Dear Wellness Community,
We would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to our new residents, fellows, and their families. Welcome to UW Medicine and the Seattle area! We are excited to have you join our community and hope GME Wellness can be a support to you over the years.
We also welcome the arrival of summer – arguably our best season in Seattle! There is so much to enjoy in the city and nearby. Be sure to get out to enjoy the sun and all the area has to offer! You will find many options for summer activities, attractions, and PNW gems in this issue!
While we celebrate our new trainees and the summer season, this is also a time of heartache and concern with the recent shootings and Supreme Court decisions overturning Roe and threatening other hard-fought freedoms and protections. The issues of injustice, safety, healthcare equity and human rights weigh heavy on our hearts and minds.
The Office of Healthcare Equity recently held two gatherings for us to come together to share reactions to the overturning of Roe. What struck me in these sessions, was the importance of taking time to acknowledge our emotions, to hear and support one another, and when ready to come together to take action in whatever way speaks to us. There will be a long road ahead of protecting human rights and helping those in other states access the full continuum of reproductive services – making self-care and connecting with each other all the more important. Stay tuned for future opportunities to come together for sharing and support.
In this issue, you will find helpful resources for trainees, ideas for celebrating summer, information regarding reproductive rights and BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, and mindfulness resources, and more.
Again, I want to invite you to reach out to the Wellness Team for support, conversation, and resources. We also welcome you to share resources and events with us – so we can help spread the word. We are here to support you and help you connect with one another. Find our email contact information on our Wellness page.
Warmly,
This week’s Wellness Corner authored by:
Patty Long-Brohm, LICSW
GME Wellness Counselor
Monday – Wednesday at Seattle Children’s Hospital
pattylb@uw.edu
GME Wellness Counseling
Contents
Electric Boat Event 2022:
- Thank you everyone who came out for a beautiful day on the water! We had a wonderful time boating around Lake Union and up the side channels! Julia did an excellent job as Captain of one boat – even though the steering proved tricky! We hope you all had a wonderful time! See this link for a few more photos!
Did you know? Resources:
- Words of wisdom from current trainees! Check out this recent article in the Huddle: Top 3 Pieces of Advice From Current Trainees!
- Check out these UW parenting resources and Sign Up for this Listserv to receive regular updates on child-care-related resources, local and virtual family activities, webinar lectures, access to a biweekly parenting newsletter and more.
- Find spaces for sleep/rest facilities, food, quiet spaces, and lactation rooms for each training site!
- Sign up for UW Medicine’s Peer to Peer or Parenthood Peer Mentorship Programs for one to one support from UW Medicine faculty!
- One more page to save: Full List of supportive resources offered by UW and UW Medicine.
Reproductive Rights are Human Rights
- We know the supreme court decision will have a disproportional impact on Black and Brown people. Akilah Johnson writes about reproductive rights, health equity, and the painful history of medical experiments on Black enslaved women. Read more about this history and the Women of Gynecology Memorial here.
- Healing, empowerment, action and change also comes from sharing our stories. Check out this poignant NYT’s opinion piece.
- As we share and support one another – we may also be called to action! You might choose to support these abortion access funds: NW Abortion Access Fund, Cedar River Clinics, National Network of Abortion Funds.
- Stay informed and join these campaigns: Abortion On Our Own Terms, Liberate Abortion, ACOG Abortion Is Essential Health Care, Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
- Connect with the Physicians for Reproductive Health Network and check out their website for a wealth of information!
Black Lives Matter
- July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month – formally recognized in 2008 as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority MH Awareness Month highlighting the inequities and mental health needs of Black and other underrepresented communities.
- Check out the BIPOC Mental Health Month Toolkit and this BIPOC Mental Health Podcast & Resources presented by 89.5 and Seattle Children’s. Both contain a wealth of information and supportive resources – for youth too!
- Sign up for Self-Care Saturday, in honor of BIPOC MH Month, July 23rd 10a-2:30p. This is a virtual event including meditation, yoga, art and even mocktails!
- Black Arts Legacies Project from Crosscut – highlighting the vital role of Black artists and art organizations in Seattle. Check out the 26 local artists highlighted!
