Wellness as a Core Value
One of OCOM’s core values is wellness. I believe that it is important for medical students to focus on wellness. In part, becoming a physician requires peak academic performance, and this necessitates good health, both physically and mentally. I also believe that patients want their physicians to be models of good health.
Developing OCOM personally changed me. While we were starting up the medical school, I went through some self-reflection and had noticed that I had gained weight (mostly during COVID), and I wasn’t the model of health - something that you might expect from a medical school dean of a school that has wellness as a core value. Through exercise, caloric restriction, and the help of the pharmaceutical tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), I am proud to report that I am 60 pounds thinner and at my ideal body weight, with perfect blood pressure and cholesterol. Also, I feel the best that I have felt since I was in my 20’s.
To support our OCOM community (medical students, faculty, and staff), we have done several initiatives to support wellness. This includes both physical and mental wellness. This includes the following:
On-Campus Fitness Center: This is open to all students and employees and is well used.
Beautiful and Easily-Accessible Stairs: One of the key features of our atrium area is a huge glass staircase that is inviting and is actually a few steps closer to the front door than the central elevator. It is in constant use, and the majority of folks use it instead of the elevator.
Walking Path Around Campus: We have a 1.7-mile walking path around campus that goes down to our named lake (Lake Ingram). Students and employees are constantly using it.
Limited OCOM-Purchased Food: We limit the times where we purchase food for students and employees for a few reasons - we believe that folks should have dedicated lunch breaks where they can take a mental health break and not have to think about work or school while getting a “free” lunch. Also, folks have a tendency to eat more when there is a ready abundance of food that they did not choose. Also, we are good stewards of tuition dollars, and we don’t believe in spending hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in tuition dollars on buying food for faculty, staff, and students (who are ultimately paying for it).
Intentional Building Hours: We have thoughtfully planned the building to close at 11 pm and re-open at 7 am. This is to encourage folks, particularly medical students, to have a full night's sleep. There is significant evidence that good sleep improves health, and this is a small encouragement and alignment with our values.
Natural Light and Aesthetics: There is evidence that natural light and aesthetic improves adult learner outcomes and may have a positive effect on mental health. OCOM was designed to maximize natural light and aesthetics.
Social Design: We have designed a single point of entry (mostly for security), and everyone is greeted at the front desk by the security and/or receptionist (and they know almost everyone’s name). This instantly creates a community, positive social interactions, and a sense of security that can have a positive impact on mental health. Also, we have sociological “third spaces”, such as the student lounge, that create social environments.
Spiritual Room: We have an on-campus spiritual room that is open to persons of all faiths and is well used, particularly on testing days.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Agents and HEPA Filters: At OCOM, we use non-carcinogenic and human-friendly cleaning agents. Also, all of our filters are HEPA filters to ensure that every breath at OCOM is clean air.
Mother’s Room/Wellness Room: We have a Mother’s Room/Wellness Room that is a place where breastfeeding mothers can go (the majority of our medical students are women), and also, folks who want privacy for health-related conditions can go.
Mental Health Services: We have an on-campus mental health counselor, 24/7 access to mental health counseling, and tele-psychiatric services available for our students. We also have an Employee Assistance Plan for our employees.
Excellent Health Insurance: We have an excellent health insurance plan available to all employees, as well as an additional one available to all students (students are required to have health insurance).
Pass/Fail Curriculum: There is evidence that a pass/fail curriculum has similar academic outcomes, but improved psychosocial outcomes. For this reason, we have a pass/fail curriculum. Residency program directors want a class rank, so we do have a class rank that is reported on the Dean’s Letter (also known as the MSPE). This is my first medical school with a pass/fail curriculum; our students do seem to have better mental health, but medical students still stress way too much.
Culture: Probably the most important aspect of our wellness value is our culture. Culture plays such an important role in the mental health of our medical students, faculty, and staff. Having been at four different medical schools, I will say that we have the most caring faculty and staff that I have ever seen at a medical school, and this plays an important role in the culture. We are thoughtful and intentional with our culture, and it is central to advancing our mission.
We are definitely intentional with wellness at OCOM, and I pray for good health for every faculty, staff, and medical student. That being said, our health is very much dependent on each of us individually. It is a gift that we can help give to ourselves and profoundly impact our individual quality of life. As we enter 2026, I encourage everyone to focus on their own health as we keep moving forward!
