Out of tragedy comes a new focus on resident health

After news that a star surgical resident, who had recently left Stanford to pursue a fellowship, had committed suicide, the residency program leadership decided to create a new structure that addresses the underlying issues affecting resident health and promotes a healthier work-life balance.Shifting toward work-life balance in residency When Greg Feldman, MD, a general surgery resident from Stanford University, took his own life during his fellowship in Chicago, the general surgery department was shocked at the news. He had been one of the most accomplished resident physicians the program had ever seen. He was warm and outgoing and seemed happy. One fellow trainee described him as “extremely good at balancing his work and non-work life and cared about getting other residents to have fun both at work and outside the hospital.” During the healing process, the program leadership decided to take action to get to the heart of what affects resident health and began to develop a wellness program for residents.Balance in Life is a holistic, multifaceted program with the primary mission to support and promote the physical, psychological, social and professional well-being of general surgery residents and to provide them with the tools they will need to successfully navigate life as a surgeon.The four parts of a healthy medical life Residents are trained in everything they need to know in the clinical setting so that they can be the most effective physicians possible, but why ...
Source: AMA Wire - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Source Type: news