(296) Holistic Success: An Approach for PharmD Student Wellness

Objective : To describe holistic student wellness interventions at the VCU School of Pharmacy.

Methods: The Office of Admissions and Student Services focuses on a holistic approach to student wellness designed to provide support beyond physical health to consider psychosocial, emotional, and financial well-being. Psychosocial supports include one personal day each semester, enhanced university counseling services, and wellness events (e.g., therapy dogs). Interventions to promote emotional and financial well-being include a 4-day work week and a student success emergency fund. Assessment of these interventions was completed using descriptive statistics. Data from the end-of-the-year Student Experience Surveys for 2022-2023 will be compared with 2021-2022.

Results: Over the 2022-2023 academic year, 41 students used a personal day and events were held to support student wellness. Since its inception, $14,686.91 of the student emergency fund has been distributed and the 4-day work week has been identified by students as a key factor in promoting student success. Data for the counseling services is protected. Overall, the 2021-2022 Student Experience Surveys (82.6% response rate) found 100% of P1, 85% of P2, and 97% of P3 students reported agreement with the question, “I am satisfied with my experience at the VCU School of Pharmacy.” The 2022-2023 survey data will be available in June 2023.

Conclusions: VCU School of Pharmacy has initiated a holistic view of student success, focusing on psychosocial and personal wellness in addition to academic and physical health interventions. Overall student satisfaction with their experience at the school has been positive.