It can be hard to find time to take care of your health, especially with a busy schedule. The good news is that there are programs and services you can access without ever leaving the Medical Campus.
Student Health Insurance Plan – SHIP
Boston University’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is available to all students on-campus and provides local, national, and even international health insurance coverage. If you have SHIP, you can use all SHS services free of charge. In addition, our Insurance Department is available for claims questions or billing concerns either by sending a message in Patient Connect or by calling 617-353-3579. Use our health insurance decision guide and find out details about the BASIC and PLUS plans and learn more about Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
If you’re a student on the Medical Campus and you have SHIP, you do not need a referral to make an appointment with a medical doctor, mental health provider, or specialist in the community. Co-pays for in-network mental health visits are only $10 per session with no limit on the number of appointments.
Teladoc is an online health platform that provides 24/7 access to licensed doctors by phone or video. Students with SHIP can use this service for urgent primary care or behavioral medicine concerns whenever they arise.
Behavioral Medicine
Behavioral Medicine has an office conveniently located on the Medical Campus in the Solomon Carter Fuller Building at 85 East Newton St., Room 816. In-person counseling and psychiatry is available on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Behavioral Medicine also offers group therapy and medication management. If students have longer term or specific treatment needs, we will connect you with a clinician in the community that accepts your insurance.
If you would rather see a counselor or psychiatrist in the community instead of coming to our clinic, we can also help you get connected. To get started, message the Behavioral Medicine Referrals Coordinator on Patient Connect.
If you have the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), you can also talk to a counselor any time of the day with Teladoc.
Primary Care
Students on the Medical Campus with SHIP can choose to receive medical care at either BU Student Health Services (SHS) on the Charles River Campus, or any in-network provider closer to them. Boston Medical Center (BMC) is next to the Medical Campus and offers an array of primary care services
Primary Care at SHS on the Charles River Campus has appointments throughout the week, including Saturdays during the academic year for urgent concerns. Our hours can be found here and you can either call for an appointment or book online using Patient Connect. If you’re not sure if you need an appointment get some quick advice on our “What To Do When You’re Sick” page or send a nurse a message in Patient Connect.
If you have the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), you can also talk to a provider any time of the day with Teladoc.
Sexual Assault Response & Prevention
Sexual Assault Response & Prevention (SARP) therapists provide confidential and free-of-charge advocacy and assistance to BU students who have experienced a traumatic incident. Our particular focus is sexual trauma and rape. We also assist survivors of physical assault, relationship violence, stalking and sexual harassment. We are on call 24/7/365 for urgent situations. In-person counseling is available on the Med Campus by appointment at Solomon Carter Fuller Building on 85 East Newton St., Room 816. Hours are Wednesday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Interrupt! is a training to promote the idea that graduate students can interrupt situations where sexual misconduct may be present. Through developing a shared understanding of sexual misconduct and applying an interruption framework, our hope is to increase graduate students’ confidence in and feelings of responsibility to interrupt potential harm.
In Interrupt! graduate students will think through scenarios that focus on interrupting harm on behalf of others as well as for themselves.
Health Promotion & Prevention
Health Promotion & Prevention offers programs and events to support students’ well-being:
- Wellness Challenges at BUMC
- BU Collegiate Recovery Program
- Anonymous feedback about alcohol and marijuana use
- Free safer sex supplies delivered to students’ mailboxes
- Resources on sleep, stress management, and alcohol safety
We also collaborate on initiatives particular to your school. Email wellness@bu.edu to share your idea with us!
Needlestick/Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
If you experience a needlestick while involved in clinical duties during the hours of 7:30am-4:00pm please contact Occupational Health Working Well at Boston Medical Center immediately to make an appointment. This is so you can be seen, assessed, and offered post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission. If you experience a needlestick after hours please report to the Boston Medical Center Emergency Department.
Clinical Immunization Compliance
In addition to the standard immunization compliance required of health sciences students, many students enrolled in clinical science programs are required to demonstrate clinical compliance if working in a DPH-licensed healthcare setting. These are required to protect our patients and the entire medical campus community, whether you work directly with patients or not. SHS will notify medical campus colleges if any student or resident has failed to complete TB testing, flu, or to comply with the other health requirements and this may result in sanctions.
Clinical Immunization Requirements Include:
- Annual influenza (flu) vaccination (provide evidence of an annual influenza vaccine administered on or after August 1st of the current academic year.)
- Documented proof of the influenza vaccine for the current influenza season must be uploaded to Patient Connect by December 1st.
- Initial tuberculosis (TB) testing (IGRA T-Spot blood test or Quantiferon Gold blood test) upon matriculation, followed by annual TB symptom screening
- Evidence of Hepatitis B immunity (one of the following)
- Documented proof of a complete 3 dose Hepatitis B series (or 2 doses of Heplisav) and positive titer
- Documented laboratory evidence of prior infection with Hepatitis B
- Evidence of Varicella immunity (one of the following)
- Documented proof of a complete Varicella series
- Documented proof of a positive Varicella antibody titer
- Documentation of COVID-19 vaccination
- Medical, Dental, Physician Assistant Students and Healthcare personnel working in Boston University DPH-licensed healthcare facilities: These students will be required to have an up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination or submit a declination after reviewing the risks and benefits of vaccination.
When available our calendar will list upcoming flu clinics on the medical campus with advance notice and you will also receive an email from SHS announcing these clinics dates.
Please visit our dedicated Immunization Compliance page for more detailed information on how to submit, review, and keep your records updated.
Clinical Rotations
If you will be away for a rotation and are required to submit medical documentation you may be able to complete the process completely online with SHS. Complete your portion of the required away rotation form and submit it online in Patient Connect.
How to submit your Away Rotation form for review
Patient Connect
Patient Connect is our online portal where students can upload a medical record, make appointments, refill a prescription, and send us a message.