Wellness and Wellbeing
The UTHealth-Houston Department of Emergency Medicine is committed to the continued wellness and well-being of our residents and faculty through various avenues including social events, grand round speaker series, and research initiatives. We believe a well-functioning team is one that works to help one another maintain balance in each of our lives.
Departmental Sporting & Social Events
The UTHealth-Houston EM Department loves staying active and connected! From softball champs like Dr. Zaidi to Dr. Lewandowski and Dr. Bhandari celebrating the TEX-MED 5K, and Dr. Fairbrother’s cheerful run, we have a blast. And don’t miss the epic Resident vs. Faculty Basketball Game (psst…faculty might have clinched it!.
The UTHealth-Houston Department of Emergency Medicine regularly meets together for department-wide sporting events to help maintain close relationships and support healthy lifestyles with one another. Sporting events are organized approximately twice a year along with other social events also spread throughout the calendar year.
Journal Club
Great food, engaging discussions, and fantastic company at some of Houston’s best spots like Graces, Picos, and Top Golf!
Journal Club is a monthly event held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at various selected venues in Houston. Some of our favorite locations include Graces at Kirby Dr., Picos at Kirby Dr., Top Golf-Katy, La Griglia on West Gray, and Maggiano’s Little Italy at Post Oak.
During these meetings, residents present articles of their choosing, and faculty, residents, and students engage in discussions and critical appraisals of the articles. This event provides an opportunity for our EM team to collaborate, explore interesting topics, and enjoy complimentary food and drinks, courtesy of our generous sponsors.
Intern Welcome Party
Cheers to our awesome new Interns!
Here are some snapshots from our recent EM Intern Welcome Party! This annual July event offers a great opportunity for new interns to connect with EM faculty and PGY2 and PGY3 residents they’ll be working with throughout the year. Hosted by our Program Director, Dr. Van Meter, and future host Dr. Jessica Wilson, the gathering are filled with delicious food, drinks, and great company!
Renaissance Fest’
Hear ye, hear ye! Our Residents are enjoying the fun at the Renaissance Festival!
Here in Houston, we are extremely fortunate to have one of the largest Renaissance festivals in the country! You know our residents are taking full advantage of that every year. Check out just one of the several groups of residents that went this past year. Who do you think won the costume contest?
Wellness Grand Rounds Speaker Series
Speakers from diverse backgrounds share their professional experiences with our residents.
The Wellness section also believes highly in bringing nationally recognized speakers to the UTHealth Houston’s Department of Emergency Medicine through Grand Round Speaker Series that help the department learn tools and develop skill sets to maintain their own well-being as care providers.
Resident/Faculty Families
Resident/Faculty Families in action! From Astros games to beach days, our families enjoy every moment together!
Each year, residents and faculty with shared interests are paired up to form “Resident Families,” inspired by the house names in Harry Potter (e.g., The McReyVan Family). These pairs connect through monthly Zoom meetings and in-person events, fostering a supportive community. Whether it’s sporting events, beach days, bowling nights, or movie gatherings, our residents know how to have a blast!
Family Cup / Sono Games
May the best team win!
A competition in which each mentoring family competes against one another for the Wellness Cup, a prize, and most importantly gloating rights. Throughout the year, we focus on the 8 pillars of Wellness with a monthly theme and goals that integrate these pillars: Physical, Social, Environmental, Emotional, Occupational, Financial, Spiritual, and Intellectual.
We only win gold medals! 🙂
ACEP, SAEM, & CORD
Celebrating our residents at major conferences and fun group outings—like fun nights out in the city and even a traditional New Orleans swamp tour!
We show our appreciation for our residents by supporting their attendance at major conferences like ACEP, SAEM, and CORD. We provide protected time for second and third years to learn, network, and celebrate their journey in emergency medicine. First and second years are welcome too! We also organize fun group outings during the conference, whether it’s a night out or a unique experience like the swamp tour at our recent CORD in New Orleans.
EM Graduation Roast
Highlighting our annual EM Roast for the graduating PGY3s—where laughter, good food, and memorable jokes make for an unforgettable send-off!
Before graduation each year, we host our annual EM Roast for the graduating PGY3 class. It’s a fun, light-hearted event where we playfully tease our departing residents and involve some of our EM faculty for extra laughs. It’s the perfect way to celebrate our graduating class one last time with great food, drinks, and plenty of jokes!