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is … a skill that must be learned and nurtured in the context of other aspects of residency / fellowship training .” The College of Medicine ’ s residency programs have their own cultures and , consequently , are taking unique approaches to wellness , said Joan Meek , associate dean for graduate medical education . “ For instance ,” she said , “ the internal medicine program in Sarasota has a clinical psychologist that ’ s contracted with the program . She comes in monthly to meet with the residents , talk to them about wellness , and discuss any concerns they have .” In addition , she said , the Sarasota residents work on teambuilding and communication away from the pressure of the work environment . It ’ s a far cry from what she experienced as a resident , Meek said of her training at Duke University . “ It was pretty grueling ,” she said . “ You just worked whatever hours they gave you . There was no uniform emphasis on how residents were really coping with not just the hours but the fatigue issues , were you making good decisions , were you really capable of doing the work . “ It ’ s definitely a very different system now . It ’ s not perfect . We have a long way to go in terms of understanding how to make medicine as a career both fulfilling and joyful – even with the frustrations involved .” |
Looking ahead Fogarty keeps in touch with Matt Wittman ’ s parents . He updates them on the memorial bench and fountain in the works , and on how the students are doing . “ I ’ ve always felt like we had a very studentfocused environment ,” he said . “ The learning communities , peer interaction , the TA program , the affability and accessibility of the faculty . All of the pieces , from my perspective , are in place .” What he worries about most is student isolation . “ My biggest lesson learned is that I can ’ t monitor the students from the dean ’ s office ,” he said . “ They really have to look out for each other .” For students , faculty and staff , he said , a key part of the answer lies in coming together . “ The biggest way to promote wellness , from my perspective , is connectedness ,” he said . “ I love our model in our third year , where they come to the campus weekly to compare notes . The regional dean can look ’ em in the eye and say , ‘ How ’ s it going ? Are you seeing enough patients ? Are they letting you do anything ? Are you getting any sleep ? Are you taking care of yourself ?’” Locally and nationally , new wellness efforts are under discussion . In recent weeks , for example , Carol Painter announced that telepsychology would be offered after hours to students at the regional campuses . The Escambia County Medical Society Foundation offered a new wellness program to its physician members . The |
GLENN SANGER-HODGSON
Capital Medical Society Foundation also has
a physician wellness program , which includes
a 16-question Physician Wellness Burnout
Inventory and six confidential , complimentary
sessions with a psychologist for physician
members and their spouses .
All of that activity is encouraging , Jaffe said –
but it ’ s not enough .
“ We shouldn ’ t rest on the achievements that
we ’ ve had this past year ,” he said . “ We are really
only beginning to scratch the surface . It ’ s a
national crisis . We all have to do better .”
Visit med . fsu . edu / wellness
Staff psychologist Carol Painter , left , with Heather Gordon and Cyndi Ranallo , student support coordinators
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