Given the major emphasis on the wellness and mental health of residents, many residency programs have scheduled social events to encourage interactions between faculty, staff, and residents. Accordingly, Tulane Urology has been at the forefront of these activities, such as our welcoming receptions, graduation banquets, bowling events, Super Bowl parties, crawfish boils, and so forth. These activities, which are part of a long-term initiative, are essential to promoting resident wellness and to reducing resident burnout.
Current Wellness Activities:
- In late July or early August, we hold an annual Residents Welcome Reception, a unique event to introduce our entire faculty and staff to the new residents (and significant others). This is a well-received, hospitable start to our residents’ five-year stay with the Tulane Urology family.
- The residents periodically meet among themselves at various social events such as bicycling and exercising together.
- In the spring, we have an annual crawfish boil at a faculty member’s home for all residents and faculty (and significant others). Additionally, members of the research team, nursing personnel, and ancillary staff also attend this event to foster camaraderie and team spirit.
- An annual dinner at the Chair’s house is held in honor of our graduating chief residents.
- Tulane Urology also has a generous travel policy to actively encourage residents to attend meetings every year. Meetings include the American Urological Association (AUA), the Southeastern Section of the AUA, the Louisiana Urological Society, the American Society of Andrology (ASA), and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA), among others.
- Our PGY-1 through PGY-4 residents go on annual retreats outside of New Orleans. This is a unique opportunity for four levels of residents to gather and evaluate their residency training before the PGY-4 residents become chief residents. During this retreat, residents generate measures that could improve their education, rotation, and learning experience.
Overall, Tulane Urology is dedicated to scheduling social activities and relevant interactions between faculty and residents during the academic year to promote wellness. In addition, the Tulane Urology Resident’s fund, which has been established by generous donations of our former residents, is dedicated towards any event that would expand the residents’ horizons. It is anticipated that all alumni residents will continue to contribute to this important fund.