sport/fitness related activities.
  • We strive to make wellness and stress management easily accessible to our medical students by providing art supplies, exercise bikes and sports equipment in the student labs.
  • Yoga sessions are available at peak exam times.
  • Since 2015, all of the allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in Missouri have convened annually with a focused agenda of discussions regarding improving student mental health and wellness.

Meet Our Student Wellness Representatives

 

Class of 2022

Andrea Schaeffer

Andrea Schaeffer

Bio

Hometown: Ballwin, MO

Undergrad: Saint Louis University

Major: Neuroscience

Med Specialty: TBD

Email: ans8c7@health.missouri.edu

Everyone understands that med-school is challenging but many people don’t realize the large toll it can take on physical and mental health, outside relationships, and hobbies. As someone who still loves to work out and spend time with friends, I don’t believe that we should have to choose between excelling in medical school and being mentally healthy and happy. Despite reminders of the importance of self-care, it can be difficult to prioritize your own health while trying to build your future career. Because of this, burnout continues to become more and more prominent in medical careers. As a health and wellness representative, I will strive to improve and expand the already existing wellness initiatives on campus for medical students. I also want to make these resources more effective and accessible by gearing them towards what students actually need and what they can manage in their already busy schedules.

Maggie Wieser

Maggie Wieser

Bio

Hometown: Des Moines, IA

Undergrad: Simpson College

Major: Biochemistry, Neuroscience, and Mathematics

Med Specialty: Neurology/Ophthalmology

Email: mel7zd@health.missouri.edu

I grew up in Des Moines, IA and always loved being involved in athletics and in the community. Unfortunately, over the years I have realized how difficult it is to stay mentally and physically healthy with an increasingly busy schedule. Right now, we are experiencing one of the busiest times in our lives so far, while we are also growing into the best physicians we can become. We have the health and wellness of others at the front of our minds, but it is extremely difficult to prioritize our own well-being throughout the process. However, it is important because our mental and physical health play a large role in our performance on tests and in clinical settings. Physician burnout has also increased, so it’s important that we are proactive in developing habits and routines that will help us to stay healthy and happy throughout medical school and our future careers. As a health and wellness chair, I want to help expand health-focused opportunities that are accessible and practical in our very busy lives.

Class of 2021

Maren Heller

Maren Heller

Bio

Hometown: Saint Louis, MO

Undergrad: Tulane University

Major: Neuroscience, Anthropology

Med Specialty: TBD

Email: mlh5cd@health.missouri.edu

Hi I’m Maren from Saint Louis, MO! I love cheese, anything related to the ocean, family time, and theatre. I’m by no means a perfect picture of health habits myself; but I’m genuinely enthusiastic about integrating healthier choices into our hectic lives as medical students. There is no denying it – med school is inherently overwhelming and stressful, but it should NOT be in opposition or detrimental to our happiness. It's easy to feel like there’s not enough time to get everything done (studying, sleep, research, social-life, etc.) AND take a personal breather to care for ourselves. I believe it is critical to advocate for time and space to prioritize our mental health and physical wellbeing, so that we can function optimally as students and grow as future physicians! The H+W team wants to approach these issues by: 1) serving as a support system for any student in need, 2) making institutional changes to reduce barriers to self-care, and 3) promoting a school-wide culture that values student engagement, authenticity, and mindfulness. Mizzou Med is already on top of this - our Pass/Fail curriculum, small-group learning, and communal nature of study spaces dissuades competition and encourages teamwork. Beyond its many academic advantages, PBL also kept me connected to my peers and fostered life-long friendships that were essential to my daily wellbeing. I know that wellness is not a one-size fits all approach and the epitome of a healthy lifestyle will look different for everyone. Thus, I’m eager to continue these conversations with students and administration in order to bring other issues or obstacles to light. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with your questions, ideas, and concerns, or if you just need to chat!

