From 2020-2022, the Women’s Wellbeing through Equity and Leadership program (WEL) secured funds to award pilot organizational change grants to WEL graduates. The purpose of these grants was to provide graduates with resources to implement a change initiative within their home organization or community related to wellness, equity, and/or leadership. A Request for Proposals (RFP) process was initiated, and four organizational change grants were funded; two projects were awarded to individual WEL graduates, and the other two were awarded to small groups of graduates. Funded projects were conducted over a one-year period and are summarized below.
Black Women Physicians Wellness Initiative (BWPWI)
Janine Adjo, MD; Bisi Alli, DO, MS; Xenia Bhembe, MD; Nicole Christian-Braithwaite, MD; Bridgette Jones, MD, MSc; Marie Ramas, MD
The Black Women Physicians Wellness Initiative (BWPWI) championed wellness in Black women physicians by providing tools that encourage networking, foster leadership, provide career advancement, stimulate scholarly activity, create pipelines, and celebrate wellness. BWPI held a full-day virtual Wellness Summit in June 2022, with participants spanning stage of career and medical specialty. The summit included several expert speakers, lively Q&A sessions, music, and wellness reflections.
Ortho Mindset
Tammy Lin, MD, MPH, FACP
The Ortho Mindset initiative exposed female students (particularly from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds) to orthopedic surgery through mentorship and hands-on activities. An in-person workshop and networking dinner were held with engaging activities and a robotic surgery demonstration, and content included dispelling several pervasive myths regarding women and orthopedics. In addition, a Special Interest Group “Ortho Mindset” was started at UCSD for female students interested in orthopedic surgery.
Smoothies in the Park
Dawn Sears, MD
The purpose of Smoothies in the Park was to decrease isolation and burnout during the pandemic by facilitating connections between medical students, residents, and fellows. The program included meetings outside the hospital walls to discuss real world topics in a relaxed in engaged manner to create psychological safety, community, and belonging.
The Swellness Project
Kajal Khanna, MD, JD; Tammy Lin, MD, MPH, FACP; Lisa Foglia, MD; Amy Ahasic, MD, MPH, FCCP, ATSF
The Swellnes Project provided focused support around wellbeing for active-duty military women physicians. The project held several small group sessions facilitated by coaches with various areas of expertise. Participants were able to make connections across the branches of the military over shared interests and to expand their networks through contacts made within this program.
Last Updated
02/12/2024
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics