from The President

The British writer G.K. Chesterton once said, “The trouble with always trying to preserve the health of the body is that it is difficult to do without destroying the health of the mind.”

In the context of medical education and training, that quote denotes a different challenge. In the process of learning to preserve the health of the body, more than a quarter of medical students and resident physicians experience depression or a major depressive episode.

From the rising competition for residency slots to the reality of life-and-death decisions to a reluctance to ask for help, students and trainees are at much greater risk of mental-health disorders than the general population.

But a new concern for wellness and resiliency is shifting the culture. The national organization that oversees residency training just made wellness for residents a priority. Medical schools across the country, including EVMS, are integrating student wellness into their curricula. Learn why the well-being of our students and residents is so important to us and the steps we are taking to reflect this.

Embarking on a new academic year seems an appropriate time to enhance EVMS Magazine. In this issue you will find two new sections: Behind the Bench, to showcase our world-class researchers; and a photo essay, offering a different way of storytelling.

As always, thank you for reading — and for supporting the academic health center that strives to bring good health and wellness to you and your family.