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The ������Ƶ Integrative Medicine Club on the Downers Grove Campus hosted a virtual sleep challenge. About 40 participants from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) signed up to monitor their sleep habits and hygiene. The challenge participants practiced self-care, built positive future habits for themselves as upcoming healthcare professionals, and discovered insights that can help them advise patients on the importance of proper sleep hygiene.

After participants signed up for the challenge online, they were sent a log to monitor and record the quality of sleep. Medical student Shanthi Cambala (CCOM ’26) on behalf of the Integrative Medicine Club said, “Students who sign up are encouraged to set a goal for themselves related to how they want to improve in their sleeping habits.” The log included information such as documenting times of waking up and going to bed, dates, hours slept, their feelings upon waking up, and additional aspects of their sleep habits.

Supplemental materials were available to the medical school students who are participating in the challenge. “We sent out different articles on current information and education about sleep-related topics, like dreaming and sleep disorders, throughout the challenge for participants to learn more about sleep health,” Shanthi said. 

She also stressed that sleep health is important for medical students to take care of at this point in their academic and career journey, Shanthi said. “With so much to do in medical school between school, research, volunteering, and clubs, sleep is usually one of the first lifestyle habits that people cut down on to try to get everything finished. However, the Integrative Medicine Club wants to encourage fellow CCOM students to prioritize their sleep so they can feel well-rested and practice building healthy lifestyle habits as students,” she said.

Proper sleep hygiene habits also contribute to students’ future careers as healthcare professionals. “Participants will be better equipped to understand their sleep needs and can model healthy sleep habits for our future patients. It will be imperative that we develop healthy sleep habits now, as we move into our rotations and residencies, so we can get as high-quality sleep as possible when we're working and learning in fast-paced environments,” Shanthi said, “We hope that students will become more aware of their sleeping habits and identify what they are doing well and what they can improve on with their sleeping routines. Everyone’s goals are different, and we hope that the Sleep Challenge can be a stepping stone for them to make changes that will help them get better sleep.” 

Sleep-themed prizes, such as candles and blankets, were distributed to the participants to assist students in keeping up their proper sleep hygiene after the challenge ended. 

Maintaining sleep hygiene is one of the activities the Integrative Medicine Club plans and participates in. The club also hosts meditation sessions quarterly and collaborates with other CCOM clubs to create lunch talks with guest speakers.

The Integrative Medicine Club is one of several CCOM clubs and one of many ������Ƶ clubs and organizations. ������Ƶ offers Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees in Downers Grove and Glendale.