Tasty Summer Treat
Discounts for Summer Adventures
BIPOC Artist Marketplace
Celebrate Summer
- Find a beach! So many wonderful local options and some nearby for fun daytrips!
- Enjoy one of our amazing parks: Discovery Park, Green Lake, Magnuson Park, Seward Park, and Volunteer Park.
- Check out the Summer Series at the Amphitheater at Volunteer park with free shows Thursday evenings until August 18th!
- Free walking tours first Thursdays WA Park Arboretum – 11:30a-1p.
- Seattle Sculpture Garden – Market in the Park all summer, Friday-Sunday 8a-2p for tasty crab rolls and other treats!
- Get on the water! Take lessons or rent a canoe/rowboat/small sailboat at the Wooden Boat Center on SLU! Other rental options at UW’s Waterfront Boathouse, SLU, North Lake Union, Ballard, and Alki Beach. Or Go Sailing with Sail Seattle out of Elliott Bay – affordable 1.5-2hr sailing adventures from $39-59/person.
- Shakespeare in the Park! Locations throughout the city. Calendar here!
- It’s Summer Festival time! Ballard Seafood Fest July 15-17, West Seattle Summer Fest July 15-17, Capitol Hill Block Party July 22-26, and South Lake Union Block Party August 5th.
Gems of the PNW
- Daytrip anyone? Many options to choose from. Check out this list for a good start!
- 22 short summer hikes with giant views! More top picks from the Washington Trails Association.
- Take the Victoria Clipper for a 3-hour trip from downtown Seattle to Victoria, BC. Same day travel possible – or plan a short getaway.
Entertainment
- Marymoor Summer Concerts in the Park! Check out some amazing upcoming shows!
- Don’t miss Seattle’s iconic Seafair! Seafair Festival happens the weekend of August 5-7th with a number of events preceding it: Torchlight Run – July 30th– 6-7:30p, Torchlight Parade – July 30th 7:30p-11p. Full list of events Here!
- Take in a movie under the stars! Check out this outdoor movie guide and the Asian American Film Festival – outdoor movies at Hing Hay Park in the ID in August (line-up to be posted)
- PBS Short Film Festival – streaming July 11-22nd!
- Dance it out in one of the city parks, free event, July-August. Check out Dance til Dusk for more details.
Wellness Corner Quick Links
Family Corner
- It’s berry picking season! Fun for the whole family! Check out these local U-pick Farms!
- Join Parenting While LGBTQ+ a peer support space 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 9-10 AM (virtual).
- Escape the heat at one of the many outdoor swimming pools and water parks! Or take the littles to a Spray Park or Wading Pool!
Mindfulness Minute
- Guided meditation practice by Tara Brach – for “Nourishing Our Spirit” during these difficult times!
- Check out this Ten Percent Happier blog post on “How to be Angry” from Mushim Ikeda, Asian-American Buddhist teacher and social activities. She reflects on her lived experience of “overt bias and prejudice” and feeling invisible. She notes “anger is not to be suppressed or repressed” and explores how to work with anger skillfully to transform it into energy for positive action.
- 10 Minute Guided Body Awareness with Dr. Arielle Schwartz.
Gems from Treasure Valley
- It’s summer float season! Check out this Boise River floater map! More information on the Float Boise River FB page. Rentals available at Boise River Raft and Tube!
- More summer fun ideas: Catch a concert outdoors at Saint Chapelle Winery. Endless activities at Bogus Basin from hiking/biking to tubing and bungee trampoline! Check out the events calendar at Bogus Basin for youth nature hikes, music, and yoga (Thursday evenings, Saturday and Sunday mornings)! Or get out on one of these 10 best summer hikes!
- Family summer fun to be had at Roaring Springs Waterpark, the Boise Zoo, and Eagle Island State Park for zipline, swimming beach, and more!
Got Feedback for Us?
We’d love to hear it! Share your thoughts about the Wellness Corner, suggestions for future events, discounts or articles to highlight, or anything else you’d like to share. Please email your thoughts to Dipti Chrastka (diptic@uw.edu), Julia Kocian (jkocian@uw.edu) and/or Patty Long-Brohm (pattylb@uw.edu).