Fostering Health and Well-being at George School

As the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC) Administrator, Indira Rodrigo helps in the creation and implementation of policies and procedures to keep the campus community healthy—and she does so with genuine care for each individual student.

The SHWC is committed to providing quality care to students and promoting a culture of wellness on campus. While most of Indira’s job involves administrative work—billing, insurance submissions, and managing policies and procedures—many days are unpredictable. “In my role, I feel like a jack of all trades.”

Indira described, “I work closely with the nurses to administer procedures to help ensure a high level of care for our students. On some days I have helped the nursing staff by sitting with a student who needs emotional support, picking up a prescription from a pharmacy, or grabbing students a meal from the dining hall. One of my goals is to reduce pressure on our staff and at the same time help the students in a more impactful way.”

“I try to support my team in any way I can,” Indira continued. “Just as nurses stay overnight, I feel it is part of my duty to do the same and have done so, whenever possible. There are no set hours in the day for us to work as you might get a call at 11:00 p.m. because the phone system isn’t working. I don’t mind getting calls and I feel great when I can find solutions that help. Our working motto is ‘on call 24/7’.”

Indira feels a sense of community and teamwork within the SHWC. “We work well together and support one another in helping our students manage their emotional and physical needs,” she said.

The best part of Indira’s work, which never feels like a job to her, is working with the students. “I love our students. I love the people I work with, and I love the community. Working in the SHWC can be emotionally challenging at times, but we enjoy a laugh here and there and try to keep focused on the difference we can make.” For Indira one of the biggest rewards is to see that child who comes in as a freshman, who might have a few struggles trying to adjust to a new school far from home but finds their groove little by little each year and finally soars in the final year.

Indira sees herself as more than an employee at George School. “I am also a mother, which carries over when I am taking care of this community. The biggest reward I feel is seeing the impact we can have. Our work at the SHWC is visible and tangible.”

The COVID-19 pandemic put a particular strain on young people, and Indira and her colleagues are still seeing reverberations in the George School community. “I notice a trend in mental health needs in our student population,” explained Indira. “Many of them still feel lonely after having spent a significant part of their formative years isolated because of the pandemic. We have two counselors on staff who are trained to identify the need for emotional care. We have many layers to support our students, and we are constantly seeking ways to be there earlier when a student needs help.”

Like many health centers across the country, the SHWC is always seeking additional resources to maximize what they can offer the community.

Growing up in Sri Lanka, Indira fondly recalls ways alumni at her school came back to offer support and make an impact on students and hopes to see more alumni at George School do the same.

“Positive stories make such a difference in young people’s lives. Seeing someone who was once a student like them and has gone on to find success and happiness after graduating can inspire them and give them hope for the future.”

“Our nursing and medical staff perform a yeoman’s service,” Indira shared. “Many of them describe me as the glue that holds things together, but in my eyes, it is the talent and dedication of the staff of the health center that shines.”