Student Focus

WELL-BEING:

Taking the Time to Be Intentional

BY MARY WESTOVER,

Doctor of Pharmacy candidate 2024, University of Michigan; member, Student Pharmacist Executive Council At the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, we take well-being especially seriously. First-year student pharmacists are encouraged to enroll in the “Well-Being for Professional Success” course in the fall semester. This is a class that promotes health and wellness as part of the student’s success. The course covers a wide range of important topics, such as: transitioning into professional school, time management, promoting self-care, minimizing isolation and mindfulness. The course is offered only to P1 students in the fall term, and enrollment tends to be about 60 students per year.

During the course, students are challenged to reflect on their own personal definition of well-being. Weekly reflections and challenges help the first-year student pharmacists identify areas of strength and weaknesses. Students also engage with a semester-long well-being project to focus on one area of interest. Examples of past projects include art, music and exercise. Overall, this course allows students to take a break from their hectic school and work schedules in order to focus on their individual well-being journey. Emily Barker served as a teaching assistant (TA) this past fall. She had the opportunity to take the course as a first-year student and was then asked to stay on board as a TA. The course historically has two to three TAs from the previous class. The teaching assistants have an opportunity to directly teach the material, as well as facilitate group discussions. I sat down with Ms. Barker and spoke to her about the course.

“I originally took the course, because I’ve always been a big fan of self-improving,” she said. “When I saw the elective, I thought of it as a chance to improve my well-being. I went into it thinking I was good at taking care of myself. … I was humbled, week after week, when I learned all the different ways that I don’t take care of myself that well or show myself compassion. I was able to identify my weak points. I learned that it takes time to understand what your body needs, but also what your mental wellness needs. Once you have that understanding of your needs, it’s about creating a system to implement (meeting them). My biggest takeaway was self-empowerment. I really do control my own wellness, and I understand how necessary it is for pharmacy school.” Ms. Barker said that becoming a TA wasn’t an opportunity she was expecting. “But in that moment, I realized that it was exactly what I needed,” she said. “I found out I have a huge passion for teaching. … That is where I thrive. It was also interesting making the connection between my students and my future patients. I want the students to participate just like I want my patients to be adherent to their medications, and I had to create ways to get student engagement just like I will have to with my future patients.” This course has been available to pharmacy students for more than five years. The school plans to continue it indefinitely. Ms. Barker speculated about where she sees the course going in the future. “Right now, the college of pharmacy is the only professional school at the University of Michigan that offers a course dedicated to well-being,” she said. “We are essentially trailblazing the path for future schools to adopt the course. Right now, there is discussion with other health professional schools, like the medical and dental school, about implementing a well-being course for their students.”

When it comes to incorporating and applying what is learned in this class to their daily lives, students are going to get out what they put in. Nonetheless, this thoughtful course is a step in the right direction for students learning to be intentional about their well-being.

THE 8 PILLARS OF WELL-BEING

The course focuses on each of the pillars.