A multitude of resources for resident well-being are available through Washington University in St. Louis as well as Barnes Jewish Hospital to provide the best support for our residents.

Walter F. Ballinger Wellness Center

Outfitted with treadmills, a weight bench, yoga mats, fans, television, storage cubbies, a couch and chair, and a Peloton exercise bike the Wellness Center is accessible to our surgical trainees 24/7/365. This space serves as a relaxing place to work out or relax while on call, between shifts and before and after reporting for duty.

Wellness Counseling

The medical professionals in our programs have worked so hard to get to this point in their careers – years of schooling, countless hours studying, and numerous interviews, paired with long hours worked in the fast-paced hospital environment, it may be easy to get overwhelmed.

Our residents meet quarterly with Raquel Cabral, PhD, staff psychologist with the Office of Graduate Medical Education, to discuss their unique experiences with a professional equipped to work through the personal and interpersonal situations that may arise during their training. Sessions with the GME Wellness Counseling team are free and confidential.

In addition to these quarterly meetings, the GME Wellness Counseling team gives trainees access to individual counseling, referral for psychiatric services supported by GME, group debriefs, support groups, educational workshops, and consultations.

Additional counseling resources are also available through Washington University Work-Life Solutions and BJC Employee Assistance Program.

Educational Resources

The American Medical Association STEPS Forward™ series offers a collection of engaging and interactive educational toolkits to transform and improve patient practice.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has outlined tools and resources on faculty, resident and fellow well-being. In addition to this comprehensive list, the organization has integrated well-being resources, podcasts, and workshops into its online learning portal.

The BJC Institute for Learning and Development’s Career Services Center provides online professional and interpersonal skills training through Saba.

Check-ins

Leaders of our fellowship and residency programs support our trainees through regular wellness check-ins. By meeting with each class on a rotating basis, our faculty is able to immediately address any specific questions or concerns our trainees may have.

“What do you do to prioritize your own wellness?”

Looking for more?

Learn more about Washington University School of Medicine resources through our Graduate Medical Education Consortium.