Health, Wellness and Counseling

The Office of Educational Excellence assists students with maintaining their physical, mental, and spiritual health for all campuses.

The Office of Educational Excellence promotes the physical and emotional health of students in the Wake Forest University School of Medicine at all campuses. We provide counseling and referrals for short- and long-term personal problems that interfere with academic performance or personal well-being. Health care options for students include Medical Center Employee Health Clinics for work-related screenings, vaccines, injuries or illnesses.All students are required to have health insurance at matriculation and throughout attendance, and group rate options are available.

Insurance

Hospitalization Insurance

Wake Forest University School of Medicine requires that all students have hospitalization insurance and maintain coverage throughout enrollment. Students who are eligible to continue under their parents' or spouse's coverage may do so.

As an alternative, the school of medicine has made arrangements for students and their families to purchase insurance at group rates. Please contact Financial Services regarding this insurance. Proof of insured status must be available to the Registrar at matriculation and throughout attendance at the School of Medicine.

Any charges incurred that are not covered by insurance will be the personal responsibility of the student. Clinical services that are institutional requirements (e.g., flu shots, tuberculosis test, etc.) will not create any charges for the individual student.

Dental Insurance

Wake Forest University School of Medicine has made arrangements for students and their families to purchase dental insurance at group rates. Please contact Financial Services regarding this insurance.

Student Health Care

Employee Health Services (located at both the Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center - Winston-Salem Campus and the Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center – Charlotte Campus).

Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center – Winston Salem campus: All School of Medicine students have access to Employee Health located in the medical center. Students may seek medical attention either for primary care or specialty care by contacting the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Access Center on a dedicated student phone line – (336) 713-1298. When calling the Access Center, students must confirm they are a Wake Forest University School of Medicine student. Identifying as a student ensures that any potential conflicts of interest in provision of health care services and evaluation as a student are managed. Additionally, some clinics may hold appointments for students and may be able to accommodate students with expedited service.

Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center – Charlotte Campus: All School of Medicine students have access to Employee Health located in the medical center. Students may seek medical attention either for primary care or specialty care by contacting

Student and Teammate Health

Students and teammates have access to health clinics located at Wake Forest Biotech Place in downtown Winston-Salem and at LiveWell located in the Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center – Charlotte campus adjacent to Employee health. Both sites offer medical evaluation and treatment for common acute care issues and referrals for ongoing medical conditions.

Urgent Care

Urgent Care – Clemmons: Open 7 days a week, with late and weekend hours, for unexpected health needs and minor medical emergencies.

Atrium Health Urgent Care - Morehead (Charlotte): Providing convenient care for sudden illnesses and injuries that are non-life threatening.

Family Medicine

Family Medicine – Peace Haven: Offering primary care for patients of all ages in and around Winston-Salem, NC.

Family Medicine - Reynolda: Offering primary care for patients of all ages in and around Winston-Salem, NC

Family Medicine - Piedmont Plaza: Offering primary care for patients of all ages in and around Winston-Salem, NC

Counseling and Well-Being Services

Counseling and Well-Being Services (CAWS) is here to help you flourish. We help students in the School of Medicine find their compass and cultivate resources so that they can successfully navigate the demands of higher education to become thriving citizen-professionals in healthcare. Our services are offered within a context that respects the unique dignity and strength of each person and honors cultural and individual differences. CAWS also works in conjunction with the School of Medicine at large to help create an environment that supports learning and develops the whole person.

CAWS provides students with short-term counseling or referrals for personal problems that interfere with academic performance or personal well-being. In addition to promoting the emotional, intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual well-being of students, we provide:

Individual counseling
Group counseling
Couples counseling
Consultation
Coaching
Psychiatric and community counselor referrals
Well-being outreach

We’re a therapy center rather than a 24/7 crisis center. Therapy appointments are available Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 5 pm. Consultations are available throughout the week.

For after-hours or emergency services, please contact the Counseling Services Emergency Helpline at 336-716-0637 and press Option 2 to speak to a live counselor.

Our staff includes licensed mental health professionals who are committed to:

Student growth and well-being
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Creating safety that allows for vulnerability and growth
Modeling self-care and balance
Adaptable, flexible and creative services
Integrity in our actions

We believe:

Our students are courageous, innately resourceful and fiercely curious
Our clients are the best expert on themselves
That making a decision to seek support through counseling is a sign of strength and wisdom
All our students have inherent potential for healing and growth and the capacity to flourish personally and professionally

Learn More about Counseling and Well-Being Services

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