Preston
Parana,
B.S.
Medical Student, Health & Wellness Committee Chair
Wayne State University
Preston Parana is a second-year medical student at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. As Health & Wellness Committee Chair for the Class of 2028, he is passionate about developing peer support programming that enhances medical student wellbeing. He also serves as Patient Resource Education Coordinator for the Student-Run Free Clinic, and Site Coordinator for FreshRx, programs that support uninsured Detroiters. He plans to pursue a residency in internal medicine, and has a strong research interest in raising awareness of community health inequities, with a particular research focus on the impact of medication access on population health.
Presenting at the Nexus Summit:
BackgroundMedical school is intensely challenging—academically, emotionally, and socially—with the post-COVID shift to virtual learning only deepening students’ struggles. Nationally, medical students report higher rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, and suicidal ideation (up to 11%) compared to age-matched peers. The LCME now requires schools to maintain “an effective system of counseling services that promote [student] well-being.” While recent studies suggest student-led wellness initiatives are among the most effective, few medical schools assess structured peer support models.Med2Med…