CQI Spotlight (04/24/25)
Your Voice, Our Actions: Supporting Student Well-Being (Element 12.3 Personal Counseling/Mental Health/Well-Being Programs-Part 1)
At the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM), we are committed to supporting student mental health and well-being throughout medical education. One of the key areas reviewed by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is Element 12.3, which ensures that students have confidential and accessible personal counseling and support for wellness.
This week, we begin a two-part series to spotlight student feedback from the Independent Student Analysis (ISA) and share how UWSOM Counseling & Wellness Services are evolving through Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) efforts to better meet your needs.
About UWSOM Counseling & Wellness Services
UWSOM recognizes the unique challenges faced by medical students and has provided counseling and mental wellness support to address their needs. All School of Medicine Student Counselors are licensed mental health professionals with extensive experience supporting students through a wide range of concerns.
To ensure broad awareness and accessibility, information about available counseling services is shared through 1. UWSOM website, 2. Orientation Sessions, 3. Transition to Clerkship Sessions, and 4. Regular Emails, Newsletters, and Direct Communication from Counselors.
For a full list of services and resources, please check the website .
Your Feedback: Access to Services
According to the ISA report, the majority of students across all campuses report being able to access personal counseling and mental health services during the pre-clerkship phase: Across MS1 and MS2 students, agreement rates were high (85% and 84%, respectively), with 0%-2% students indicating disagreement.
| I am able to access personal counseling/mental health services during the pre-clerkship phase of the medical education program. | |||
| Class | % of N/A | % of Disagree | % of Agree |
| MS1 | 15% | 0% | 85% |
| MS2 | 14% | 2% | 84% |
| MS3 | 17% | 2% | 81% |
| MS4 | 24% | 2% | 74% |
However, during the clinical years (MS3 and MS4), there was a noticeable decline in agreement and increase in disagreement.
| I am able to access personal counseling/mental health services during the clerkship phase of the medical education program. | |||
| Class | % of N/A | % of Disagree | % of Agree |
| MS3 | 26% | 15% | 59% |
| MS4 | 29% | 11% | 60% |
| Total | 28% | 13% | 59% |
The data highlights a critical gap in accessibility of personal counseling and mental health services during the clerkship phase- a time when students often face elevated stress and need for support.
UWSOM in Action: Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Efforts
We heard you– and here is how we’re responding:
- Expanded Counseling Team: A fourth counselor, Emily Irwin, Med, LMHC joined the team in January 2025 to increase capacity and reach.
- Increase the Continuity of Services: To ensure continuity of services throughout the clinical phase, three members of the counseling services team are working towards getting licensed across the WWAMI by the end of the year.
- Online Scheduling Launching Soon: A new self-scheduling system has been purchased and is expected to go live by the start of the 2025-26 academic year. This tool will make it easier for students to
- View availability in real-time including the evening sessions until 7 PM Monday – Thursdays.
- Book appointments online (not by email)
Next Week in CQI Spotlight:
We’ll share more about student feedback on confidentiality in counseling and our measures to protect your privacy.
For more information, please contact eqi@uw.edu