∑ Physician Burnout.
∑ Executive Functioning, large and
small group.
∑
Step 1 – Addressing the Stress
(first-year students).
∑
∑
Two sessions on personal nutrition.
Introduction to Wellness, large
group (second-year students).
∑
Step 1 – Addressing the Stress,
with panel of fourth-year students
(second-year students).
One of the biggest changes involves
to depend on. My day was Sunday. I went
continuity of care during students’ transition to church, I went to lunch with friends, I
to regional campuses for Years 3 and 4. It refused to study on Sundays. I think that’s
recommends that, three months before they how I survived medical school. That trickled
move, students sign up with a primary-care into residency and how I do life now.”
provider and a behavioral-health provider in
PIMS alumnus Jaggears, noting the
their new community, and that they have a constant frustrating changes in medicine, has
three- to six-month supply of their prescriptions this advice for newcomers: “Focus on your
on hand. patients. That’s where you get your rewards.”
Class of 2013 alumna Laura Davis knows how
Students are also taking a closer look at
bumpy that transition can be.
their prospective residency programs.
“My first rotation in Year 3 of med school
“I interviewed at 10 programs. I would say
was psych, and I had a complete mental break,” that all 10 brought up wellness,” Jaffe said. “I
she recalled. “I was listening to people talk think residencies are realizing we’re not just
about their depression all day long, and then these robots who can work crazy hours and
∑ Protein, Exercise and Wellness. I’d go home and have nobody to vent to. Our see a lot of sick people and painful situations.
clerkship director in Pensacola had a psychiatrist That takes a toll.”
∑ Wellness 101 and 102. available for us. It was outside the College of
Medicine, not someone who would give me a
Appreciation Day, a prejudice reduction
workshop, Wellness Week and more.
When Davis speaks with students, she shares
techniques that work for her: “Remember
sponsored an eclipse viewing party, Employee
right on top of that.”
those things that you enjoy doing and continue
to invest in them. That’s what you’re going
Wellness Committee co-chair Christie Alexander
FSU sponsors seven residency programs
of its own. And the body that accredits
those programs requires them to focus on
resident and faculty burnout, depression and
substance abuse. The guidelines are specific.
For example: “Residents and faculty members
must … be educated to recognize those
symptoms in themselves and how to seek
appropriate care.”
So the College of Medicine’s booklet of
GME Policies and Procedures devotes an
entire page to wellness. The policy states, in
part: “Psychological, emotional, and physical
well-being are critical to the development and
maintenance of the competent, caring, and
resilient physician. Wellness health behaviors
that buffer stress reactivity include, but are
not limited to, physical activity/exercise, a
healthy diet, mind-body activities, social
support and getting restful sleep. Self-care
17
Apart from the curriculum, the committee has
grade. It was wonderful. The med school was
A skill to be nurtured