Student Life
Meet the newly elected, first-year leaders
Sep. 8, 2020—by Emma Mattson We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the twelve new, first-year leaders on the Council of Class Officers (CCO). Besides generally representing the first-year class, these leaders will host virtual events, provide feedback on curriculum, and collaborate with other CCO leaders on VUSM-wide initiatives. Curious about your new representatives? We talked with...
MIDP student Sai Rajagopalan teamed up with experts across the world to bridge a specific gap in maternal-fetal care during COVID-19
Jun. 28, 2020—by Emma Mattson Social distancing over the past four months has challenged medical students across the country to adapt. Some have developed innovative solutions for digital learning, clinical work, and student leadership in the time of COVID-19. Some, like third-year MIDP student Sai S.V. Rajagopalan, have dedicated their energies to hacking. Hacking the coronavirus, that...
2020-21 Students-as-Teachers cohort fosters mentoring skills, teaches pedagogical techniques over Zoom
May. 11, 2020—by Emma Mattson Teaching might not seem to fit into a doctor’s job description, but Vanderbilt’s Students as Teachers elective is proving that pedagogical skills can play an essential role in clinical settings. This spring, a new cohort of thirty third-year medical students began Students as Teachers (SAT), a year-long elective that not only teaches...
Meet Jaclyn Lee and Cooper March, the 2020-21 Co-presidents of Student Wellness!
May. 7, 2020—by Emma Mattson This April, the Student Wellness Committee (SWC) transitioned leadership: 2019-20 presidents Stephanie Hadley and Shervin Etemad passed the torch to rising fourth years Jaclyn Lee and Cooper March, who will serve as presidents over the next year. Both March and Lee have been involved in wellness since their first months at Vanderbilt....
Learning in the time of Coronavirus: Faculty and students adapt curriculum, take on new roles
Apr. 20, 2020—by Emma Mattson Distance learning brings a unique set of hurdles, but our students are up for the challenge. As the School of Medicine transitions to digital learning, medical education has adapted to meet the circumstances. According to William Cutrer, the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, all first-year lectures have flipped to virtual streaming,...
“This is what you trained for:” A conversation with Class of 2020 President Varun Menon on moving forward in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak
Mar. 23, 2020—by Emma Mattson We spoke with VUSM Class of 2020 President Varun Menon (VMS4) about the experience of being a medical student during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here are the words of reflection and encouragement he shared during this crisis. What reactions and responses have you heard from your class in light of the recent COVID-19...
Facing outward, giving back: MD Student Ambassadors offer a unique resource to new classes of medical students
Feb. 24, 2020—by Emma Mattson Third-year medical student Matt Lan still fondly remembers his interview day, which coincided with Vanderbilt’s College Cup, an annual Olympics-style competition between the four School of Medicine advisory colleges. “I just remember seeing all the students being really happy and really close with each other,” Lan said. “There were faculty around as...
Sunday Coffee Cup and Kudos with First-Year Mason Alford
Nov. 11, 2019—We spoke with first-year medical student Mason Alford on creating his Sunday Coffee Cup newsletter. Here’s what he shared about its creation and reception by fellow classmates. Tell us a little about yourself. My name is Mason Alford, and I am the President for the Class of 2023 here at VUSM. I grew up on...
Vanderbilt Well Represented at First National Conference on Medical Student Mental Health and Well-Being
Oct. 10, 2019—by Maxwell Roeske (MSTP G2) (left to right: Dean Amy Fleming, Maxwell Roeske (G2), Jackie Lee (M3), Stephanie Hadley (M4), Lizzie Flook (G3), Thao Le (G2), Dr. Michael Pilla) MSTP student Maxwell Roeske recaps the inaugural National Conference for Medical Student Mental Health and Well-Being, an event hosted by Weill Cornell Medicine in mid-September. This event...
Top 5 Places to Run Near Vanderbilt
Apr. 19, 2019— 1. Belmont + 12 South loop -probably our most popular run 2. Capitol Hill and Downtown Bridges -the capital mall is beautiful this time of year and there are 3 bridges spanning the Cumberland with great views 3. McCabe Park -easy 2.8-mile loop with a nice golf course in the middle 4. Shelby Bottoms/East...