A career in the medical profession is extremely demanding in every aspect of life (i.e., emotional, intellectual, physical, financial). A successful and satisfying career in medicine requires a continual balancing of all the above-mentioned areas in order to be immensely rewarding.

To provide geographically and economically disadvantaged CMS students with tools to better establish and manage a life balance during their student years and beyond, and to increase their opportunity to fully achieve their personal and professional potential, Chicago Medical School has developed a voluntary individualized strategic enhancement program (ISEP). This program is designed to provide holistic support and the best learning environment for success.

This program will provide: 

• a comprehensive analysis of each student's strengths and areas of risk
• a strategic directions plan to maximize each student's academic, personal, and professional success.

For more information about the program, contact Dr. Hector Rasgado-Flores at hector.rasgado@rosalindfranklin.edu​.​​​​

OBJECTIVES

Mentors will work with students to identify areas of personal strengths and weaknesses that may affect the student's academic success. Mentors will also utilize information about the student's balance of life, gathered from the one-on-one interviews. Nutrition, sleep and physical exercise habits, social and family support, financial stability, and adaptation to the RFUMS, CMS, and Chicago area environment will be addressed.

Once risk factors are determined, pertinent free-of-cost programs in the following areas will be recommended.

• Physical fitness
• Financial management
• Nutrition advising
• Psychological and psychiatric support
• Sleep management programs
• Meditation and relaxation techniques​

CRITERIA FOR STUDENT SELECTION

Students are eligible for participation in ISEP if any of the following conditions apply:

• Economically and geographically disadvantaged.
• Current environmental stressors.
• First-generation of the family to go to college.

Participation in the ISEP will be voluntary. The ISEP presents students with an opportunity to:

• share their talents and strengths with their peers;
• address potential weaknesses; and
• develop an individualized plan for success.

Building a culture of shared strengths and talents, accepting weaknesses with the goal of tackling them, and developing a plan for achieving goals will build a foundation for resilience.

Leadership, Support and Mentors

Dedicated Committee 

Faculty Mentors

These faculty mentors will have access to the pertinent information necessary for the student's evaluation and analysis. They are caring, committed faculty which will have one-to-one monthly meetings with the students.

They are experienced and caring mentors who will help the students build strategies to achieve the student's goals.