Tulane is dedicated to supporting physician well-being. Information about the School of Medicine’s resident wellness initiatives can be found here.
In addition, the Department of Surgery makes resident wellness a priority with a variety of programs and events that aim to promote physical and mental health.
Medical Wellness Program
Designed to help residents attend personal health care appointments, the department schedules medical wellness appointments for residents using their existing health insurance and services available through the Tulane employee clinic. For residents who opt to participate, we schedule an annual physical exam, an appointment with a licensed counselor for burnout evaluation, and a dental appointment.
4-Day Weekend
In addition to their weeklong vacations, resident schedules are organized to allow for weekly days off to be consolidated into two 4-day weekends each semester.
Free On-Site Gym Membership
To support physical and psychological wellness, during the 2024-2025 academic year, residents receive a free membership to the Tulane Fitness center. There, residents gain access to a functional training area including turf and functional bridge, free weights, cardio machines, and sectorized strength equipment.
Wellness Events
The residency program has monthly events aimed at fostering resident social wellbeing and mental health.
- Meet the Interns: Each July, the department welcomes new residents with a casual meet and greet gathering at a local beer garden.
Bowling Social: A department-wide tradition going back more than a decade, the annual bowling social allows residents and faculty to build relationships and blow off steam.
- Annual Resident Retreat: All residents have protected time to attend a day-long retreat together. For the first half of the retreat, guest facilitators lead activities and discussions that focus on a particular topic of resident growth, such as team communication or working through change. The afternoon is reserved for reflection, relaxation, and socializing.
- Ditch Night: Twice a year, time generally protected for resident education becomes Ditch Night. For these wellness events, residents choose a casual social activity. The goal of Ditch Night is to make time for residents to relax and bond without additional burden to their already busy schedules.
- Crescent City Classic: Surgery faculty and staff compete together in the 10K Crescent City Classic race each spring. The department provides team t-shirts and pays the entry fee for residents who wish to participate.
- Post-ABSITE Celebration: Each January, residents celebrate the completion of their in-service exam with a group outing at an NBA Pelicans game, NFL Saints game, or other local cultural event.
- Pass the Torch: At this event, PGY 4 and 5 residents attend a dinner during which the graduating chiefs pass down their leadership wisdom to the next year’s chief class.
Educational Materials
To promote professional development and safeguard financial wellness, the department purchases the following items for residents each year:
- PGY 1: Textbook
- PGY 2: Loupes
- PGY 3: Textbook
- PGY 4: Trip to a conference in their specialty
- PGY 5: Trip to the American College of Surgeons conference
Mentoring Program
The goal of our mentoring program is to ensure that each resident has access to a faculty member(s) who will act as a mentor and advisor, providing guidance as well as comprehensive and frequent summative feedback regarding the resident’s progress within the residency program.
Counseling and Other Resources
The Tulane School of Medicine and the Department of Graduate Medical Education offer mental health counseling and treatment to residents through a variety of resources. Generally, four sessions of counseling are provided free of charge.
- Mental health assessment, counseling, treatment, and stress management: Available at ATLS Psychiatry.
- Online and in-person therapy: Provided through New Directions Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Mental Health Counseling: Available through The Hartford Employee Assistance Program.
- Licensed counselors and primary care providers: Available at the Tulane Living Well Clinic.
Planned 2024-25 Resident Wellness Events
- June: Meet the Interns at Bayou Beer Garden
- September: TSS Annual Bowling Event at Colonial Lanes
- October: “Ditch Night” Wine and Painting
- December: Surgery Department Holiday Party
- January: Candidate Reception and Post-ABSITE Celebration
- March: Tulane Surgical Society Gala, Resident Retreat
- April: “Ditch Night” and Crescent City Classic
- June: Pass the Torch and Resident Graduation
