At UAB, wellness is about creating an environment where our faculty, staff, and learners can thrive. Ensuring our people have access to the resources they need to maintain health, balance, and contentment is one of my and my leadership team's top priorities.
We know that wellness initiatives promote the best of what our faculty and staff can give back to those we serve—in teaching, patient care, mentoring, and advancing medical knowledge. When we invest in wellness, we are investing in the longevity of our mission and the success of those who make it possible.
In the past year, several efforts have been devoted to enhancing the well-being of our faculty, staff, and students.
One example is the opening of the Graduate Medical Education Wellness Center. Last month, Heersink School of Medicine celebrated the grand opening of the newly completed center—a dedicated space for residents and fellows. This unique group of learners is imperative to our mission, providing essential patient care while advancing biomedical science and research.
The Wellness Center is designed to reduce stress and foster community among trainees. It offers five zones specifically designed to meet the wellness needs of residents and fellows. These include a hospitality area with a kitchen and lounge, a study zone for quiet work, a designated room for mothers equipped with lactation stations, a multipurpose meeting area for collaboration, and an activity zone complete with exercise equipment. The amenities allow trainees to relax, work, study, and attend to their physical health.
Another example of efforts dedicated to wellness is the growth of the UAB Medicine Office of Wellness. The office has grown its services in the past year, expanding staffing and offerings. Earlier this year, the office introduced Amanda Carmichael, MA, BCC, to the team as Director of Wellness and Administration. Carmichael is a board-certified coach. Similarly, Laurence Boitet, Ph.D., was recruited to the office to develop programming specific to the biomedical scientist and physician-scientist learner groups.
The office offers wellness support services such as check-ins, one-on-one consultations, and group sessions. It also offers wellness education programs on a variety of topics. The office will soon provide coaching, and more information will be communicated.
Likewise, it was recently announced that Katie Traylor, MA, LPC, NCC, a clinical counselor with the Employee Assistance and Counseling Center, has become devoted specifically to the client population of medical students at Heersink. She joins Adrienne Raymond, LPC, as a counseling professional dedicated to this group. These resources are critical for students as they navigate the intense demands of their training.
Meanwhile, we are focused on ensuring our faculty, staff, and learners feel satisfied and encouraged in their work. This is a huge priority for my leadership team. One example of our work in this area is the Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff, a companion to the longtime Dean’s Excellence Awards for Faculty. The Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff were recently celebrated in early September, honoring nine incredible staff for their hard work over the past year.
We continue to support the Leadership Development Office, which focuses on building up leaders and the teams they work with to enhance collaboration and success. Programs around professional development are key components to ensuring individuals feel fulfilled at work. I am proud of the way this office focuses on each individual leader and adapts to their needs.
By prioritizing wellness and engagement, we create a collaborative, compassionate community. Work in these areas is ongoing, and senior leadership is continuously seeking ways to meet the needs of our people. I will continue to communicate with you about efforts in these spaces and beyond that impact the lives of our faculty, staff, and learners.
Our collective well-being and the strength of our engagement enable us to shape the future of medicine, improve patient outcomes, and train the next generation of leaders.