Well-being Philosophy
The primary aims of our pediatric residency well-being curriculum are:
- To train pediatricians who have increased awareness of how their own mental health and well-being impact their ability to provide effective care for their patients, to have a fulfilling/meaningful career, and to maintain a healthy personal life; and
- To guide each resident in beginning to build a well-being “skillset” that they will take with them during residency and beyond.
These aims are achieved via a curriculum that is longitudinal and progressive in nature, with a combination of experiential and didactic experiences over the course of the residency program, as well as regular opportunities to connect with colleagues and program leadership.
Topics will include organizational well-being and awareness of institutional supports/resources, humanism in medicine, personal well-being and resilience, burnout prevention and screening, training in cognitive flexibility/reframing, and response to medical errors.
Wellness at Work
We recognize that in order for residents to flourish they must train in a supportive and positive work environment. To that end, our well-being curriculum provides training on organizational well-being, planning for a healthy financial future, institutional supports and mental health resources, and “Pizza with the Program”, a regular gathering with program leadership that provides a forum to discuss both program successes and opportunities for growth.
In addition, the residency program facilitates debrief sessions after patient deaths or other adverse events, providing a forum for residents and faculty to process distressing events and connection to further resources if the need arises.
Resident Space
Workrooms
Each service on the inpatient wards has dedicated work spaces for residents. They are equipped with desktop computers for all, laptops for additional medical students, white boards for teaching and the Dragon system for dictating.
Lounge
Our spacious resident lounge is a place for residents to relax and decompress. The lounge has a kitchenette, lockers for each resident, a television and PlayStation 5, computer work stations, a hospital-grade breast pump and dedicated breast milk refrigerator, and three call rooms with personal bathrooms and showers!
Nature Next Door
The medical campus – including University Hospital, American Family Children’s Hospital, the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research – are located along Lake Mendota’s University Bay. Residents, faculty, and staff enjoy taking lunchtime strolls to and around the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, including walks along the Lakeshore Path to Picnic Point. On the weekends, you’ll see Madisonians of all ages taking in the area’s natural beauty.
Healing Garden, Rooftop Gardens, and Patios
In the warmer months, trainees, faculty, and staff love to get some fresh air in the medical campus’ outdoor spaces. There are plenty of spots to socialize, as well as quieter, more meditative settings.
Acclimation and Integration
Our residency program recognizes that trainees enter internship from many different training and life pathways, and we want to ensure that everyone feels welcomed and supported. We have created a variety of resources to assist residents with moving to Madison and integrating into UW, both personally and professionally. Additionally, we work with each resident to ensure that intern orientation and ongoing mentorship and training are adapted to meet each individual’s unique needs throughout their training.
Social Events
Holiday Parties
We celebrate the holidays in a variety of settings. From exchanging “White Elephant” gifts to dressing in cocktail attire for the department’s holiday party, we enjoy celebrating various seasons and holidays together.
Resident Olympics
Each autumn, we host a program-wide retreat promoting resident bonding and some friendly inter-class competition. Activities range from tug-of-war, relay races, capture the flag, puzzles to a pumpkin toss!
Resident Retreats
Each resident class is given a weekend of protected time off each spring for a program-sponsored retreat. These weekends allow residents time to unwind and bond as a class over dinners, escape rooms, and other activities paid for by the program.
The development topics include:
- PL1: Adjustment to internship, stress management, working in teams
- PL2: Managing conflict, career planning, and leadership
- PL3: Teaching skills, finding a job, negotiating a contract
After the development content, residents engage in collaboration activities together and have down time dedicated for socializing and relaxing.