Department of Pediatrics Faculty Well-being Resources

Well-being Message from Jessica Gold (10/01/2025)

Dear Colleagues,

Earlier this year, I shared the FY25 Pediatrics Well-being Annual Plan. The purpose of the annual plan is to 1) reflect on the current landscape of the Department and its impact on physician well-being; 2) benchmark our progress year over year; and 3) allow WellMD & WellPhD to catalyze complementary efforts and supports.

This year has been marked by tremendous uncertainty, and many of us have felt and continue to feel significant distress in the face of the climate around us. Even so, I am immensely proud of the work that has been done by so many to promote physician well-being in our Department. I am delighted to share our Year-End Summary, which details the goals we set in our FY25 Plan, and our progress towards those goals. I'll share a few highlights here:

--New department guidelines for return to work following parental leave have been shared broadly, with 6 divisions having drafted formal policies, and 5 more divisions have policies currently in process

--5 Department-sponsored well-being grants were awarded late last year, and each grant project is fully underway, ranging from tackling sleep deprivation, to triaging new referrals, to thinking about how we build connection with each other

--Mary and I have been conducting listening sessions with each division. To date, we have visited 16 divisions, with 2 sessions upcoming. Themes are being collated and shared with key stakeholders

I am deeply grateful to the many people who have contributed to these successes, including our grant recipients and the Well-being Champions, among many others. The full Year-End Summary is attached and also housed on the Department website.

In the coming months, I will share our FY26 Well-being Annual Plan, as we further reflect on our progress, our current landscape and opportunities, and set goals for the year ahead.

With gratitude,

Jessica Gold