“I’ll be the best me I can be if I prioritize myself.”
- MICHELLE OBAMA -
WELLNESS COmmittee
The resident-run Wellness Committee was established in 2017 in an effort to address the effects of residency training on our personal lives as clinicians. Since that time, the department has increased funding for monthly outings where residents, CRNAs, attendings, and our families have an opportunity to explore the city, build relationships, have fun and let off steam. We kick off the academic year with the inaugural Welcome BBQ in Chinatown at beautiful Ping Tom Park and host monthly events such as picnics in Grant Park listening to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Laser Tag, Cirque du Soleil, visits to pumpkin patches, catching the Cubs or the Sox play, and solving Escape Room puzzles.
PEER-to-peer Support Group
We know residency is hard. It takes a toll on our mental, physical, and emotional health to care for some of the city’s sickest patients while also juggling starting a career. We saw that having a Wellness Committee alone was not enough to help young physicians navigate resiliency and burnout. Seeing that, Dr. Allison Dalton, established the Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care Peer-to-Peer Support Group. Multiple peer supporters from each level of training, from CA-1’s through CA-3’s, as well as fellows, CRNAs, and attendings, are trained in the techniques of providing support to our colleagues by one of our clinical psychologists. Anytime there is a difficult case in the operating room or in the ICU, our peer supporters will make sure you have the tools and backup to thrive, not just survive residency.
DIVERSITY + INCLUSION
As both the community hospital and tertiary referral center serving the South Side of Chicago, the University of Chicago takes pride in caring for the underserved communities in and around Hyde Park. From our work in the trauma bays to the high-risk labor and delivery floors, it’s important to us that we are advocates for our patients and community, and that our physicians reflect the backgrounds of our patients. There are three facets to our Diversity and Inclusion efforts at DACC: mentoring, education, and community outreach.
We are committed to mentoring those interested in medicine, nursing, and anesthesiology who come from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine. We strive to educate our clinicians on the social determinants of health through our monthly Grand Rounds series so that we can better address the needs of our patients. Our whole team, from attendings to residents to CRNAs (led by CRNA, Katiun Attarpour) is committed to giving back to our community through volunteer, outreach, and fundraising efforts.
A Supportive Community
We take pride in our sense of community at UChicago. From the moment you first walk into the Center for Care and Discovery as an intern or advanced CA-1, the sense of support from the Internal Medicine and Anesthesia residency programs is palpable. As you progress through your training, our CRNAs, attending physicians, and administrative team are dedicated to your development not just as an anesthesiologist, but as a whole person. Whether it’s a major life event, like welcoming a new member of the family, or as simple as needing to take a mental health break - we are here to support you through your personal and professional journey.
MENTORSHIP
Every class is assigned a faculty liaison at the beginning of their CA-1 year. This faculty member will get to know you well, helping you navigate residency, providing feedback, and identifying areas for improvement. Want additional mentorship? We make it easy. From your first day, all attendings will know who you are, where you are from, and what you are passionate about. These unique, nurturing relationships inevitably develop in our community whether you are rotating through the cardiac or ambulatory surgery center, which makes finding faculty mentors and friends not only easy but also one of the most memorable aspects of being a resident here.
Graduate Medical Education
Trainees at the University of Chicago benefit from the vast network of our GME, which spans the institution and collaborates between all of the residency and fellowship programs. From the first day of orientation, GME is there to help trainees get settled into life at UChicago. Throughout your clinical training, GME helps facilitate resiliency training, participation in the House Staff Committee, and outreach to the Hyde Park community. Whether you need help getting a doctor appointment scheduled, making the leap to fellowship, or finding your first job as an attending, GME at UChicago is poised to support you on your journey.