What is a Learning Community?
Learning communities offer our students the opportunity to network and work directly with a physician in the local community who will mentor them through their four years at Alice L. Walton School of Medicine.
In a medical school setting, learning communities refer to a structured, longitudinal group of students and faculty designed to enhance the educational experience through:
Mentorship
Collaboration
Personal and professional development
At AWSOM, these communities are composed of four Student Houses led by a Career Mentor.
AWSOM Student Houses
House of La Flesche Picotte
House of La Flesche Picotte commemorates the work of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Indigenous woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. Dr. La Flesche Picotte was guided by a deep commitment to serve her Omaha community. She provided essential medical care to thousands while championing the rights and well-being of her people. Outside of the clinic, Dr. La Flesche Picotte advocated for critical public health campaigns, including the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis.
House of Salk
House of Salk honors the legacy of Dr. Jonas Salk, whose groundbreaking work led to the development of one of the first safe and effective polio vaccines. Dr. Salk’s choice not to patent the vaccine ensured its global accessibility. Dr. Salk’s work demonstrates the power of collaboration between medicine and the arts. He credits his vaccine breakthrough to a retreat at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi — a reminder that true innovation often comes when we step beyond our usual environments. His legacy continues through the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a center for scientific discovery and innovation.
House of Taussig
House of Taussig recognizes the accomplishments of Dr. Helen B. Taussig, who is widely recognized as the founder of pediatric cardiology. She also developed a surgical approach to treat Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect, and transformed the lives of countless children. Dr. Taussig shaped the field of pediatric medicine in the face of personal adversity, and made significant contributions to drug safety by advocating for strong pharmaceutical regulation.
House of Williams
House of Williams celebrates the impact of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a surgeon who performed the first successful open-heart surgery in the United States. Beyond his surgical accomplishments, Dr. Williams was a powerful advocate for Black Americans in medicine. He founded Provident Hospital, the country’s first non-segregated hospital, and co-founded the National Medical Association to advance opportunities for Black medical professionals.
What is a Career Mentor?
Career Mentors are practicing physicians from the local area selected to help guide students with personalized advice throughout their medical journey, including sharing expertise in key areas such as clinical rotations and residency applications.
They also support students in developing their:
Professional identity
Networking
Specialty advising with other medical professionals
Program Details
Students meet with their Career Mentor at least once per month, typically for a lunch meeting.
All learning communities have a monthly discussion topic, with the Career Mentor facilitating the discussion and student reflection.
Career Mentors may also share topics from their own experience, providing students with insights into “the day in the life of a physician.”
A student from each learning community will be selected by their peers to be a Learning Community Representative. They are charged with meeting with the other representatives and planning events focused on wellness, collaboration, and relationship building.
Students are assigned to a Career Mentor before Orientation and meet with their Learning Community during Orientation.
Contact Information
For additional information related to Learning Communities, please contact our Director of Student Life and Development: studentlife@alwmed.org