Major Events

Annual Field Day. Building collegiality through friendly competitions between classes for bragging rights is the focus. The Annual Field Day occurs in October and includes sumo wrestling, soccer, and, of course, tug-o-war. Students enjoy social-networking and physical exercise, while celebrating the cooler weather in Southern Utah!

Awards and Gala Celebration. A formal dance held each Spring to recognize special honors like Student and Faculty of the Year, etc.

Chill Fest. Finals week is always a high stress time. Chill Fest provides a variety of Chill Stations and activities for students to participate in each day. a range of activities are planned e.g., yoga, zumba, smoothies, puzzle stations, etc.

Community Service. Students are provided with a wide range of service and awareness opportunities, including volunteering at the St. George Marathon, Huntsman World Senior Games, Ironman Competition, and Jubilee of Trees. RVU students also collaborate with the DSU Nursing Program to provide health services to a local homeless shelter (SwitchPoint).

Days of Diversity. Organized by the student Multicultural Task Force, the Days of Diversity Series is made up of four events through the academic year designed to promote more inclusivity and sensitivity to diverse backgrounds and sub-populations. This series also provides opportunities for students to consider how diversity plays a role in being a physician. Students who attend 3 of the 4 sessions are awarded a Cultural Competency Certificate and a Diversity Pin.

Fall Festival. Occurring the last weekend in October (Halloween), the Fall Festival gives students a chance to serve the community by providing activities such as creative activity booths for children, health-related booths, a costume contest, and more. Partnering with Red Rock Running Events, Canyon Media and the City of Ivins, the Fall Festival also includes a 5K “Boo Dash”. This is a great community-wide event!

Get Fit Fridays. RVU students are encouraged to attend weekly healthy-related workouts and activities, including Cardio Classes, Yoga, Strength Training, Nutrition Workshops, Intramural Sports, and more. Although a goal is often simply to be active and burn calories, students are also exposed to new ideas for a healthy lifestyle. The activities are planned by the student Get Fit Friday (GFF) Task Force - new ideas are always welcome!

Military Appreciation Day. RVU has been recognized as one of the most military friendly schools in the nation. Each year we recognize the sacrifices of our military and in particular those who served in a medical capacity, with a program which includes a “Missing Man Ceremony”, a keynote address, honor guard ceremony. The students in our Military Track are required to attend and participate in the program in various ways.

New Student Orientation. Occurring the week before fall semester, orientation is designed to provide valuable information to help new students hit the ground running as they begin medical school, including opportunities to network with classmates and faculty, a service project, and useful workshops/panel discussions.

Semi-Annual Blood Drives. Giving back to the community in one of the most valuable ways, RVU-SU SOMA club hosts two Red Cross Community Blood Drives on-campus each year.

Splash into Spring. Water fun and a BBQ for students, employees and their families. A much needed de-stresser and a great way to celebrate Spring.

Spring Health Fair. Associations, clubs and organizations on campus join forces to provide an annual community health fair.

Week of Wellness. Addressing the need for mental wellness in Healthcare Providers, a full week in January is devoted to this focus. The student Officers of Wellness and the Student Affairs team provide education through guest speakers, workshops, and activities promoting resiliency and improved coping skills.

White Coat Ceremony. Occurring each Fall (around the 3rd week of September), this ceremony represents a rite of passage for first year RVU students and their induction into the Osteopathic Medical Profession. Students are welcomed into the medical profession and congratulated on their achievement of being selected as medical students. As part of the program, faculty members assist the students in donning their White Coats. A “Family & Friends” reception takes place after the ceremony with refreshments, campus tours, and demonstrations by faculty and 2nd year students.