Teaching, Learning & Innovation Summer Institute

We propose convening a workshop that explores the recent research we undertook to address issues of student learning and wellness within the learning environment at the Georgetown School of Medicine.

The Build & Belong study at Georgetown School of Medicine, launched in May 2017, set out to explore how to improve medical students’ wellbeing and resilience in medical school by reducing ‘belonging uncertainty’-- a concept explaining one’s sense of belonging in new social and academic settings, especially if one is targeted by negative stereotypes. Guided by theories of social belongingness in primarily undergraduate academic environments, an evidence-based model of social belonging was adapted for the medical school academic environment.

The workshop will feature study design, focus group information, data analysis insights, and address promising strategies moving forward to implement in other learning environments across Georgetown. Outcomes from the workshop include gleaning insights around social belonging informed strategies and discussion of adoption of similar promising strategies at other campuses.

Our goal was to develop a better understanding of the potential impact of influencing medical students’ sense of belonging, given experiences of depression, burnout, distress and social isolation experienced in medical school. The Build & Belong Campaign explored the value of vulnerability, convenience of access to program information, community building, and faculty awareness.. Insights generated by this research will potentially contribute to new psychosocial intervention research in the medical education realm. Other undergraduate and medical schools and graduate schools (business, policy, education) may also be interested in implications of our research as they endeavor to reduce stress and create a culture of well-being at their schools.