How to Achieve Work/Life Balance and Manage my Time in Residence

As the word “resident” implies, doctors at this stage may find themselves practically living at the hospital. Depending on the specialty and where one is in the world, during residency a doctor may be expected to work anywhere from 50-80 hours a week. The toll of this is often noticeable when it comes to health in general, and mental health in particular. Anxiety, depression and insomnia, are just a few of the side effects related to burnout. While work-life balance in the context of residency may sound paradoxical, to survive this period choices do have to be made. What kind of sacrifices will be necessary? What kind of time management strategies might come in handy, and what insight can be gleaned from those who have gone through it? We have gathered a panel of expert doctors who will discuss these very topics in the next session of our Resilient Resident Series.

PROGRAM

Clinical Background

1. Welcome and Introduction. - Dr. Emanuele Lo Menzo (USA) and Dr. Regina Faes (Mexico)

2. Residency in surgery: is balance in work/life possible or sacrifices are a must?  - Dr. Sharon Stein (USA)

3. Time management strategies in work-life integration –  Dr. Dana Sands (USA) 

4. My own perspective: can we have it all? – Dr. Marta Barros (Spain)

5. Discussion and closing remarks – All faculty moderated by Dr. Regina Faes