Byron Joyner, MD, MPA
Many members of our community are familiar with the GME Wellness Service, a vital part of the GME Team. Our four amazing counselors provide tremendous support for our residents and fellows. This month, Dipti Chrastka, Director of the GME Wellness Service, shares an update about the robust services that create a healthier learning environment for our trainees.
Byron Joyner, MD, MPA
Vice Dean for Graduate Medical Education, Designated Institutional Official
Our health and well-being have taken a toll over the last few years: the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in social isolation; racial unrest: and the more recent news of war and violence in Ukraine and the Middle East. We may experience feelings of fear, uncertainty, sadness, stress, and overall distress.
This season of shorter, cooler, darker days with less day light can also adversely impact our mood, sleep cycles, sap our energy and daily functioning.
Many of our medical professionals may face many stressors that affect their mental and physical health.
Resident and fellow well-being is a priority for UW GME which has been providing care to our community for over two decades.
Our GME Wellness Team provides a wide spectrum of services to build connection and foster a culture of holistic wellness. The GME Wellness team members are all licensed and skilled clinicians who bring their unique experiences in working with health care professionals.
Some of the many ways the Wellness Service supports you:
- Counseling support: Our services are free, unlimited, and completely confidential. We offer daytime, as well as evening wellness appointments to accommodate our trainees’ busy schedules. We are currently offering virtual sessions, which reduces barriers, and takes away the stress of commuting, parking, and finding time in your already packed day to get support.
In AY23, we supported 249 unique residents, fellows, and partners/spouses with a total of 1,734 visits. We provided individual counseling, couples counseling, and connected many trainees with referrals to in-house specialists (e.g., a psychiatric provider and learning specialist).
- We are proud to share that most of our clients are self-referred and many suggest our services to their colleagues.
- In July 2023, we were very proud to be able to expand our wellness services to non-ACGME We currently serve nearly 1660 residents and fellows as well as their partners and spouses.
- Facilitating presentations and group conferences: We partner with programs to understand the needs of our residents and fellows, facilitate discussion groups, share wellness tips and resources. In AY23, we presented to 12 programs and groups.
- Consultation and Advocacy: Our discussions with individuals and programs help us have a deeper understanding of trends and issues in the larger system so we can advocate for improvements. We brainstorm and dialogue with GME and UW Medicine leadership to provide our residents and fellows avenues to raise concerns. Some examples include: identifying quiet spaces at our hospital sites; reporting microaggressions in a group; advocating for lightboxes in closed, windowless spaces within our hospitals to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD); and generally enhancing well-being around our campuses.
- Community building: We host events for residents and fellows to meet and build social connections which allow networking to enhance well-being. We also publish a monthly newsletter, the Wellness Corner, to share local events, resources, and spotlight Wellness Wonders in our community.
Your input is vital to our success. Qualitative and quantitative data helps us evaluate our impact and make programmatic modifications.
Here’s some valuable feedback we received from our community in July.
- “You value prioritizing mental health, wellness in residency training and our Wellness Services.”
- “Having an unbiased, non-judgmental human being to provide longitudinal support, resources: someone who understands the stresses of residency and fellowship is a strength of our wellness service.”
- “Emphasis on accessibility, removing barriers and offering evening hours for Wellness sessions.”
Connection is key and one antidote to isolation. The Wellness Team is honored to serve you and look forward to connecting with you. To read more about our service, visit our webpage. Visit our scheduling page to schedule a wellness appointment or establish care.
Reach out to us – seeking support is an act of courage! We are here to share in your joys, lighten your burdens, and celebrate you as we build a healthier community together.
GME Wellness Counselors