We did it, one full decade! This fall marks the 10th anniversary of the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Resident Wellness Office (RWO) and a decade of enhancing the well-being of UBC resident doctors who are training and providing care in communities across the province. We are thrilled and pleased to share our 10 year anniversary article written by communications at the Faculty of Medicine. Please have a read to learn more about the progression of RWO over the past 10 years including words from our very own Wellness Counsellor, Rebecca Turnbull, and Vice Dean of Education, Dr. Roger Wong.
With ten full circles around the earth comes time for reflection and acknowledgement how far our office has come. We first opened doors in 2013 with one part time counsellor offering supports several days a week. Now, in 2023, we are proud to have 3 counsellors offering sessions 5 days a week, a director, an administrative coordinator and a plethora of offerings at Vancouver, Surrey, New Westminster and extended sites across the province. Over time, the RWO has expanded from just offering counselling to now providing psychoeducation workshops, group supports, Peer support, Indigenous Elder Support, an ADHD pilot support group. There are many additional supports and ambitions the Resident Wellness Office hopes to achieve in the next decade to come and we look forward to seeing where we can expand and grow.
Our number one priority has always been the wellbeing of medical learners and residents and our mission is to continue to foster compassion, community, and connection. Thank you to all that supported the RWO in 2013 until now! We are grateful everyday to support the residents at UBC as they become the skillful, compassionate doctors our communities need.
