Over lunch a few weeks back I had an interesting conversation with a physician that was discussing how medicine can at times institutionalize the individuals who are participating in it such as medical students, residents, and even physicians. She mentioned that she was reading in a text that if we looked at magnetic resonance images of medical students or residents we would see an image similar to other populations that have been institutionalized such as those that are incarcerated given the stressors that they endure during their journey. What I think is oftentimes helpful is for individuals who are in leadership such as attendings or chief residents to hold sessions where residents and/or medical students can discuss those stressors and find ways to overcome them during their respective paths. Furthermore, I believe that residency programs are putting in efforts to promote wellness and mental health through different activities and changes in their programs. Medical schools are also following that path to promote classes that instill good habits and also avenues that medical students can use to discuss any concerns that they have and ways to address them. What has your institution done to promote wellness?
