The UMass Chan Medical School Diversity and Inclusion Office welcomed incoming students from the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the T.H. Chan School of Medicine to campus on Aug. 17 for the third annual Inclusive Excellence Orientation.
The day-long event included workshops about managing mental health, combating imposter syndrome, navigating UMass Chan as an LGBTQ+ individual and life in Worcester as a person of color. New students received T-shirts, UMass Chan bags and a full itinerary for programming held in the Albert Sherman Center.
“We talk about the groundbreaking research here and our commitment to primary care, but really what makes UMass Chan the best is the people,” MD/PhD student Abiola Ogunsola said, a smile on her face as she welcomed students. “I urge you to build your village. Even though there are three schools, don’t let those distinctions define you. Make connections everywhere.”
PhD candidates, second-year medical students and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students led a panel about “power mapping” students’ first year, offering advice about managing finances and finding mentors.
“This was my first time being on the East Coast and it was a huge culture shock for me,” said DNP student Chrissy Ahaiwe, who moved from Los Angeles to Worcester to become a nurse. “The way I evolved was by finding ways to explore Worcester by trying new things, trying new foods and interacting with people. I ventured out and adapted to this new environment.”
“It was a comforting and empowering experience to realize that a lot of us come from different backgrounds, but we’ve experienced similar struggles like imposter syndrome and anxiety about starting a new chapter,” said new medical student Vishni Arulanandam, after receiving the keys to her locker. “We were all able to talk through things, meet new people and learn strategies.”
“Something that really spoke out to me is the diversity—not just in the faculty and the people who participated, but also in the topics,” said Will Cruz, an incoming PhD student from Bakersfield, California. “We talked about financial aid. We also talked about mentoring and how you can create an inclusive environment, and that really spoke to me.”
First-year medical student Melanie Fu shared, “It’s nice to know that there are people at UMass Chan who care and are actively looking for feedback and ideas. I chose UMass Chan because I’ve heard about all this cool student life and emphasis on student wellness. Everyone I’ve met has been super welcoming. I’m excited to learn and grow in this environment.”
The day’s festivities ended with a mixer at the Worcester Beer Garden.