Mary Murphy

Mary Murphy

Bio

Hometown:

Undergrad:

Major/Minor:

Med Specialty:

My name is Mary, and I’m originally from Saint Louis, MO. I was introduced to wellness in undergrad, where I served as wellness chair for our student government. My passion for wellness has been essential for my survival in medical school; taking care of my mind, body, and spirit has to be a top priority for my success. I am excited for the growth of wellness curriculum at Mizzou SOM, and look forward to working with and for my peers to improve wellness.

Aaron Warning

Aaron Warning

Bio

Hometown: Bethalto, IL

Undergrad: University of Missouri Columbia

Major: Medicinal Chemistry

Med Specialty: TBD

Email: awwhf2@health.missouri.edu

Hello! My name is Aaron.

I am a believer that succeeding in medical school (and beyond) is as dependent on you taking care of yourself, as it is on having a sufficient intellect. As such, it was important to me to be able to picture myself thriving in a school’s environment as I went through my interview day. When interacting with students and taking the tour, I asked myself, “Do I think this is a place where I can be mentally and physically healthy?” Sadly, at many schools, well-being is almost out of the question for many students. This is one of the things that really set Mizzou apart for me. Mizzou was the only school that broke an 8/10 on that part of my scoring system, largely as a consequence of the considerable amount of self-directed time and the regular socializing inherent to Mizzou’s PBL system. After 2 years in the curriculum, I can honestly say that my interpretation of the school’s environment prior to attending was accurate, and it is something I am grateful for almost every day. Of course, many people do not have the privilege of choosing between medical schools, but for those of you who do, I encourage you to consider this question before making your decision, “Will this school help me become the best version of myself that I can be?”

Please reach out with any questions where you feel I could be of help!

Allison Hall

Allison Hall

Bio

Hometown: Salem, MO

Undergrad: Missouri State University, Springfield MO

Major: Biology

Med Specialty: Undecided

Email: arhwd2@health.missouri.edu

Hi friends! I came to Mizzou Med as a nontraditional student, having spent several years post-bacc doing marketing and branding in property management. I wouldn’t trade that path for anything, because it taught me priceless lessons about having a career and finding a good balance between work, goals, personal wellbeing, and happiness. Our generation faces the challenge of figuring out how we can reach our potential and simultaneously find a fulfilling, meaningful career. But what does “fulfilling,” mean anyway? While we have been given the chance of a lifetime to actually chase our dreams, to become physicians - simple in theory - in reality it is much tougher to find the intersection of work and play, family and ambition, self-care and motivation, determination and relaxation. If I have learned one thing over the last two years of medical school, it’s that the field of healthcare and practice of medicine looks different for everyone. Learning, studying, and integrating into this incredibly unique, difficult world … look different for everyone. We are fortunate to be surrounded like-minded students who become our family, our home-away-from-home. And what I love most about this program is that there is a place for each and every one of us here, but still a thousand individual ways to succeed, to follow our own path and yet be supported along the way. My path will continue as one of the Springfield Clinical Campus students, finishing our 3rd and 4th year clerkships at Mercy and Cox hospitals in the 3rd largest city in the state. I hope to continue supporting our cohort here, as well as future students who also feel they would benefit from this track. I’m a firm believer that in order to take care of others, we must first be able to take care of ourselves. Self-awareness, introspection, emotional intelligence, physical health, and overall wellness should not be qualities that get forgotten in the gauntlet of medical school. So please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you find your place here, or improve any aspect of health or wellbeing in your life!

Class of 2020

Manoj Palavalli

Manoj Palavalli

Bio

Hometown: Columbia, Missouri

Undergrad: University of Missouri

Major: Biochemistry

Medical Specialty: Plastic Surgery

Email: mhpqm6@health.missouri.edu

During my undergraduate career, I felt that I was constantly concerned about getting into medical school and succeeding. These feelings created a lot of stress in my life, and at some point I realized I needed to prioritize balance. That said, being successful in my career is important to me, but I knew taking care of myself mentally and physically would allow me to live a more fulfilling life. Once in medical school, I made it a point to do this and it has worked out for the better. I take the time to work out, spend time with friends and family, cook, travel, etc. With wellness as a priority, I am more focused on schoolwork when I need to be and I’m less affected by stressed. Outside of my own stress management, I realize that student burnout, mental health, and physical health is something that is demanding attention in the medical field, and I wanted to be part of its evolution. I became a health and wellness representative to be at the forefront of change in the medical school system. I made it my goal for students to take care of themselves first before taking care of others. In working with likeminded staff, faculty, and medical students, we have been able to create activities, changes in curriculum and provide information for students to reduce burnout and to improve health and wellness.

