Department of Pediatrics
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
a team of residents in tie dyed shirts playing tug of war
Resident Olympics
PL2s olympics
resident Christmas 5k run

Resident Wellness

Well-being Philosophy 

The primary aims of our pediatric residency well-being curriculum are:  

  1. 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
  2. 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.

  1. 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, we focus on maintenance of personal well-being through training on burnout prevention and screening, goal setting, humanism in medicine, training in cognitive flexibility/reframing, finding meaning in work, and response to medical errors. 

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! 

resident lounge

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.

  • The University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, including the UW Hospitals and Clinics, are pictured in an early morning aerial taken from a helicopter on Oct. 23, 2018. (Photo by Bryce Richter /UW-Madison)
  • Lake Mendota and Picnic Point are pictured looking south in an aerial taken from a helicopter at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on Oct. 14, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison)
  • The far western portion of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, which includes the medical complex featuring UW Hospitals and Clinics, Picnic Point and Lake Mendota, are pictured in an aerial view during autumn on Oct. 13, 2016. The photograph was made from a helicopter looking west. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison)
  • Pedestrians and students walk among the colors of the fall leaves on the Howard Temin Lakeshore Path near Picnic Point at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during autumn on October 25, 2021. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)
  • A group of students returning from a bird-watching class walk amid snow-dusted trees along a lakeshore path at Picnic Point at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during winter on Dec. 2, 2015. The area is part of UW-Madison's Lakeshore Nature Preserve. (Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison)
  • The Madison isthmus and Wisconsin State Capitol are pictured in an aerial view across Picnic Point and Lake Mendota at sunset on Oct. 22, 2023. The aerial photograph was made from a helicopter looking east. (Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison)

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. 

  • several groups of people eating lunch on an outdoor patio, with a strip of yellow flowers on one side

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

PL2s at the Department of Pediatrics' Holiday Party (2019)
PL2s at the Department of Pediatrics' Holiday Party (2019)

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

three smiling residents with whipped cream on their mouths

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.