In February of 2020, the leadership at the American University of Antigua College of Medicine formed the Wellness and Inclusion office, and Dr. Kimberly Mallin was named as the Dean of Wellness and Inclusion. She is a Diplomate of ABFM, is a Board-Certified Family Physician who has been in practice for over 20 years. In 2014, she moved to Antigua, where she developed the on-campus University Park Health Center, which provides health care for the over 1000 students, faculty, and staff of AUA COM. Although Dr. Mallin has moved on from this position, she laid the foundation for creating the many programs the Wellness and Inclusion Office presides over.
In 2016, Ms. Dawn Roberts joined the faculty in the Education Department at AUA. Ms. Roberts has a Masters degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in Applied Sociology. She worked for many years at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as an Associate Director of Student Affairs. She has extensive experience advising students from middle school to medical school. She has developed several programs focusing on diversity, attrition and retention for the University of Maryland, which are still thriving today. In 2017, while continuing to serve as an Academic Advisor, Ms. Roberts joined the Wellness Committee and remained very active and in 2020, she was invited to assist the Dean of Wellness and Inclusion. She is now the Director of Wellness and Inclusion.
The Wellness and Inclusion office programming focuses on students’ physical, mental, and non-academic well-being and assists students from a holistic perspective. Students are encouraged to make healthy choices and aim for a successful and balanced lifestyle while in medical school. Inclusion and equity is emphasized in our activities and programming. We encourage students to build positive relationships and help them to manage the stress of academic performance and life issues. We encourage students to grow in their emotional intelligence and help students maneuver some of the challenges they face in medical school. The Office of Wellness and Inclusion focuses on ensuring a positive culture and climate, in which everyone within the AUA community feels welcome and included.