In October, medical school leaders will bring together members of WMed and the broader community for a comprehensive event focused on well-being promotion, inclusive of emotional, physical, financial, and professional wellbeing.
The fourth annual WMed Well-Being Promotion Symposium is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., at the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus. Its goal is to raise awareness, share education, and spark meaningful conversations about the vital role of well-being within the health care and medical school community.
Originally launched in 2021 to honor the memory of faculty member Rebekah Sharp, MD, and later also in remembrance of medical student Jae Beckmeyer, the event has evolved to embrace a broader focus on the many dimensions of well-being and resilience. The event is free and open to the public and registration is open through Thursday, October 2. If you plan to attend, please register via the WMed Continuing Education Portal.
“Participants will explore the many dimensions of well-being -- emotional, physical, financial, and professional -- through an inspiring day of learning and connection,” said Surangi Pradhan, interim vice president of People and Culture at WMed. “From thought-provoking keynote presentations, including research into inflammation, depression, and suicidality to interactive workshops on stress management, trauma survival, resilience, and financial wellness, the event is designed to both inform and empower. Attendees will walk away with practical tools, fresh perspectives, and actionable strategies to strength their own well-being and uplift others -- while also building meaningful connections with others.”
The morning keynote address -- “Inflammation and its role in depression and suicidality” -- will be delivered by Lena Brundin, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Neurodegenerative Science at Van Andel Institute. For anyone who can’t attend in person, the morning and noontime keynote presentations will be available via livestream the day of the event and recorded for anyone who wants to view the presentations at a later date.
Dr. Brundin’s presentation will be followed by several breakout sessions that will be led by physicians, psychologists, and a variety of staff members from WMed with expertise in well-being, with topics including forgiveness and stress management, trauma survival, and multitasking as a healthcare professional.
After the first round of breakout workshops, lunch will be served and the noontime keynote will be delivered by Roger Apple, PhD, division chief of the Division of Pediatric Psychology and director of the WMed Pediatric Autism Center, along with Rachel Wasserman, PhD, Rebecca Pausch, PhD, Katherine Tennant-Beenan, PhD, Summer Cahin, PhD, and Kathryn White, MA, from the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine . Following the noontime keynote, attendees will embark on a second round of breakout sessions, with topics including burnout and building resilience through peer support, financial wellness, and holistic approaches to occupational health.
After the second round of breakout workshops, the symposium will wrap up with remarks from Eric Achtyes, MD, MS, DFAPA, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at WMed.
“A special thank you goes out to Thifa Sligh, Julia Young, Leslie Puckett and all the WMed volunteers,” Pradhan said. “This important event would not have been possible without their time, energy, and passion -- thank you for making such a meaningful impact in our community.”