Shaping Our Medical Education Journey - College of Medicine ...

Our Collective
Wellbeing
Submitted by:
Dr. Anurag Saxena, Assistant Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education
Dr. Gary Linassi, Assistant Dean Undergraduate Medical Education
Dr. Femi Olatunbosun, Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs
Wellness usually refers to overall health in a popular and somewhat
restricted sense while at a more philosophical level, wellness and
the related term, wellbeing, encompass career, social, financial,
physical and community (and other) elements. Essentially
wellbeing is about what makes life worthwhile.
Our profession involves knowledge work and by its very nature
requires a lot of giving of self. Like most resources, the underlying
“energy” is a finite resource. “Success in the knowledge economy
comes to those who know themselves - their strengths, their
values, and how they best perform,” wrote Peter Drucker in his
article “ Managing self” (HBS 1991; 77(20: 64-74). It is as true today as
it was then.
There is enough evidence in the literature on physician wellbeing.
Many grassroots and institutional programs addressing physician,
resident and student wellbeing are based on this evidence.
Nonetheless, the ultimate responsibility for taking care of self
living Well:
Physician Wellness Initiative
Submitted by Anita Chakravarti, Faculty Facilitator, Physician Wellness Initiative
The College of Medicine has long strived to support our students
and ensure a positive, productive and supportive learning
environment. To complement the College’s efforts, Living Well:
Physician Wellness Initiative is a new idea designed by current
medical students and Dr. Anita Chakravarti, faculty facilitator, to help
promote a culture of wellness in the medical school and beyond.
Fundamental to PWI are four core pillars:
• Healthcare providers should be role models for healthy living
• Awareness, balance and choices in our own lives should
reflect our knowledge and expertise of the physical, mental,
emotional, spiritual and social aspects of a human being
• Growing awareness that the sustainability of the healthcare
system is intrinsically connected to the sustainability of the
healthcare providers, as is patient outcome and satisfaction
• Research and statistics in many of the healthcare fields show
disturbing increases in health issues in the healthcare provider
20 C O M M U N I Q U É College of Medicine • University of Saskatchewan
rests with the individual. A simple framework of developing a
strong core includes Renewal (replenishing the energy), Regard
(self-regard/self-respect), Resilience (ability to bounce back from
setbacks) and Reliance (on self and others).
At the College of Medicine, resident success, resident wellness
and resident satisfaction are key drivers of postgraduate medical
education. Our focus on student learning, engagement and success
in undergraduate medical education is no different.
Our current programs offer support (ex: stress, workplace
difficulties), resources (ex: career, professional and fitness) and
educational activities (ex: financial management) to our learners.
These programs are evolving to further utilize needs assessment,
reliable evidence, content expertise, and performance metrics.
Student and resident initiatives in health promotion activities
are essential for desirable shifts in culture and sustainability of
wellbeing programs. n
The Canadian Medical Association Code of Ethics stipulates a physician must practice
the art and science of medicine competently, with integrity and without impairment,
and that it is incumbent upon the physician to promote their own health and wellbeing.
There has been enormous support for the initiative amongst
College of Medicine undergraduate students. PWI has developed
a constitution, has been ratified with the Student Medical Society
of Saskatchewan (SMSS), and is also a member of the College’s
Social Accountability Committee.
To address student needs and interests, four PWI groups have
been set up, under the acronym SCAN: Stress Management,
Community, Activity and Nutrition. Each group hosts two
sessions per year, held monthly during the noon hour. The events
are designed to enable students to share practical tools, learn
new skills and discover knowledge that will empower them to
create their own Personal Wellness Plan. The PWI groups also
contribute to the planning of the annual Wellness Week and
development of other wellness-related special events.
To help ensure long-term success, the College of Medicine
Curriculum Committee has been engaged. Proposals were
s