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In the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, students learn how to help patients make better health decisions. One way is to offer them multiple solutions and find the one that’s most sustainable. Helping patients make these better decisions starts with teaching the students how to make these same decisions for themselves. According to first-year TCOM student Lane Berry, that’s exactly what Be|Well Week 2024 did for him by showcasing plenty of unique ways that students can better their well-being.

“Taking ownership of my own wellbeing is important because it allows me to pursue my dream of becoming a physician by making choices that are mentally and emotionally sustainable over the course of my arduous academic career,” Berry said.

Another participant of Be|Well Week, first-year PA student Lauren Vogler, shared the same sentiment.

“Be|Well Week opened my eyes about how many resources that we, as students, have on campus that are dedicated to our success in both our academic and personal lives.””

Developing skills for coping with stress is important to Vogler and she appreciated the opportunity to learn about herself and how she deals with stress. She learned about things like prioritizing sleep, being more mindful and intentional with thoughts and actions, and most importantly health stratigies to reduce stress.

According to Sophia Brockman, a student services specialist at HSC,  the event is designed to empower students to take ownership of their well-being by providing tools, resources, and support for resiliency, emotional intelligence and preventing burnout.

 The Maximizing Your 168 workshop, one of the daily activities of Be|Well Week, focused on helping students make the most of the hours available each week in a way that promotes wellbeing. Berry said it taught him how students can use their time most efficiently and actually take back time for themselves to spend on things that matter to them.

Berry also reflected on the fact that it’s not always the big things we do that have the biggest impact. It’s often the small things done consistently over time that led to success.

“Though most students – myself included – won’t want to change their entire lifestyle, changing one small thing at a time can do just as much, if not more,” Berry said.

With activities such as mindfulness exercises, a pop-up yoga class, stress management lessons, self-care strategies and an interactive journaling session, Be|Well Week encouraged HSC students to reflect on their habits and adopt routines that prioritize their wellbeing.

“Medical school is a difficult undertaking,” Berry said. “But navigating my own wellbeing allows me to meet that challenge head on and overcome it in the way that works best for me.”

Be|Well Week, which took place September 16-20, is part of the larger Be|Well initiative at at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth which looks to foster a supportive environment where students can thrive — academically, emotionally, and socially — both at HSC and beyond. Through ongoing curricular and co-curricular activities, Be|Well continues to build a culture of wellness on campus, equipping students with the skills to succeed and flourish in all areas of their lives.

“I was able to learn more about ways to take care of myself and others while in a rigorous program,” Vogler said.

If you missed the events of Be|Well Week, you can check out the on-demand library located on the Be|Well YouTube channel. For more information about Be|Well and upcoming wellness-focused events, please visit the Be|Well website or follow Be|Well on Instagram, @HSC.BeWell.

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