Rx for law and medical students: teaching those under unique pressures how to care for themselves

Nwosu, who graduated from the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) just a few months ago, is starting to understand how real physician burnout can be. With a day-to-day that might involve patient deaths and high-stakes situations combined with long hours on the job, it’s not surprising that many physicians are impacted by depression, anxiety and mental health concerns. An estimated 300 doctors die by suicide every year. Lawyers, who also work long days, often manage hundreds of cases at one time and continually deal with conflict, also struggle with high numbers of suicides and other health issues, including depression and substance abuse.

Even before hitting the “real world” of work, medical and law students across the country experience higher rates of depression and mental health issues than other students – a trend many attribute to the high-pressure academic environments and demanding training students undergo. Being a med or law student is an exhilarating experience – but it can also be overwhelming.

They juggle challenging classes, competitive internships, rotations, networking – and studying for dreaded exams that mean the difference between earning a license to practice or not. Often students struggle with imposter syndrome – feeling like they don’t belong or they’re not smart enough to be in the room – and with perfectionism. The result can lead to students putting off their own health and wellbeing in the hopes of excelling academically. “That is a major problem,” says Rosario Lozada, associate professor of legal skills and values. It’s a problem that FIU Law and HWCOM have been addressing head-on at the university.

The College of Law has also been leading efforts to support its students. Before the pandemic struck in 2020, the college launched Wellbeing at FIU Law to provide strategies that help students engage with the physical, intellectual, occupational, spiritual, social and emotional dimensions of wellbeing. Students taking care of themselves, Lozada says, is of utmost importance – and it's also essential in helping them achieve their own goals. "Wellbeing is associated with performance and learning," she explains. "Law students who are proactive about their wellbeing are better equipped to reach their academic potential.” 

Just a few other resources for law students: An upper-level course that explores the intersection of wellbeing, ethics and professionalism; the FIU Law Dean of Students’ weekly newsletter featuring wellbeing tips and mini-videos; and a book club that focuses on managing stress proactively and developing tools for resilience, led by FIU Law Dean of Students Angelique Ortega and Lozada, who is a trained mindfulness facilitator with UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center.

Most recently, Lozada and Desmarais teamed up, along with a group of students and administrators, to launch a unique collaboration to reach out to students in both law and medicine, bring them together and provide resources for navigating wellness. The team has hosted a virtual step challenge; workshops on mindfulness and resilience; and conversations about nutrition and wellbeing with FIU faculty as well as national experts. The initiative – rolled out virtually due to the pandemic – was instantly met with warm enthusiasm and hefty online attendance.

“The fact that Professor Lozada and [Desmarais] have opened this door for us, it’s amazing,” says Stephanie Peña, a first-year law student and member of the law book group. “Having these events creates a really safe space.”

For Jenna Bergman, a medical student who regularly participates in HWCOM’s wellness center, attending events with law students (and meeting them for the first time) helped her embrace her Panther community and realize how similar both groups of students are. “You feel sometimes you’re going through it alone,” says Bergman, who will graduate this semester and start her residency at the University of South Florida's hospital. “Just to share your worries, hear your peers and get advice…it makes you feel like you have other people to reach out to.”

Building solidarity is a critical aspect of these programs, says Elisa Diaz, a third-year law student and president of the Student Bar Association. Diaz, who will graduate in May and is currently interning at the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office, was part of the team that helped organize the HWCOM-FIU Law collaboration.

Her words of wisdom for students starting law or med school: “Be self-aware. You often strive for perfection and you want to be this superhero, but it’s important to take the time to realize, ‘I don’t have to know everything or learn everything at once.’ I’ve learned a lot about asking for help. As an FIU student, there are so many resources through the law school or through the university in general.”