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Bring On Spring 2026!
A new semester is a great time to check in on your health. University Health Services (UHS) supports students with medical care, counseling, and wellness resources throughout the year. This semester-start issue of The Checkup highlights how to access care, upcoming events, and resources available to support you this spring.
If you'd like to keep receiving The Checkup throughout the semester, sign up here.
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Upcoming Events
Featured events for the start of the semester.
View the full calendar below.
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Black History Month Campus Events
Throughout February
Join departments and campus partners across the university in honoring Black History Month. Throughout February, engage in events, programs, and resources that highlight Black history, culture, and contributions, while centering community connection, collective care, and wellness. Explore upcoming Black History Month events and find opportunities to learn, reflect, and connect.
Heart Health Month Events
Celebrate and care for your heart all week long!
Take Care of Your Heart Day
Wednesday, February 11, 11am - 2pm
Campus Center 1st Floor Terrace
Heart Health Day: Blood Pressure Screenings
Thursday, February 12, 11am - 1:30pm
Applied Physiology Lab, Quinn Upper Level
FlossTime Dental Clinic
Tuesday, March 3-5
UHS Clinic, Quinn Building, Floor 2
Skip the off-campus commute — FlossTime brings full dental services to campus, including cleanings, x-rays, fillings, and more. Add yourself to waitlist to be notified when appointments open.
| | KORU Mindfulness Drop-Ins | |
In Person:
Tuesdays, 4:30 - 5:00pm
Wednesdays, 2:30 - 3:00pm
Remote:
Mondays, 1:00 - 1:30pm
Fridays, 1:30 - 2:00pm
Upcoming KORU Drop-Ins Here!
| Behavioral Addictions and Substance Use (BASU)
Peer Support Meetings | |
Campus Center, 4th Floor, Meeting Room 4201
2nd and 4th Thursday each month
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
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BASU provides a safe, supportive space for individuals to share experiences, concerns, and resources around addictive behaviors and substance use, in-person and remote. Open to all!
Click here for more info!
| | Each semester, The Checkup introduces you to a member of the UHS team so you know who's here to support you. | |
Kim Hurdle-Carter, LICSW
Clinical Social Worker
and Coordinator
Counseling Center
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Favorite Animal: Leopard! 🐆
Professional Interests: Racial trauma, identity development, family dynamics, group work, community building, and collective healing.
Looking Forward to Most This Semester: Since I’ve started my role last semester, I’m looking forward to connecting more with students, groups, and staff within the UMB community.
Go-To Self-Care Habit: Reading or playing Stardew Valley
Fun Fact Most People Don’t Know: Whenever I listen to a song, I start to create a dance in my head. If I listen to a song enough, I’ll have a whole choreographed piece.
Favorite Spot On Campus: The benches outside of upper level of the Quinn Administration Building.
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Counseling Center Groups: Spring 2026
| Don’t see a group that feels like the right fit for you? We’d still love to hear from you. Reach out to Counseling.Center@umb.edu to share what you’re looking for! Your feedback helps us shape spaces that better reflect and support our community. | | |
Access:
Addiction & Substance Use Support
| Each semester, The Checkup explores common questions related to equitable access to healthcare at UMass Boston. | |
Q: Are there services on campus that address substance use or addictive behaviors?
A: Yes. Students can access confidential support through BASU (Behavioral Addictions and Substance Use Peer Recovery Group), the Counseling Center, and General Medicine. These services offer education, support, and referrals related to substance use and mental health concerns.
Q: What if I’m looking for help off campus or in another language?
A: The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) connects individuals to mental health and substance use services statewide. It's free, confidential, available in multiple languages, and does not require health insurance. Trained professionals can assess needs, provide crisis support, and stay on the line until next steps are secured.
📞 Call or text 833-773-2445 | 💬 Chat available | ⏰ 24/7, including holidays
Q: What should I do if I’m concerned about a friend, roommate, or family member?
A: Trust your instincts. You don’t need to have all the answers. You can:
- Encourage them to seek support through campus or community resources
- Reach out to UHS on guidance on how to support someone else
- Contact BHHL for advice, even if you're unsure what level of help is needed
- Learn about Naloxone (Narcan), a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. Free Narcan kits are available at UHS General Medicine's front desk.
If you recognize these signs, support and resources are available for both of you.
