Here in the Department of Medicine the well-being of our residents is a top priority. We believe that resident wellness is so much more than therapy dogs and free food (although we love those, too!) We have a dedicated resident-run Wellness Committee, a Department- appointed Director of Wellness Initiatives, and a Wellness Chief Resident who are all part of hearing residents’ concerns and planning initiatives to help curb burnout.
Residency
Program Information
Name:
Deborah Richards, MS
Position:
Residency Coordinator, Internal Medicine Residency Program
Organization:
Department of Medicine
Wellness
Below are some more details about individual wellness initiatives within our residency program:
Scheduling
Wellness starts with our 4+2 block scheduling, which gives residents half of all their weekends off. This schedule is arranged in the traditional x+y residency format whereby “x” weeks represent inpatient or ICU time, and “y” weeks represent dedicated ambulatory or elective. We all work half-days on Fridays during ambulatory blocks and have a free personal day during each elective block. Chief Residents check in with residents frequently and adjust schedules on an individual basis to ensure that residents are healthy and happy.
Wellness Week
Conferences during Wellness Week focus on improving resident well-being by offering well-rounded talks and activities including laughing yoga, nutrition education, financial seminars, and more! Additionally, the Wellness Committee arranges for sponsored exercise classes at local fitness studios for resident get-togethers during Wellness Week.
Intern Stress Relief
These are monthly conferences focused solely on wellness activities to give interns a chance to enjoy some time together away from the stress of their team phones and the floors. Lunches are provided and there is plenty of opportunity to relax and unwind with co-interns.
Seasonal Events
Some of our recent seasonal wellness events have included pumpkin painting, winter coffee happy hour with a Barista making specialty drinks, and summer scavenger hunts around campus.
JeffChef
This is an annual residency cooking competition held where residents compete to be crowned as JeffChef in three different categories - appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Faculty serve as judges for a wonderful evening of unwinding as a program and enjoying delicious food cooked by your co-residents.
Resident Lounge
Our residency program has a dedicated space within the hospital with a coffee machine, couches, TV, and computer workstations, which serve as a home base for the residents. This is where sign-out occurs for floor teams and serves as a place residents can always come when they want to talk to a friend or colleague (and can usually enjoy a snack courtesy of the many food donations coordinated by the Wellness Committee!)
Mental/Emotional Health
Residents have access to resources through Jefferson’s Employee Assistance Program (FirstCall) and the Emotional Health & Wellness Program for House Staff, which includes free and reduced-price counseling and psychiatry services.
Additional information is available at Jefferson Human Resources' Emotional Wellbeing and Human Resources' Employee Concierge web pages.
JeffRED
This is a program started by a group of residents to mirror a wellness initiative from Mayo Clinic. It involves convening at an attending host’s home over dinner and drinks for open discussion of topics like "What am I doing here...and at this hour?" or "I need help."
If you’re curious, review the paper our own Dr. Kubey published about the sister program.
Resident Concerns
The Wellness Committee provides space for residents to discuss any concerns they have and then works with residency leadership to implement changes to improve overall resident well-being. Additionally, there is an online suggestion box for residents to share their thoughts and ideas for program improvements.
Additional information is available through the following links: