Starting Off on the Right Foot

It’s no surprise that medicine and pharmacy school can be stressful at times, especially for first-year students. That’s where Peer Advisors can help.

Each year, second-year Northeast Ohio Medical University students work with small, personal groups to help first-year students find a balance between their academic, personal and professional lives. Two Peer Advisors from the College of Medicine and another two from the College of Pharmacy are teamed with six to nine first-year students within their college.

“Since the first-year students often feel overwhelmed, it is nice for them to know that they can seek out guidance and support from their Peer Advisors, who they feel comfortable going to as they adjust to the many pressures and stressors of medicine and pharmacy school,” says Harmony Stanger, the assistant director of student development and leadership in the Office of Student Affairs.

Whether it’s something as simple as wishing students good luck before an exam or more in-depth help, like teaching the incoming students how to take better notes, Peer Advisors fill an important role for their classmates.