Maintaining healthy levels of work-life balance and a positive mental mindset can often be a challenge in residency training in the United States. At BIDMC, we pride ourselves in creating a happy, supportive environment where residents can thrive professionally, academically, and personally.
We have a number of programs in place to support residents’ wellness. For example, this year all residents were given tickets to attend the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In addition, we carve out protected time for wellness afternoons, yoga and guided meditation.
Peer Support
A hospital-wide program that provides extra training to resident peers to provide support for such issues as identifying resources for coping with stress, processing stressful situations, and whatever else may be helpful to colleagues. Big/Little Sibs Program: An idea brought about by two recent residents, this program matches incoming interns with a junior or senior resident based on similar occupational and extracurricular interests. Our big sibs serve as mentors and guides throughout the very first days of internship and beyond.
Opportunities Unique to Internship
Intern Forum: Each month small firm based groups of interns meet over lunch with a dedicated group of nurses and social workers; these sessions create a relaxing and safe environment for interns to reflect on and share their experiences. Intern Retreats: In the fall of Intern year, all of the interns go off-campus for an overnight retreat in a beautiful ocean-front setting. The retreat is a time to bond with colleagues and faculty and to reflect on their experiences. In the spring we hold a day-long retreat to prepare for interns for the transition to their role as residents and team leaders. The retreat is capped by an end of year celebration for interns.
Flex Days
Housestaff have several Flex Days that can be used throughout internship and residency to enable them to make it to important family events, doctor's appointments, etc.
Fellowship Interview Support
When residents are applying to fellowship or interviewing for jobs, the Chief Medical Residents play a very active role in getting them coverage and making sure they can get to interviews without excessive struggle. We are one of the few residency programs nationwide to offer this and it saves our residents many hours of finagling their schedules.
Social Events
BIDMC residents work hard! We do not allow the year to pass without celebrating the passage of time, holidays and accomplishments. Interns begin their year a tour of the Boston Harbor aboard a harbor cruise-ship. An annual holiday party is held for all housestaff in December where hospital-wide overnight coverage is provided by recent BIDMC graduates who remain in the Boston area. At the end of the year the interns are treated to the Sidel Dinner at the Harvard Club to mark their accomplishment and bid farewell to their preliminary-intern colleagues as they move on to their specialty residency programs. Senior residents are similarly celebrated with graduation events prior to moving on to fellowships, research positions and practice.
BIDMC Residency Adventures
Residency requires balance and maintaining a healthy mindset and healthy lifestyle. The Chief Residents thus organize Residency Adventures, which include several active events around the Boston area. Prior events include a bike ride through the historical Minuteman national parkway, several 5K runs, a rock climbing night, and Downhill and Cross-country ski days. The Residency leadership generously supports these healthy and fun endeavors.