New Student Resources

Important: Required Information

Submit Your Health Forms

We do not accept forms via email. You must submit forms via the Patient Portal, or if you choose to submit paper medical forms, please send them by U.S. mail or fax. We will begin review of required health forms in mid-June and contact you regarding any missing items. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be flexible with deadlines and work with you to complete your file.

Students with Known Health Conditions, Complex Concerns and Food Allergies

Please contact our office and speak to a nurse. We encourage you to book a new patient appointment to get acquainted. If you have food allergies, contact the office of Disability Services and carry an EPI-PEN at all times. Students requiring allergy shots must seek a local allergy provider; we do not provide allergy shots.

Who We Are

We are a team of healthcare professionals dedicated to helping all students stay healthy and whole. We see students of all genders and identities, regardless of insurance, by appointment. We offer fun, informative workshops throughout the year. 

Medical Services

We provide routine preventative health care such as sports and travel physicals; general check-ups; clearance exams for volunteer work or internships; reproductive and sexual health exams; contraception; and related health education. We offer problem-oriented care for sickness and injuries, nutrition consultation, and acupuncture services. We have a lab on site.

Counseling Services

Our mental health counselors and psychiatrists provide ongoing private and group counseling to support mental health needs and medication management as appropriate. 

Wellness Services

Our wellness team provides one-on-one appointments and special workshops designed to help all students live full, balanced lives and find their own unique ways of thriving. 

Contact Us

Additional Helpful Contacts

Academic Year Office Hours

After Hours

When the medical service is closed, a nurse is available for phone consultation: 413-585-1260. A counselor is available by phone: 413-585-2840. 

Urgent Care

If the Schacht Center is closed, contact the after-hours nurse (413-585-1260) or counselor (413-585-2840) before seeking urgent care or going to the emergency room, if possible.

If needed, urgent care without an appointment is available at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and a number of area urgent care providers. Campus safety can provide urgent transportation to Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

When College Offices Are Closed

When Smith academic and administrative offices are closed due to weather or other emergencies, the Schacht Center is closed. A nurse is available for phone consultation: 413-585-1260. A counselor is available by phone: 413-585-2840.

Health Insurance

We strongly encourage all students to purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan. The plan provides comprehensive coverage on campus and throughout western Massachusetts. The plan is effective August 15–August 14 every year. All students are automatically enrolled in the plan, and are required to complete the online decision form on the Gallagher Student Health website by the posted deadline. Further information about the insurance plan, waivers, and related deadline will be posted on or about July 1 the Student Financial Services office. 

Questions related to waiving or accepting Student Health Insurance should be directed to Gallagher Student Health or Student Financial Services via email to sfs@smith.edu.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE

Allergy Shots

The Schacht Center no longer offers allergy immunotherapy treatment, including injection or sublingual therapy, commonly referred to as allergy shots. In keeping with best practices for patient safety, students requiring allergy therapy are better served by local allergists.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ALLERGY SHOTS

Health Resources

A comprehensive guide to resources on general health, vaccines, LGBTQIA+ health and wellness, reproductive and sexual health, healthy relationships and more.
HEALTH RESOURCES

Wellness Welcome

Congratulations and welcome to Smith! You probably know that you're going to learn a lot in your classes and you're going to make friends and generally have an amazing time here at Smith. What you probably don't know is that the most important thing you're going to learn over the next four years are not the things you learn in the classroom, but the things you learn while you're trying to get good grades, have great relationships, figure out what to do with your life, and generally try to be a person while also being a student. The most important things are about balancing your own needs with the needs of the people around you; the most important things are about aligning your day-to-day life with your core identity and motivations.

It'll take a while for that paragraph to make sense. In the meantime, here are my top five basic wellness tips for first-years:

1. Person first, student second, everything else comes third. When in doubt, prioritize this way.
2. Eat stuff that looks the way it looked when it was alive—whole fruits and vegetables, unprocessed meats (if you eat meat)—and minimal sugar. Those are pretty much the only rules you need to follow in order to eat healthfully. Students who eat more fruits and vegetables have higher GPAs—seriously, survey research confirms this.
3. Get some exercise. ANY exercise. Walk around the block or join an athletic team, whatever works for you. Physical activity is the single most efficient strategy for dealing with stress.
4. Make sleep a priority. Students who get more sleep have higher GPAs! Sleep makes your brain sticky, so you remember what you hear and see. Sleep deprivation makes your brain slippery, so everything just slides away. Get seven hours a night. Do it.
5. For two minutes a day, every single day, slow down and pay attention to your breath. While you're brushing your teeth, waking up or going to bed, between classes, before or after a meal, enjoy two minutes to sit still and pay attention to your breath. The beauty of the human brain is the way it connects unrelated ideas, so your mind will wander, which is normal and healthy. Let those thoughts go and return your attention to your breath. This mindfulness practice will train you to be in control of your brain, so that your brain is not in control of you. Two minutes a day. It'll change your life. (And raise your GPA!)

Check out the other info on this website and on our various social media pages. And you can always contact me at wellness@smith.edu.

Kristina Mereigh
Wellness Services Director

Online Tutorials

Wellness Services has created online tutorials on alcohol awareness and sex and relationship violence prevention and response. All first-year students are required to take the Smithie Alcohol Risk Tutorial (SMART).