Week in Review: Med student wins Paralympic gold; patient stays afloat amid the pandemic — and more!

Headlines certainly set the bar high with this week’s featured stories!

That’s because there was an in-depth interview with Paralympic gold medal-winning high jumper Sam Grewe, who happens to be a first-year medical student at U-M.

There was also the story of Kara Wolter, who crossed the finish line in an open-water swimming fundraiser after overcoming bone cancer and a leg amputation; Michigan Medicine veterans reflected on the Sept. 11 attacks and how it affected their lives; and the Wellness Office shared a report outlining initiatives designed to help faculty, staff and learners.

In case you missed anything, here’s the latest!

First-year medical student wins gold at Paralympics

Just a few weeks ago, Sam Grewe stood atop the podium after winning the gold medal in the men’s T63 high jump competition at the Paralympics in Tokyo. Today, he is back on campus as a first-year U-M med student. Recently, Grewe sat down to discuss his victory, his journey to the Paralympics and why he is driven to practice medicine. Check out what he had to say!

Keeping afloat during the pandemic

While the water may have been chilly, nobody felt better than Kara Wolter one July morning as she climbed into the Detroit River for the Motor City Mile Charity Swim. That’s because Wolter had been preparing for the event for years — amid cancer treatment and the amputation of one of her legs. Click through for more on a journey that was made possible by the work of Michigan Medicine faculty and staff. 

Michigan Medicine veterans reflect on 20^th anniversary of Sept. 11

Last weekend marked the 20^th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. While two decades have passed, the memories of that day remain vivid for so many at Michigan Meidcine — especially former servicemembers whose military careers were forever changed by the attacks. Three veterans recently reminisced on that day and its aftermath. Read those reflections here.

Wellness Office proves to be right on time

In 2019, the Michigan Medicine Wellness Office was created — less than a year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In response, the office prioritized protecting every employee’s well-being as they navigated both personal and professional challenges. Click here to check out the Wellness Office’s inaugural report, which features initiatives that have helped shape well-being at Michigan Medicine!

The Wrap employee podcast is off this week — but that makes it the perfect time to get caught up on the episodes you may have missed. Click here to check them out!