Medical student Benjamin Dean gets ready to compete in the dodgeball portion of this year’s College Cup. (Photo by Ryan Fritz)
Health, wellness and whacky games mark VUSM’s College Cup
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine students went a little crazy recently, with the blessing of school administrators.
Enthusiastic games of dodge ball, messy musical chairs and ultimate frisbee helped students blow off a little steam after the first six weeks of school.
The third annual College Cup — a competition among VUSM's four advisory colleges complete with enthusiastic games of dodge ball, messy musical chairs and ultimate Frisbee — was held by the Student Wellness Committee with one important goal: keeping the students happy and healthy during their stressful medical school years.
“Medical students across the country have high rates of burnout and depression, and studies at some schools have shown an erosion of professionalism over the course of a student's training,” said Scott Rodgers, M.D., associate dean for Students and faculty advisor to the Wellness Committee. “Through events like the College Cup, we are trying to prevent such problems for our students.”
Rodgers said the real payoff is in developing deeper connections between students at all levels of training and between students and faculty mentors. Several students at VUSM work actively to improve wellness and fitness by chairing one of five wellness committees, including physical, social, mentoring, mind, and community.
VUSM students Matt Zackoff and Amil Allen co-directed this year's College Cup.
“We had the highest participation level yet. The energy level was high, spirits were up, and the sense of community and support this event strives to achieve definitely came shining through,” Zackoff said.
Robinson College was declared the winner, for a second year in a row.