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  • Center for Holistic Student Success

Center for Holistic Student Success

Student Handbook
  • General Information
    • Accreditation
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Emergency Processes
    • MD Program
    • Student-Centered EUSOM Contacts and Resources
  • Matriculation
    • Criminal Background Checks and Drug Testing
    • Entering Medical Student Health and Immunization Requirements
    • Student Agreements and Release
    • Technical Requirements for Matriculation*
  • Academic Standards, Policies, and Procedures
    • Attendance
    • Absences
    • Academic Integrity
    • Student Records
    • Students with Disabilities
    • Clinical Placement Reassignment and Schedule Changes
    • Graduation Requirements for the MD Degree
    • Leaves/Interruption of Medical Education
    • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
    • National Standardized Examinations
    • End of Applications (EOA) Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)
    • Progress and Promotions
    • Professional Conduct
    • Registration, Cancellation, and Withdrawal
    • Feedback to Students
    • Student Assessment, Grading, and Grade Appeals
    • Remediation
    • Use of Student Feedback
  • Other University and EUSOM Policies & Procedures
    • Emory University Policies
    • EUSOM Policies
  • Costs and Financial Aid
    • Costs of the MD Program
    • Applying for Financial Aid
    • Types of Financial Aid
    • Maintaining Academic Eligibility for Financial Aid
    • Financial Obligations for Graduation
    • Tuition Refunds
    • Financial Aid Resources and Helpful Links
  • Student Wellness, Health and Other Resources
    • Student Health
    • Student Insurance
    • Wellness and Well-Being
    • Infection Control Protocols
    • Academic Assistance
    • Career Advising
    • Other Resources
    • Video Lecture Capture
  • Information Technology
    • Information Technology Conditions of Use
    • School of Medicine Information Technology Services (SOMITS)
    • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) IT Requirements
    • Smart Device Security
    • Student Portal
    • WHSC Library

The Center for Holistic Student Success (CHSS) at Emory School of Medicine strives to:

  1. improve access to mental health resources,
  2. improve access to academic support resources, and
  3. promote trust and sense of belonging within the School of Medicine.

Our mission is to improve students' energy preservation through structures, systems, and supports that enhance student learning and development.

Our vision is to create an environment that optimizes the balance of health science students' mind, body, and spirit at Emory School of Medicine.

The goal of the CHSS is to promote student's self-guided learning and ability to navigate life with:

  1. optimal coping mechanisms,
  2. agency in accessing support, and
  3. experience in refining one's professional excellence.

The holistic triad of CHSS is the mind, body, and spirit of the SOM student.

Mind: Academic and Mental Health Resources

  • 1:1 academic coaching
  • Learning strategy support
  • Accommodations
  • Tutoring
  • Access to mental health resources inside and outside of Emory
  • USMLE Step 1 and 2 preparation resources
  • Student success workshops

Body: Physical Environment and Wellness Initiatives

  • Well-being activities complete with yoga, meditation, community-building, and holistic wellness initiatives
  • Encourage check-ups, preventative medicine, etc.
  • Access to healthy eating and promotion of options on campus
  • Continuous improvement of the physical space in the SOM
  • Provide oversight of student mistreatment reporting and action taken

Spirit: Spiritual and Human Connection

  • Grounding you in your "why"
  • Focus on sense of trust and sense of belonging among students, faculty, and staff
  • Emory connections to chaplains, religious and/or spiritual services, and access to interest groups focused on spiritual growth and development
  • Building synergy across the School of Medicine to optimize student success through relationship building, mission alignment, and community building

Center for Holistic Student Success Information

School of Medicine, Suite 305

Christen Hairston, PhD, MEd

Associate Dean for Student Success
404-712-0428 office

  • Accommodations
  • Study strategies
  • Student well-being
  • Holistic student success matters
  • Academic resources (i.e., UWorld, NBME practice exams, recommendations for coursework and board prep)
  • USMLE Step 1 and 2 preparation
  • Tutoring program
  • Access to mental health resources
  • Programming focused on SOM student trust and sense of belonging
  • Student mistreatment
  • General questions, concerns, or suggestions
  • Career in higher education, educational policy, community engaged scholarship, access and success for underserved students and admissions / institutional research. Research interests focus on student success, Step 1 preparation, international higher education, and access/success for underserved students
Gordon Churchward, PhD

Assistant Dean for Medical Education and Student Affairs
404-712-9943 office

  • Academic advising and support
Rana Van Voorhis, MS

Learning Specialist

Emily Generally, MSM

Senior Program Coordinator for Student Success
404-712-0448

  • CHSS Operations
  • Tutor Matching
  • Tutor Logistic Management
  • Student Event Coordination
  • Careers in Medicine
  • CHSS Budget and Finance
  • Accommodation Record Keeping
  • Notary Public, State of Georgia
Print as PDF

Last modified: 07/25/2024.

Student Handbook
  • General Information
    • Accreditation
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Emergency Processes
    • MD Program
    • Student-Centered EUSOM Contacts and Resources
  • Matriculation
    • Criminal Background Checks and Drug Testing
    • Entering Medical Student Health and Immunization Requirements
    • Student Agreements and Release
    • Technical Requirements for Matriculation*
  • Academic Standards, Policies, and Procedures
    • Attendance
    • Absences
    • Academic Integrity
    • Student Records
    • Students with Disabilities
    • Clinical Placement Reassignment and Schedule Changes
    • Graduation Requirements for the MD Degree
    • Leaves/Interruption of Medical Education
    • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
    • National Standardized Examinations
    • End of Applications (EOA) Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)
    • Progress and Promotions
    • Professional Conduct
    • Registration, Cancellation, and Withdrawal
    • Feedback to Students
    • Student Assessment, Grading, and Grade Appeals
    • Remediation
    • Use of Student Feedback
  • Other University and EUSOM Policies & Procedures
    • Emory University Policies
    • EUSOM Policies
  • Costs and Financial Aid
    • Costs of the MD Program
    • Applying for Financial Aid
    • Types of Financial Aid
    • Maintaining Academic Eligibility for Financial Aid
    • Financial Obligations for Graduation
    • Tuition Refunds
    • Financial Aid Resources and Helpful Links
  • Student Wellness, Health and Other Resources
    • Student Health
    • Student Insurance
    • Wellness and Well-Being
    • Infection Control Protocols
    • Academic Assistance
    • Career Advising
    • Other Resources
    • Video Lecture Capture
  • Information Technology
    • Information Technology Conditions of Use
    • School of Medicine Information Technology Services (SOMITS)
    • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) IT Requirements
    • Smart Device Security
    • Student Portal
    • WHSC Library
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