Health

NYSHIP Health Insurance

Doctoral student employees at the Graduate Center who meet certain conditions are now eligible for health insurance coverage. The health insurance is made available through the Student Employee Health Insurance Program (SEPH) component of the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP). Graduate Center doctoral students will join SUNY doctoral students in the Student Employee Health Insurance Program and will receive the same coverage. Please see http://web.gc.cuny.edu/provost/doctoral_students/health.html for more information on enrollment and eligibility.

Student Health Services (SHS)/Wellness Center

The Student Health Services (SHS) is staffed and directed by a licensed Nurse Practitioner, providing episodic and primary health care to all registered Graduate Center students. Services include visits for acute medical problems as well as management of ongoing health issues, women’s health examinations and pap smears, men’s genitourinary examinations, screening for STDs (sexually transmitted disease), immunizations, referrals to outside health care providers, health and wellness programs, and workshops. Students are seen by appointment, but students with particularly urgent problems will be seen on a walk-in basis, as available. There is no charge for visits to the Student Health Services. Laboratory costs for blood and urine tests are substantially reduced through an arrangement with Mount Sinai Medical Center and then reduced further through partial subsidies from the Doctoral Students’ Council (DSC), the student government. For students who are uninsured or underinsured, and require radiology testing, prescriptions, or specialty referral, the SHS attempts to direct students to the least expensive providers, since these services are not connected with the Graduate Center. All students who are uninsured or underinsured are encouraged to investigate possibilities for health insurance and can receive advice through the Office of Student Affairs (212) 817-7400.

The Student Health Services office is open Monday through Friday from 9a.m. to 5p.m. The Nurse Practitioner will be available for appointments from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; and from 10:30am to 6:30pm on Tuesdays. When the Nurse Practitioner is off-site, students needing immediate attention should go to a clinic or hospital emergency room. A listing of some alternative health care providers is available at the Student Health Services and will also be made available online during the Spring 2009 semester at : http://web.gc.cuny.edu/wellness. As the Spring 2009 semester progresses, this website will be revised and updated to include additional information, including such upcoming wellness programs, as the annual Wellness Festival, planned for 4/28/09.

For over a year the Student Health Service remained dormant or functioning on a limited basis, pending the hiring of a new Nurse Practitioner/Director, who started this past fall semester 2008, as well as an Administrative Coordinator, who just started on 1/12/09. With both positions filled, the Student Health Services is pleased to be resuming service to the Graduate Center Community. The SHS staff is as follows:

Nurse Practitioner/Director: Adraenne Bowe, FNP, PNP, MS
Administrative Coordinator: Cheri Vasquez
Office Assistant: Debbie Mandas

For further information, please feel free to visit, or call Student Health Services: Room 6422; 212-817-7020.

Psychological Counseling and Adult Development Center/Wellness Center

The Psychological Counseling and Adult Development (PCAD) Center offers short-term individual counseling, group counseling, consultations, workshops, and referral services to matriculated Graduate Center students. The center is staffed by licensed psychologists and post-doctoral and pre-doctoral fellows. Services are confidential and free of charge. To make an appointment, call 212-817-7020 or stop by our office in the Wellness Center, Room 6422.

Our Spring 2009 Action and Mastery workshop series offers workshops on a variety of topics of interest to graduate students, ranging from dissertation completion to dealing with procrastination to ways to keep mind and body healthy. Over 95% of students surveyed expressed satisfaction with past workshops, and indicated that they would recommend them to others. Join our staff of experts for one or more of these workshops to address topics in an open and supportive atmosphere. To sign up for a workshop, call 212-817-7021, or stop by our office.

All information pertaining to the PCAD Center, including descriptions of individual workshops can also be found on our web page at http://web.gc.cuny.edu/wellness/counseling.

Spring workshops:

Wed, Feb. 18th 12:00-1:15 Getting What You Need from Your Advisor
Thu, Feb. 26th 1:00-2:30 Approaching the Dissertation without Fear
Mon, Mar. 2nd 1:30-3:00 New Series: From Student to Scholar
Fri, Mar. 6th 2:00-4:00 Speaking with Confidence
Tues, Mar.10th 11:30-1:00 How to Stay Healthy in Graduate School
Fri, Mar. 20th 2:00-4:00 Overcoming Obstacles and Improving Effectiveness: Focusing Techniques
Mon, Mar. 27th 12:30-2:30 Body and Mind: Mindfulness Meditation
Wed, Apr. 1st 12:00-1:30 Stress and Perfectionism
Thu, Apr. 2nd 12:00-1:30 Dealing with Procrastination
Wed, Apr. 22nd 12:30-2:00 Parenting While in Graduate School
Tues, Apr. 28th 1:00-2:30 The Imposter Syndrome