Thriving Together: CVM Recognized for Excellence in Mental Health, Well-Being Initiatives
The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine received national recognition for its excellence and dedication to health and well-being with one of Insight Into Academia magazine’s 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Awards.
The Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award celebrates colleges, universities and professional schools that nurture a culture of mental health wellness and belonging by providing innovative support for the emotional well-being of students, faculty and staff.
“One of our priorities at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine is to strategize innovative and holistic ways to build a complete community that enables all members of our CVM family to thrive,” Executive Associate Dean Chris Adin, D.V.M., DACVS, said. “Cultivating a supportive environment that emphasizes mental health, well-being and provides meaningful resources and community initiatives is a major point of emphasis at both our college and university. People are our greatest resource and we want every one of them to feel valued and appreciated.”
Insight Into Academia’s award recognizes a commitment to whole-person success, including the integration of mental health initiatives, peer support and accessible services, and rewards the implementation of forward-thinking strategies to enhance academic success, belonging and institutional leadership.
UF CVM’s Efforts
Under the leadership of Adin, Dean Dana Zimmel, D.V.M., DACVIM, Assistant Dean of Student and Community Affairs Michael Bowie, Ph.D., and his team, UF Vet Med has pioneered an intentional, data-driven, comprehensive well-being initiative, and is the first veterinary college to implement the Mayo Clinic Well-Being Index survey college-wide. The college’s integrative model offers a scalable, community-centered framework for advancing mental health and community care in higher education.
With emphasis on an adaptable, community-focused model, programming was designed with fairness and ease of participation in mind, ensuring faculty, staff, students and house officers—regardless of their schedules or work locations—have opportunities to engage. From on-site therapists and digital tools to monthly morale events and workload reduction strategies, UF CVM’s approach is designed to enhance well-being across various populations and working environments.
CVM’s Kristen McCallum, LMHC, Well-Being Coordinator for veterinary students, Erica Cuneo, LCSW, social worker for the veterinary hospitals, and Tiffany Griffith, administrative specialist in the Office for Academic and Student Affairs, are all instrumental in executing CVM’s mental health and wellbeing mission through their counseling expertise, wellness initiatives and implementation of student well-being activities, respectively. Through its tiered approach to student well-being – tier 1 reaching 80% of the community, tier 2 targeted towards 15-20% of the CVM population and tier 3 for 5-15% of the CVM community needing intensive support to thrive – UF College of Veterinary Medicine is on the leading-edge of higher education mental health and well-being innovation and implementation strategies.
Mental Health and Well-Being Highlights and Initiatives at UFCVM
- UF boasts two licensed counselors at the College of Veterinary Medicine, a licensed clinical social worker for the UF Veterinary Hospitals and an annual cohort of Student Wellness Ambassadors for peer-to-peer support
- Revamped recognition programs, like the One Community One Health celebration featuring fun, engaging and rewarding raffle prizes and CVM’s Emerging Leader and Community Builder Awards
- Programming highlights for all include Bounce Back Breaks, monthly themed celebrations for a break from the day-to-day to explore areas of mental health and wellness through nutritional, environmental and physical wellness initiatives; Wellbeing luncheons; Pop-up celebrations, for example: potato-based snacks on National Potato Day; Scheduled curriculum breaks featuring Wellness Mornings/Afternoons
- Community Circles that offer the opportunity to share space, time, strengths and struggles with a cohort to better normalize the human experience; Monthly and yearly events to learn new skills, like yoga or self-defense; Lunch and Learns to learn about occupational wellness over free lunch; Deans luncheons to build community, share ideas and offer a voice in the educational experience
- Individualized support including counseling with in-house counselors; Outside referrals; Supportive resources and case consultation with external providers
- The Hospital Culture Club Initiative in the UF Veterinary Hospitals to implement monthly events to cultivate a positive culture
- VEM 5051: Welfare and Wellness for Pets and People offered in the UF CVM curriculum
CVM will be featured, along with 70 other recipients of the award, in the September 2025 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.
“We know that institutions are not always recognized for their dedication to their mental health and well-being services and support for their students and employees,” said Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “We are proud to honor these colleges and universities as role models for other institutions of higher education.”
Visit the magazine online for more information about the 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award and for a list of this year’s award winners.
About Insight Into Academia
Insight Into Academia magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in higher education excellence and belonging. Through thought-provoking print and online articles, we share expert advice, valuable resources, in-depth profiles of top programs at colleges and universities, headline news and much more.
Insight Into Academia is proud to recognize institutions that demonstrate excellence in fostering campus environments where students, faculty and staff thrive. Through our prestigious awards, we celebrate colleges, universities and professional schools that implement forward-thinking strategies to enhance academic success, belonging and institutional leadership. These awards honor institutions that prioritize student achievement, cultivate supportive communities and drive meaningful progress across campus life. Our recognition programs, including category-specific honors in health professions, business, STEM, and library innovation, spotlight the impactful initiatives shaping the future of higher education.