The Resident Wellness: We look at the whole person
Resident well-being is a foundational priority at St. Joseph’s/Candler, intentionally built into the structure and culture of our program. We know that residency is one of the most demanding chapters of a physician’s life, and we are committed to ensuring that no resident faces it without the right support.
Through our partnership with the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), residents have full access to a well-established wellness infrastructure. This includes free and confidential mental health services through the Employee-Faculty Assistance Program (EFAP) which provides assessments and up to six counseling sessions at no cost, as well as referral pathways for ongoing or specialized care. Around-the-clock mental health support, additional Employee Assistance Programs, and crisis resources are also available, ensuring help is always within reach.
Financial wellness is equally supported, with access to individual financial counseling, retirement planning, loan repayment guidance, and system-wide “Money Mondays” programming designed to build long-term stability throughout training. Beyond formal resources, St. Joseph's/Candler provides access to structured wellness initiatives and tools.
These include burnout self-assessments, stress management resources, meditation and self-help applications, and educational materials focused on resilience and career development. Additionally, onsite gym facilities are accessible to residents at a low annual cost, making physical wellness both convenient and easy to maintain.
Since we believe wellness should be shaped by the people it serves, we are establishing a Resident Wellness Committee as the program grows, bringing residents and faculty together to guide programming, identify gaps, and ensure our approach continues to evolve in a way that is genuinely responsive to the needs of our trainees.
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