Biography

Dr. Laura Woodward, a seasoned member of the Wayne State community, stepped into her role as Counselor III at the WSU School of Medicine in September 2023.

A graduate of Wayne State, Dr. Woodward earned her Ph.D. in Social Psychology. Her dissertation focused on refining student attitudes towards exit exams and improving student motivation around academic testing.

In her leisure, she enjoys painting, a passion she has nurtured since her undergraduate days.

Responsibilities

Dr. Woodward is responsible for assisting medical students with the following concerns:

• Academic Advising: Offering personalized academic planning sessions.
• Academic Support: Helping students create tailored strategies for academic success.
• Career Advising: Helping students discern the medical specialties that align with their passions and skills.
• Counseling: Ensuring students have the emotional and academic support they need.
• Exam Preparation: Guiding students through Step 1 and Step 2 preparations.
• Mindfulness Training: Addressing test anxiety with focused techniques to boost test performance.
• Student Advocacy: Representing and addressing students' needs.

Professional Experience

Prior to her current role, she served for over 13 years as the Director of Testing and Assessment. Her focus was on translating standardized academic reporting into actionable insights to foster student success. Additionally, her teaching portfolio includes undergraduate courses in health psychology, statistics, and social psychology plus specialized modules to support students with test preparation, anxiety reduction, finding the main idea in lectures and readings, and helping students to reach their academic potential.

 

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