Washington and Lee University New Student Health and Counseling Center

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Dr. Jane Horton, director of Student Health and Counseling Services, leads a first-aid clinic as part of the Women in the Outdoors Month series of events.

W&L’s New Student Health and Counseling Center “Meeting the growing health needs of students requires an approach that brings together medical and counseling professionals to collaborate on care. This new facility has been designed not only to better coordinate care but also has dedicated space to support each function of the work we do. It will be an incredible asset for the university and, most importantly, for our students.” — Dr. Jane Horton, Director of Student Health and Counseling

In more than 30 years at Washington and Lee, Dr. Jane Horton has witnessed significant growth in student visits to the university’s health and counseling centers. From helping them form healthy habits that support academic success, to responding to illness and injury, caring for existing health conditions and addressing those that may develop, the Student Health and the University Counseling centers are indispensable assets to W&L. First-year students, in particular, are navigating a critical juncture in their development as they learn to manage their own health with less parental oversight. Students also arrive at Washington and Lee with a wide range of pre-existing

health needs: some are managing chronic conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, eating disorders, ADHD, and substance use disorders, while others are coping with mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. The Student Health Center averages 9,000 student visits each year — about half with a physician or physician’s assistant and half with a team of registered nurses who staff the center. These professionals evaluate and treat all types of acute illness and injury, provide preventative healthcare services and care for students with chronic health conditions, often in collaboration with home providers and specialists.

Enhanced Medical Facilities The expanded Student Health and Counseling Center will consolidate medical practice, counseling and psychiatry services in one location, supporting a team approach to caring for students in a setting that is easily accessible. The center will be located in a new building near first-year housing that will serve the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics in a separate part of the structure. The Health Center, which is completely handicapped-accessible, will have an entrance on the ground floor at the back of the new building to facilitate easy access for W&L Public Safety and other emergency vehicles.


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