Erin Reynolds

Erin Reynolds

Bio

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Undergrad: Case Western Reserve University

Major/minor: Chemistry, Sports Medicine, Medical Anthropology

Med Specialty: Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Email: emr825@health.missouri.edu

I think the definition of “health and wellness” is something that is up for debate. Growing up as a chubby child and adolescent, my concept of “health” was always centered around diet and exercise because that’s the sermon my pediatrician would always preach to me. The fact of the matter is, like many other people struggling with weight, I was really active and actually ate a balanced diet – plus I felt really healthy! I struggled with the dichotomy between how I felt and what my doctor was telling me for most of my childhood, but as I have gotten older and more involved in the medical field I have realized, “hey, it’s not all about the numbers.” Yes, cholesterol levels and blood sugars are important, but health and wellness are more than that! Specifically, for medical students, health and wellness involves social and academic support, maintaining interests outside of medicine (exercise, music, reading, art, etc.), time management, self-reflection, realistic expectations, self-advocacy, and accountability. My responsibility as a health and wellness representative goes beyond helping organize wellness activities for my peers – it also includes advocating for students whenever I interact with administrators, pushing for curriculum changes to be more supportive of student wellbeing, and taking opportunities to sit with my superiors and talk about how we can be better in the future. I believe the future of medical student wellbeing is bright, it will just take continued collaboration between the students and faculty. Now get out there and do what makes you happy!

Jen Rachow

Jen Rachow

University of Missouri, Student Services Coordinator

Bio

Hometown: Columbia, MO

Undergrad: Mizzou

Major: Health Science

rachowj@health.missouri.edu

I have been with Mizzou Med since 2003! I enjoy working with medical students very much. When I was asked to help with student wellness program I was thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute. I have seen the wellness program grow from its inception a few short years ago. The program continues to be enhanced each year with feedback and collaboration from students, faculty and staff. I value student wellness because I like to see students succeed. Medical school is challenging so anything I can do to help students establish wellness and self-care habits I am willing to do. I receive great satisfaction by encouraging someone to achieve health and build habits to help them in their future and look forward to helping many more students in any way I can.

Jill Wiggins

Jill Wiggins

Springfield, Director of Student Services

Bio

Stephanie Bagby-Stone, MD
Stephanie Bagby-Stone, MD
Faculty Liaison — Student Coaching, Office of Medical Education

1 Hospital Drive
Columbia, MO 65212
573-884-1235

bagbystones@health.missouri.edu

Wellness Contacts & Resources

  • Laine Young-Walker, MD
    Associate Dean for Student Programs
    573-882-9219 or 573-884-5146
  • Mental Health Screening (free and anonymous online screening)
  • MU Counseling Center
    573-882-6601
  • MU Health South Providence Psychiatry Clinic
    573-882-2511
  • MU Psychological Services Clinic
    573-882-4677
  • MU Student Health & Wellbeing
    573-884-7481
  • MU Wellness Resource Center
    573-882-4634
  • Student Health Center
    573-882-7481

Crisis Hotlines

  • Missouri Crisis Line:
    888-761-4357 or text assistance available by texting “HAND” to 839863
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
    800-273-8255 or chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/
  • The Trevor Lifeline:
    866-488-7386 Trevor provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ
  • Veterans Crisis Line:
    800-273-8255: Press 1
    Access chat at veteranscrisisline.net/ or send text 838255

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