Le Well October 13, 2025 Newsletter

Mental Illness Awareness Week took place last week, October 5-11.  On Thursday, October 9, CAPS@Le Well Counselor Monica Money was available for an open house during "Tea and Talk with Monica Money."

For World Mental Health Day on October 10, Le Well and the Medical Center Library collaborated to host students and others involved in the clinical learning environment for rock painting, coloring, and snacks.

Dr. Jeffrey Hoder, Director of Student Affairs for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and Neurology specialist in PT, exhibited his dexterity and positivity through rock painting.

OCTOBER is National Physical Therapy Month! 

According to the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapy has a critically important role in enhancing movement and function in people of every age and ability. PTs, PT Assistants, and PT students work to promote wellness, mobility and strength to support all aspects of work, life and play.

Le Well congratulates Dr. April Stouder, who has been named the Director of the Duke PA Program!  Dr. Stouder is a 2000 alumna of the Duke PA Program, an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, and a leader in education locally and nationally.

The Physician Assistant profession, which Dr. Eugene Stead called the "biggest innovation in medicine in my lifetime," originated under his leadership at Duke in 1965.  Happy Birthday, PA Program! 

Our mission is to provide centralized services to support SOM students and others involved in the healthcare learning environment.  Check out our website.

Resources for Health and Well-Being 

• Well-Being Navigator: Jeanine Bandini, LCSW, is part of the Le Well team and has a specific mission to connect SoM students with helpful resources to help them thrive; schedule a meeting here

• CAPS @ Le Well: Counseling and psychological services in Trent Semans Center - 919-660-1000 to schedule an appointment (specify that you are a student linked to Le Well / SOM)

• Duke Counseling & Psychological Services: Wellness Center on the University campus - 919-660-1000 to schedule an appointment or walk in M-F 9-4

• Timely Care: 24/7 telehealth mental health services

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - call or text 988  

• Peer Support Collective: 

  • SoM students are invited to engage 1:1 with psychology interns to provide mutual support  

  • Now Recruiting interested students to become interprofessional group peer supporters 

• Student Accessibility Services: Partners with students with disabilities to establish services for their access and inclusion on campus

• Identity, Culture and Religion: Centers that provide education, advocacy, and support for students

• Senior Associate Dean of International Students:  Responsible for advising, supporting, and advocating for the needs of international students and scholars at Duke University 

• Duke Chapel & Religious Life at Duke: Convenes, supports, and advocates for all  of the officially recognized Religious Life groups on campus that serve students

• Community Pantry: Provides access to nutritious food. Sponsored by Graduate and Professional Student Government

• Office of Financial Aid and Student Financial Planning: Maintains up-to-the-minute knowledge and provides support and advocacy concerning student financial aid and financial planning matters 

Remember!  All Health Science students are required to comply with the annual influenza vaccination policy for continued accessibility to Duke Health facilities and information systems.  The compliance deadline is Tuesday November 18, 2025 at 10 a.m. - which is the same as for Duke employees.  if you receive your vaccine through a Duke-affiliated option (Flu Fighter Clinics on a walk-in basis starting September 17; Student Health on a scheduled basis starting October 1; or Employee Occupational Health and Wellness Clinics) you will not need to submit documentation to Student Health; if you go to another place for your vaccine, you must upload your documentation into the Student Health Gateway. 

Seeking Students, Faculty and Staff Looking to Learn Skills to Promote Constructive Dialogue The Constructive Dialogue Institute's Perspectives for Academic Medicine Curriculum is available for interested SOM students, faculty and staff — Register here to participate in (non-credit-bearing) October, November or December cohorts. If you are a student in the MBS or fourth year of the MD program, check your electives and Capstone options.

Students are welcome to access the University-Wide Strategic Realignment site, designed and maintained in an effort to inform the community of future steps in its university-wide strategic realignment.  Additional information can also be found at the SOM intranet site.

Have you experienced mistreatment? Wanting to talk about it? Wondering how best to proceed? 

Please reach out to jane.gagliardi@duke.edu and/or submit a report through the Adverse Events Reporting System.  

THIS WEEK @ LE WELL