Get ready for Clinical Practice Redesign - Saskatchewan Medical ...

to the high-stress environment that a lot of us live in and
work in, and I think it will be a great way for people to
unwind,” Kristine explained, adding that the techniques
event-goers learn at this session can also be adapted for
use on-the-go.
Attendees will discover more time-saving techniques
during two five-minute body-scan sessions, along with a
how-to calisthenics session – which is basically weighttraining
with your own body.
“A lot of residents and physicians cians have talked about
how it’s really hard when you’re ’re on call or working working
really long hours to be able to fit in time to
go to the gym or even to use your our home
gym,” Melissa said. “So this is an n idea
for something that people can n do
on their own, in a room with no
equipment with just five minutes tes
of time.”
The students are also planning to take a page from the
SMA’s physician wellness book by holding a Walk-the-Doc
session mid-week – an activity they learned while attending
the SMA’s Walk-the-Doc presentation at the Canadian
Conference on Physician Health last fall in Toronto. The
Walk-the-Doc session consists of a 20- to 30-minute walk
along the river to get attendees out and moving.
To wrap up the week, the PWI’s community committee
will host a movie night at the SaskTel Theatre, in addition
to a crockpot potluck complete with healthy menu items.
Wellness Week growing in popularity
Wellness Week is an annual SMSS event that both Melissa
and Kristine say has grown considerably over the past
three years because of an increase in overall interest and
an expanding volunteer base.
“We’re really trying to
give information that can
help you fit wellness in
everyday, even if you only
have 10 or 20 minutes.”
students and residents
The event is important because it creates awareness regarding
the environment physicians work in and what
it can do to you if you neglect your health and wellness
needs.
“It’s a good reminder to pay attention to what you’re doing
to your body and to take care of yourself,” Kristine
said.
“But it also reminds people about how you really can
fit these good g things g into your day even with time con-
straints and sleep deprivation depr and what-not,” Melissa
added.
The students stu are encouraging more
staff and a faculty to join in on this
year’s year sessions so that students can
gain gai insight into how more experienced
en professionals balance work
and an wellness.
With final exams looming in
“If “I people that we’re work-
April and May, stress is also on
ing in with and learning from, if
the minds of many university stutu- they th are leading healthier lives
dents. Second-year students are
it’s more conducive to us to lead
planning a traditional mock OSCE
exam for the first-year students s during
Wellness Week. The activity ivity is
-Melissa Andersen
healthier heal lives. We’re learning by
example,” examp Kristine said.
designed to help the new students udents get
This year’s event invitation is also being
through some of the stress associated sociated with
extended to health science students from
not knowing what to expect when h writing iti this thi ma-
other th colleges ll – something that hasn’t been done
jor exam.
at past Wellness Week events – to include pharmacists,
nutritionists, dentists, physical therapy and nursing students.
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SMA News Digest Spring 2012 25