Medical students bring fresh perspective to Peer Helper Jubilee

Chris Novellino, Hannah Hill and Paras Ahuhja

Three medical students from the Whiddon College of Medicine's Peer Emotional and Educational Resilience Support (PEERS) program delivered a standout presentation at this year's Peer Helper Jubilee. Hosted by the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation, the annual event brought more than 750 middle school and high school peer helpers from across Baldwin County to Orange Beach in early November.

In their session, “From the Field to the Hallway: Who’s Got Your Back,” fourth-year student Hannah Hill, third-year student Paras Ahuja, and second-year student Chris Novellino explored the often-overlooked distinctions — and complementary strengths — of mentors and peer supporters in a student’s academic and personal journey. 

The students drew from their own experiences navigating high-pressure academic environments and being a peer supporter. They opened by highlighting a core idea: Mentors and peer supporters are both essential, but they play fundamentally different roles.

“Mentors,” Hill explained, “provide experienced, long-term guidance. They see the big picture and help students make strategic decisions about academics, career pathways, and long-term goals. They help students zoom out.”

Novellino added, “Peer supporters, on the other hand, are the ones in the trenches with you — the classmates, teammates, and friends who understand real-time struggles because they’re living the same ones. They offer immediacy, empathy, and relatability. They help students zoom in.”

The session emphasized that students thrive when they have both: mentors who’ve walked the path before them, and peers who walk beside them.

Throughout the presentation, the medical students encouraged attendees to intentionally seek out and strengthen both types of relationships. They spoke on how to:

• Leverage mentors for academic and career planning
• Navigate social pressures and identity with the support of trusted peers
• Set personal goals and find supporters who invest selflessly

The trio also shared personal stories of burnout, isolation, community, and resilience — demonstrating how mentorship and peer support had shaped their own paths from undergraduate life to medical school. Their candor and relatability sparked meaningful discussion among students and chaperones. 

“It was so wonderful to see how attentive and engaged students were,” Ahuja said. “As med students who were in their shoes a few years ago, getting to talk with them was a privilege.”

The session closed with a challenge: Become the kind of peer supporter you once needed. Build a culture where students uplift one another; where support comes not just from those ahead but also from those beside.

For many attendees, the presentation was a highlight of the Jubilee — a reminder that leadership, compassion, and connection are skills that grow stronger when shared.