Resident Wellness

Resident well-being is a top priority. Our associate program director for Resident Wellbeing, Maria Theodorou, MD, FACP, FHM, collaborates with the chief resident for wellbeing and the Residency Wellness Committee to promote a culture of holistic and authentic support. We believe that fostering wellness requires ongoing attention, adaptability and resident-centered leadership.

Professional Development and Wellness Curriculum

Residency professional development is a key pillar of our wellness strategy. We offer:

• Full-day PGY-1 and PGY-2 Professional Development Days focused on:
  • Work-life balance
  • Self-awareness
  • Imposter syndrome
  • Resilience building
• A longitudinal wellness curriculum integrated into conferences and clinical rotations
• A specialized Women’s Professional Development (WPD) series, active since 2016, offering unique retreats and mentorship opportunities for women in medicine

Social Bonding and Community Building

Social connection is embedded in our residency culture. We foster strong relationships through:

• Social events following professional development days, intern academic half days and during recruitment season.
• Monthly gatherings, trivia nights, intramural sports (kickball, volleyball) and faculty vs. resident basketball games.
• A "firm" system that groups PGY1–PGY3 residents with a chief resident and attending physicians for mentorship, friendly competitions and firm dinners.

Mental Health and General Health Support

Residents have access to comprehensive wellness resources through the McGaw GME benefits plan, including:

• Free mental health services for both acute and long-term needs.
• A nationally recognized Parental Leave Policy.
• Additional support for personal and family needs.

Resident Leadership and Program Improvement

We prioritize resident leadership in shaping our program. 

• Feedback is gathered through surveys, focus groups and town halls
• Four resident-led committees (Wellness, Curriculum, Health Equity and Advocacy, and Quality Improvement and Patient Safety) ensure that resident voices are central to continuous improvement