Belmont Learning Community opens to medical, nursing and PhD students at UMass Chan

The new, student-run Belmont Learning Community at UMass Chan Medical School supports students across campus by fostering belonging and connection through mentoring, networking, leadership development and activities.

Kairo Baylor and Ahnyia Sanders, MS, are among the students who partnered with the Diversity and Inclusion Office to make the new learning community a reality.

“Medical, nursing and PhD students often move through their training on separate tracks, so bringing them together gives us the chance to learn from one another, build friendships across disciplines and practice the kind of collaboration we'll need as future colleagues,” said Sanders, a medical student from Miami, Florida. “I hope students feel seen, heard and understood. I also hope Belmont becomes a place where lifelong friendships and mentorships are built.”

Baylor, an MD/PhD student in the Medical Scientist Training Program from Maryland, said, “The need for this new learning community comes from the need to feel included, accepted and supported in the medical field, which is highly competitive and not easily attainable. When I was an incoming medical student, my best support came from peers in the same marginalized groups as me who went out of their way to make me feel welcome at UMass Chan. I hope this learning community can serve as proof that students perform better when they are supported.”

Students in the T.H. Chan School of Medicine are grouped into one of nine learning communities, or “houses,” which link students with faculty mentors and encourage interclass connections. Named after regionally significant locations, these learning communities have designated physical spaces on the main campus in Worcester and regional campuses in Springfield and Burlington.

The Belmont Learning Community also has its own space, but it is unique in that it is a student-run learning community and the first learning community open to all students. Medical students are invited to join as well as students in the Tan Chingfen School of Nursing and the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Belmont is not a replacement for the other learning communities, but it is an additional resource.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Belmont Learning Community will be held on Oct. 14. There will be a short speaking program at 4:45 p.m. in the Medical School Lobby, followed by the ribbon-cutting in the space, which is in the Office of Student Life on the first floor of the Medical School Building.

During orientation, Marlina Duncan, EdD, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion at UMass Chan, noted that students had asked for programming beyond the inclusive excellence orientation. Belmont will provide opportunities for students to build connections, expand their networks and engage with faculty and staff through networking, leadership opportunities and social activities.

“The Belmont Learning Community reflects our belief that students thrive when they’re surrounded by people invested in their success,” Dr. Duncan said. "By creating intentional opportunities for mentorship, connection and support, we are building a community where students can learn from one another, develop meaningful relationships with faculty and staff and grow into the health care leaders our communities need.”

The Belmont Learning Community is named after a historical neighborhood in Worcester, which has a large population of underrepresented individuals and is home to the oldest Black congregation in Worcester, the Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church. For the learning community’s seal, students chose an elephant because the animals are community-oriented and symbolize strength and resilience.

“Medical school is hard, especially as an out-of-state, first-generation medical student like me,” Sanders said. “It’s important for students from marginalized communities to have a strong support system. There's real comfort in shared experiences that can only be fully understood by someone who has lived them.”