At the University of Iowa Health Care's Pediatric Residency Program, we know that we can only achieve our mission of helping our residents excel as clinicians, educators, and scholars in a culture that promotes wellness and emphasizes collaboration and belonging.
Dedicated to Wellness
I picked Iowa because they have all the resources of a large academic children's hospital but the feel of a smaller program where your wellness is a priority.
Opportunities to Connect
Lunches
| Name (Frequency) | Description |
|---|---|
| House Staff Lunch (Bi-monthly) | Residents meet with Program Director, Associate Program Directors, Program Coordinator and Chief Residents to discuss current ongoings of the residency |
| Wellness lunches (Start of each rotation period/intermittently) | Some lunches directed at having residents spend time as an inpatient team off the floor, others directed at lunches for each class. Other more formal didactic lunches called “Wellness in Medical Practice,” which include our integrated wellness curriculum. This was designed to promote resident wellness and covers specific topics such as resources at UI Hospitals and Clinics, building resilience, burnout and burnout prevention, mindfulness, debriefing, healthy living habits, and interconnectedness |
Annual Retreats
These occur annually with directed teaching according to year or residency. All residents are excused from clinical duties to complete two-day retreat activities:
| Program Year | Description |
|---|---|
| PGY1 | Focus on team building, stress management, and end-of-life issues |
| PGY2 | Focus on teaching and supervisory skills |
| PGY3 | Focus on life after residency |
Additional "Retreats"
| Name | Program Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Advocacy Day | PGY1 | Residents excused from clinical duties to discuss careers in general pediatrics, private vs academic, and fellowship training |
| Career Day | PGY2 | Residents excused from clinical duties to learn more about advocacy opportunities |
Mentors
- Each resident is assigned a formal mentor, with consideration of possible career interests. Residents will meet with this mentor at least twice per year
- Research “speed dating” event held each fall to help residents find research mentors if desired
- Senior residents act as informal mentors to many junior residents
Residency Life at UI Health Care
Social Events