Have a question you'd like answered? Email wellness@umb.edu.
| | | Beacon Buzz:
Care & Connection This February | With Valentine's Day around the corner, it's a good time to think about how connection and care show up in our lives — for ourselves and for others. | #1. Connection doesn't have to look one way. | #2. Healthy relationships are built on respect and communication. | #3. Reaching out is a strength. | | | |
In each Clinician’s Corner, our staff will share their thoughts and expertise on a topic relevant to Beacons. Have a topic that you would like to see addressed? Email wellness@umb.edu.
Written by Bethany Gunnet, MSN, FNP, Nurse Practitioner
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Happy 2026, Beacons! With the start of a new year, many individuals feel a renewed commitment to improving their whole person well-being. With that in mind, the Beacon Wellness Initiative is excited to announce the launch of several new offerings on campus!
But first what is the Beacon Wellness Initiative?
Glad you asked! The Beacon Wellness Initiative is a cross-campus partnership working to transform how wellness services are delivered and promoted on campus. Guided by the science of lifestyle medicine, we support whole-person wellness by empowering individuals to make daily choices that promote long-term physical, mental, and emotional health.
Looking to build healthier habits with expert guidance? Starting in Spring 2026, the Beacon Wellness Initiative will collaborate with University Health Services to offer Lifestyle Medicine, Nutrition, and Nicotine Cessation visits for students seeking education, goal-setting, and support around healthy lifestyle practices.
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Lifestyle Medicine visits are non-clinical, educational consultations with a Nurse Practitioner focused on how everyday behaviors impact health, with the goal of preventing, treating, and even reversing chronic conditions through evidence-based lifestyle changes.
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Nutrition visits are with Dining Services' Registered Dietitian, who can support students in managing medical conditions, improving dietary habits, and achieving personalized wellness goals.
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Nicotine Support Services visits with our Tobacco Treatment Specialist are for students who want to learn more about nicotine, reduce use, quit, or simply talk about their options — whether you're ready to make a change or just thinking about it.
These three new visit types are intentionally non-medical so they can focus on coaching, education, and behavior change without the requirements of a traditional medical appointment. As a result, they are offered at no charge and not billed to insurance. They will not include medical diagnoses, prescriptions, lab work, or imaging, nor do they replace care from a primary care provider/specialist.
Ready to take the next steps? These visits will soon be available to be booked online via the My Health Beacon Portal. Stay tuned to @UMBWellness on Instagram.
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UHS’s monthly initiative featuring a visiting therapy dog in a different campus department each month.
This February, join UHS, the Office of Housing and Residential Life, and the Office for Advising Excellence for a day of wagging tails and campus connection.
Click on the image to view all upcoming Pause for Paws events!
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Wednesday, February 4th
MEET J
East Res Hall, 1st floor, Fishbowl
10AM- 11:30AM
MEET SHYLOW
Campus Center, 1st floor, 1300.04
1PM - 3PM
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sExpress Program
Order condoms, dental dams, personal lubricant, pregnancy tests, and emergency contraception from the UHS sExpress program — delivered right to campus! Orders are contactless and ready within 72 hours.
| | | If you’re feeling lonely, stressed, or just have things on your mind, Togetherall offers anonymous peer support from a community of real people who understand. | Click on the icon below to join today! | | | What flowers get the most kisses on Valentine's Day? | | Each issue highlights a campus or local resource supporting student health and well-being. If you have an organization that you would like to see featured, email wellness@umb.edu. | | |
Dorchester Art Project
The Dorchester Art Project works to create an equitable creative economy by democratizing access to the means of creation through their cooperative structure. By giving artists and organizers access to ownership and job opportunities we aim to increase Boston cultural retention, preservation and liberation.
Dorchester Art Project is a worker owned cooperative, meaning, those who work at Dorchester Art Project are able to become owners of the cooperative. This cultivates resilience, ensures alignment and offers opportunity. Ownership means decision making power, giving the ability to steer the direction and ensure alignment with the mission and communities needs, as well as the benefit of profit distribution. In addition, ownership and collaboration in the workplace can be a practice ground for taking this framework into your city, your home, your life.
We Are a Cooperative
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UHS Clinic Hours
Monday - Wednesday: 8:30am - 7:00pm
(Telehealth appointments available
5:00 - 7:00pm)
Thursday - Friday: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Closed weekends and holidays
Location: Quinn Building, 2nd Floor
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Contact Us
24/7 General Medicine Line
617.287.5660
24/7 Mental Health Crisis Hotline
855.634.4135
In an emergency, always call 911.
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