BUSM in Fourth Place in White Coat Mustache Challenge

Boston University School of Medicine is participating in the White Coat Mustache Challenge to raise awareness and money for men’s health.

This year the challenge has 11 participating teams and currently, BUSM is in a close fourth place with $1,520 raised as of Nov. 20.

“This year is really picking up. Last year, we raised a total of $1,200 and some change. In half that time, we have already raised that much,” said Tannu Singh, a second year student in the Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine program in the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences and the head organizer of the challenge at BUSM.

The Challenge is part of the Movember Foundation’s efforts to change the face of men’s health.

“It’s a friendly challenge between different medical schools,” said Singh. “We’re taking our shared passion outside of academics while we’re still in school, which can be challenging. As health professionals, this is the type of advocacy work that we will be continuing for the rest of our lives.”

Sometimes people are surprised that men’s health is a passion for Singh, but she said it makes sense to her.

“I’m going to be working in an all-male residential unit at the VA for the rest of the year, and I’m going to be having conversations about what it means to be a man going through mental health issues and substance abuse,” said Singh, who hopes to work with Wounded Warriors someday.

“I’m looking forward to the rest of the month to see the conversations we’re going to be fostering to raise awareness for men’s health,” she said.

The BUSM team currently has 18 registered members and is working on raising money through their family, friends and other networks for the rest of the month of November. If you would like to donate, visit their page.