Aligned with Geisel School of Medicine’s One Geisel vision, the newly revised Office of Student Life (formerly the Office of Student Affairs that supported medical students) offers expanded, integrated support for all MD, MPH, and MS students enrolled in the medical school’s programs to foster an inclusive, collaborative peer-learning community.
The office’s augmented resources for both programming and physical space, ensures that “students thrive academically, professionally, and personally as they prepare for leadership roles in their respective fields,” says Tara K. Cunningham, EdD, MS, associate dean for student life. “With the full support of our staff, students receive academic advising including tutoring, help with accessibility and accommodation issues, have access to a case manager to provide additional support, and can participate in wellness programming.
“Our aim is to create a more connected and supportive community by ensuring that all Geisel students feel equally valued and supported,” she says, “and empower them to excel academically and be prepared to work effectively across diverse fields to advance healthcare.”
During this first year, the student life team is “working on programming to further integrate the One Geisel vision and bringing the cohorts together to get to know each other, while also getting to know the MPH and MS students individually to assess their needs and tailor programming to address those needs, which may be different from those of the MD students,” Taryn C. Weinstein, EdD, MS, director of student life explains.
Earlier this year, the medical school embarked on a design study project to explore the feasibility of creating an inviting Geisel student life hub with gathering spaces that further encourage the office’s mission and brings students from across Geisel’s medical and health sciences programs together.
A team of Thayer School of Engineering graduate students and Geisel students led the design study to assess existing spaces in Remsen, Vail, and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center to meet that goal, finding that the former Student Affairs space on Remsen 3 met the criteria. After months of construction to transform that space, a grand opening to celebrate the new student life hub will be held later this fall.
According to Sonia Chimienti, MD, dean of educational affairs at Geisel, these changes will help students get to know each other, encourage collaborative research projects, and create an understanding that together they can be impactful. Integrating the programs and physical spaces will enhance that experience.
The key message Cunningham and Weinstein want to convey to the broader Dartmouth community is that 'One Geisel' is about unity and collaboration. “By revising the Office of Student Life, we're reinforcing our commitment to supporting all students across the medical school’s various disciplines, fostering an environment where interdisciplinary connections are not just encouraged but are essential,” Cunningham says. “This change reflects our dedication to equipping students with the diverse skills and perspectives needed to address complex challenges in healthcare, benefiting not just Geisel but the entire Dartmouth community and beyond.”
