Resident Wellness
At Mary Washington Healthcare, we believe that becoming an excellent physician should not come at the cost of your health, relationships, or sense of self. Resident wellness is not an afterthought here — it is a structured, supported part of your training from day one.
Institutional Support
MWHC offers a robust Associate Wellness Program with resources for healthy eating, exercise, and financial planning. Our AllOne Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides confidential support for mental health, life coaching, legal and financial concerns, and more. Residents also have access to mental health counseling services through the EAP. The MWHC Team Cupboard, a pantry stocked with donated household essentials and non-perishable items, is available for residents and staff on the go.
Mentorship at MWHC
Every resident is paired with a core faculty mentor on day one. This relationship is one of the most valuable parts of your training — a consistent, trusted resource for career planning, fellowship guidance, life outside medicine, and personal wellness. Mentors are matched based on your individual goals and interests, and these connections often extend well beyond residency.
Education and Recognition
We address wellness proactively, not reactively. From orientation onward, residents receive dedicated education on burnout recognition, fatigue, and resilience. Highlights include:
- An introductory wellness and resiliency lecture at orientation focused on early burnout prevention
- AMA modules on burnout, sleep deprivation, stress, and wellness tools completed during PGY-1
- Monthly wellness updates at Program Director meetings
- Each incoming PGY-1 is paired with a PGY-2 or PGY-3 peer mentor to support the transition into residency
- Wellness evaluations on arrival and quarterly throughout training, reviewed by the Program Director
- Burnout is discussed openly at quarterly check-ins, semi-annual PD reviews, and semi-annual mentor-mentee meetings
A Schedule Designed Around You
Our 4+2+2 block schedule was built with wellness in mind. Inpatient and outpatient duties are deliberately separated, every fifth weekend is free of clinic obligations, and Friday afternoons during clinic blocks are protected administrative time. A jeopardy and back-up system ensures coverage when residents need time away, without placing undue burden on peers.
Non-physician tasks — administrative, nursing, and case management work — are handled by dedicated support staff in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, so residents can focus on learning and patient care.
Physical Resources
- Free weekday lunch and snacks provided in the Resident Lounge
- Access to the on-site Wellness Works Wonders gym (cardio equipment and free weights) at low cost after hours
- Discounted YMCA memberships and additional fitness discounts through the EAP
- Uber or taxi reimbursement for residents who are too fatigued to drive home after a shift
- On-call rooms available for therapeutic rest; residents are always encouraged to sleep when fatigued
Community and Connection
Wellness extends beyond the individual. Our program sponsors resident wellness events throughout the year, planned collaboratively by residents and administration. A cross-residency Resident Wellness Committee organizes activities across all programs, and IM residents and faculty regularly participate together in sports leagues and group activities including kickball, baseball, and bowling.
Coverage When You Need It
If you are unable to complete your duties due to fatigue, illness, burnout, or a family emergency, the program will arrange coverage. There are no negative consequences for using this support. We mean that.
Monitoring and Accountability
We track wellness at a program level through the ACGME Annual Resident and Faculty Surveys, quarterly MedHub Burnout Questionnaires, the GME Wellness Survey, and Annual Program Evaluations. These are not formalities — results are reviewed by the Program Director and discussed at Program Evaluation Committee meetings.