Center for Holistic Student Success | Emory School of Medicine

triad of mind body spirit makes up holistic well-being

The Center for Holistic Student Success (CHSS) seeks to improve student well-being through offering systems, structures, and supports that optimize the student experience. Our three primary goals over the next three years are to:

Improve access to mental health resources
Improve access to academic support resources
Improve trust and sense of belonging within the School of Medicine

CHSS promotes self-guided learning, healthy coping mechanisms, and normalizing accessing support.

Academic Support

From study strategies to time management issues, the Center for Holistic Student Success can help you discover new methods to improve your learning process. A newly expanded tutor program was also developed to increase access to tutor services for all students. Additionally, CHSS can help you navigate accommodations for both didactic and clinical spaces.

Academic Support

Well-being Support

Holistic well-being is the key to student success. CHSS supports healthy lifestyle choices and works to ensure students have resources to care for their physical well-being. CHSS also provides a safe space to focus on your mental and spiritual health, help you stay grounded in your "why," and connect you with resources across the Emory community.

Well-being Resources

Career Advising

Emory Development of Careers and Specialty Choice (DOCS) offers the tools necessary for medical students to succeed through counseling, workshops, mock interviews, information panels, and self-assessment all geared toward exposing students to specialty career pathways and preparing students to apply to their chosen residency programs.

EmoryDOCS: Career Advising for Medical Students

Meet the Team!

Christen C. Hairston, Ph.D.

Associate Dean of Student Success

Dr. Hairston's role is to envision ways to improve students' energy preservation through structures, systems, and supports that enhance student learning, experience, and development.

Dr. Hairston received her Ph.D. in Higher Education Policy, Planning, and Leadership from the College of William & Mary. She also holds a master's degree in counselor education and student affairs from Clemson University. She earned her bachelor's degree in history and German at Furman University.

Recently, Dr. Hairston completed a certificate in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University and a certificate in clinical and translational research from Clemson University. Her entire career has focused on access to and success for underserved students in higher education with the past decade being in medical education and health care.

Schedule a Meeting with Dr. Hairston

Emily B. Generally, MSM

Senior Program Coordinator

Emily supports the vision of CHSS as its Senior Program Coordinator. She received her master’s degree in management from Lander University and holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and communication studies from Clemson University.

Emily's role is to operationalize programming and student success initiatives for CHSS. She also serves as the program coordinator for the Emory Development of Careers and Specialty Choice (DOCS) program under the leadership of Dr. Mary Dolan. Emily has worked in health care for over 12 years, with the past 9 years focused on supporting student learners.

Schedule a Meeting with Emily

Rana Van Voorhis, MS

Learning Specialist

Rana focuses on 1:1 academic student support meetings, workshops, and community-building events. She earned her master's degree in Medical Sciences from the University of South Florida and a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences with minors in Music and Theology from The University of Notre Dame.

Rana's background is in teaching at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Her repertoire has included Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Biology, Comparative Physiology, Public Health, Physical Science, and Environmental Science.

Schedule a Meeting with Rana