Holistic Student Support (HSS) Framework

The Holistic Student Support (HSS) Framework builds on the principles of mission-aligned retention by recognizing that admitted learners need systems intentionally designed to help them thrive.

This comprehensive approach acknowledges the interconnected nature of academic, personal, and professional aspects of a student’s life and provides coordinated resources and interventions that optimize the health and well-being of the whole student. By supporting learners through the shared critical junctures of medical school, the framework promotes academic excellence, clinical competence, personal growth, and resilience, ensuring that every student is equipped to succeed in medical education and make meaningful contributions to patient care, research, and community health.

“The HSS framework’s strength is grounded in the shared understanding of the importance of how both student affairs professionals, and educational affairs faculty and leaders can work together to support all students during their undergraduate medical education journey.”

— Stephanie Mann, MD, director of Curricular Affairs, National Board of Medical Examiners

We recommend exploring these additional resources:

• The Holistic Student Support Virtual Community (login required) provides member organizations with a platform to interact with peers while sharing resources and learning effective methods for student support. The collaborative platform provides institutions with tools, discussions, and examples that follow key pathways and principles to help them build student success and well-being together.
• The Holistic Student Support Webinar Series:This year’s Holistic Student Support webinar series turns to the core principles of the HSS Framework. Each session will dive into one principle — well-being for all, supportive learning environments, recognizing and supporting the needs of all students, continuous improvement, and lifelong learning — through actionable strategies, real-world examples, and cross-institutional dialogue.
• The HSS Resource Bundle is a curated collection of tools and strategies to help medical schools advance holistic, integrated support for all learners.
• The Medical School Journey Map helps your institution meet learners where they are and guide their academic, professional, and personal growth. Grounded in the principles of Holistic Student Support, the map helps educators coordinate resources, intervene proactively, and promote student well-being and success.
• The Group on Student Affairs (GSA) Professional Development Initiative (PDI) provides access to role-based critical behaviors, tailored career development tools, and learning opportunities specific to student affairs professionals working in medical education. 
• The Group on Educational Affairs (GEA) is a professional community dedicated to advancing medical education through faculty development, curriculum innovation, educational research, and assessment across the medical education continuum. With a strong network of passionate educators, the GEA fosters collaboration, professional growth, and support for those shaping the future of medical education.