Internal medicine residents take time to focus on wellness

Residents participate in a wellness retreat to combat burnout and learn resiliency techniques.

Second-year residents in USA Health’s Department of Internal Medicine took part in an annual wellness retreat at the Strada Patient Care Center last month.  

Part of the Internal Medicine Residency Wellness Program, the retreat is a daylong event, organized by department leaders, during which burnout, resiliency techniques and wellness tips are among the topics covered.  

Residents play a life-sized 'Hungry Hungry Hippos' game.

According to the American Medical Association, the risk of burnout and depression ranks high among medical students, even as they move into their residencies. But medical schools and faculty across the country are taking steps to minimize burnout and improve mental health among their medical students.  

During the wellness retreat, residents learned about the components of a wellness wheel through various lectures, events and activities.   

To add an element of competition, four teams faced off against each other in the following areas included in the wellness wheel:  

• Social: In a “Three Truths and a Lie” game, residents guessed the opposing team’s truths and lies. 
• Environmental: Residents used Mardi Gras beads to create colorful mosaics to repurpose and reduce waste in the city. 
• Physical: To get moving, residents played a life-sized “Hungry Hungry Hippos” game. 
• Financial: Residents played a physician-themed edition of “The Game of Life” to learn to manage their money. 
• Occupational: In “Who’s That Boss?”, residents matched the hobbies and interests of their attending physicians. 
• Intellectual: The teams took the competition outside in the Geri Moulton Children's Park, where they went on a scavenger hunt. 
• Spiritual: Residents wrote and reflected on their current spiritual needs in a “What’s on Your Heart?” activity.  

The retreat, one of the department’s most anticipated events, helps residents connect with each other and learn strategies to prioritize their wellness, while also working to contribute to the well-being of others.