The mission of the University of Michigan Department of Dermatology Residency Wellness Committee is to promote the development of residents through initiatives and events that foster personal, professional, and emotional well-being. This committee strives to create an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment that cultivates strong interpersonal relationships and a sense of belonging, fulfillment from clinical care, racial and cultural equity and equality, and personal growth.
Events and activities planned by our committee are department-sponsored and focus on building community through social events and shared volunteerism, tools to cultivate resilience and personal well-being, and organizational strategies to improve the work experience.
Committee events have included:
- a house officer and faculty ice cream social at Washtenaw Dairy;
- an educational seminar on retirement investments at U-M, followed by apple picking and donuts at a local orchard; and
- a lecture on contract negotiations, followed by participation in a mentoring session with U-M students interested in dermatology from the Black Undergraduate Medical Association and the Latinx Undergraduate Medical Association at University of Michigan.
The committee also played a significant role in the optimization of resident workplace lactation by coordinating the addition of a new lactation room with a hospital-grade breast pump and an updated resident lactation policy to ensure all new mothers and lactating residents are fully supported and equipped to take on this challenging role, if desired, with ease while carrying out clinical duties the department.
Established in 2021, the Dermatology Residency Wellness Committee is comprised of dermatology residents and faculty, and is generously supported by department administration.
