Medical student resources

Health and wellness

Resources are available for students at the UWSchool of Medicine and Public Health to help maintain physical and mental health.

University Health Services (UHS)

Your health is critical to your success in medical scool. University Health Services offers high-quality medical high-quality medical care, prevention, and wellness services to all UW–Madison students, including health professional students. Medical services include a primary care clinic and specialty clinics for immunizations, women’s health, travel, and sexual health. For students with complex or unstable conditions requiring other types of specialty care, UHS can refer to providers off campus utilizing personal insurance.

Make an appointment

UHS Mental Health Services

All UHS services, including Mental Health Services, are paid for by your student health fee and there are no additional costs for mental health services. These resources include individual, couple/partner, and group counseling; psychiatry, survivor services, outreach programming; stress management; and 24/7 crisis services. On-demand, self-service mental health tools and resources offered by UHS include SilverCloud (an online, self-guided, interactive resource that provides students with accessible cognitive behavioral interventions), There is no cap on the number of sessions available to medical students, therefore, as long as you are enrolled in medical school, you will have access to all UHS and mental health services.

Mental Health Services is a welcoming service for students who may not have used counseling resources in the past, and can also help students establish local care to continue or resume therapy they have already begun. Recognizing the rigors of medical school, we have dedicated psychologists who work exclusively with health professions students. These psychologists are knowledgeable about the challenges posed by a high-intensity program of study.

How to schedule an appointment

1. Call UHS Mental Health Services at 608-265-5600, ext. 2 (333 E. Campus Mall)
2. Identify yourself as a medical student and ask to schedule a counseling appointment with one of the medical school psychologists; you will be scheduled directly without going through our access system.

For urgent mental health needs, call the Mental Health Services 24-hour crisis line at 608-265-5600, option 9. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be connected to a counselor who can assist.

Confidentiality

University Health Services is a HIPAA compliant organization and follows all local, state, and federal laws protecting patient confidentiality. Your provider will review this with you individually where you will have an opportunity to ask questions or get concerns addressed. UHS does not share confidential information with anyone, including academic programs, unless given permission in writing by the patient. There are standard exceptions to this that will be familiar if you have used any healthcare service in the past and will be reviewed at the outset of initiating services.

Inclusion and belonging 

We recognize the ways in which the deeply entrenched historical, social, and cultural impacts of systemic racism, social injustice, and structural inequities manifest in the experiences and learning of our students in the health care field. Acknowledging these challenges, Students Services works to sustain a diverse and inclusive community. We are committed to challenging discrimination and addressing these disparities and inequities.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Student Services Coordinator within Student Services is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging among students in the School. The Coordinator offers:

• Support services and specialized culturally aware advising and mentorship for students who identify as historically underrepresented in medicine, or come from other marginalized backgrounds;
• The availability to meet one-on-one with students looking for support around issues of identity;
• Guidance for students to maximize the experiences and resources at the School to enhance their personal growth, development, and academic success;
• Safe spaces for all students to discuss and deepen their understanding around issues of DEI

Working collaboratively with the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and the Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP), we create programs and host social and cultural events that celebrate and promote diversity; build community; facilitate networking; connect incoming students with diverse faculty-role models; and support underrepresented in medicine student organizations.

Disability accommodations

The UW School of Medicine and Public Health welcomes qualified students with disabilities.

If you have a disability, reasonable accommodations are available. This is true whether you have a known disability upon matriculation, or whether you develop a disability during medical school. Contact the SMPH Technical Standards Director at tsaac@med.wisc.edu for more information.

More details are included in the technical standards policy. 

Medical student ombuds

The medical student ombudsperson serves as a neutral, independent, and confidential resource for UW School of Medicine and Public Health  MD students, providing a safe forum to voice concerns, evaluate a situation, express feelings, discuss options, and promote resolution of issues or conflicts.

The ombudsperson is independent of existing school administrative and academic structures and supplements existing resources available for students.

The medical student ombudsperson treats all matters confidentially within the bounds of the law. The goal is to offer medical students another venue through which to discuss concerns should the student wish to do this confidentially outside the resources provided through the medical school.

Emergency Financial Support 

Through the generous support of our donors, the school can assist medical students by promoting financial wellness with limited support through the Medical Student Emergency Support Fund through limited, financial support

The fund can provide assistance with emergency expenses surrounding situations such as accidents, illness, death of a family member, fire damage, theft, or, needs related to COVID-19.

Apply for emergency funding