Thriving Through Transitions: Navigating Wellness as a GI Fellow and New Attending

Jason Colizzo, MD, Pushpak Taunk, MD and Shreya Narayanan, MD

We have officially entered winter which means another season of deadlines and busy training schedules; all while navigating the holiday aftermath and somehow maintaining our sanity. For trainees here in the Sunshine State there is also the influx of “snowbird” vacationers bringing with them a paucity of outside records and a surplus of anticoagulation. As we head into this period of long hours and shrinking daylight, it’s important to reflect on how many challenges you’ve faced and how far you’ve come despite those challenges. Medical school, postgraduate training, pandemics, elections, research projects, interviews, and board exams are only a handful of the gauntlets thrown your way over the recent years.

You’ve passed the exams. The research has been presented, and the manuscript has been published (or at least “pending review” right?). You are now tasked with refining your understanding of the management of complex GI pathology and honing your endoscopic skill. You are now well integrated into the GI fellowship experience. But before you continue to immerse yourself into your training this season, take a moment to be mindful of where you are and practice gratitude to the people who’ve helped to make that happen- friends, significant others, parents; perhaps the first attending physician who gave you a chance at drafting a prospective study. Our successes are not only a testament to our own resilience and talent, but also to the positive impact our lives can have on one another.

We have the privilege of serving as the faculty advisors for the GI Fellowship Wellness Committee at the University of South Florida (Tampa, FL). As a byproduct of exploring resources to best support our fellows and facing the occasional threat to our own wellbeing, we’ve learned a few lessons. In sharing them, our hope is that they may benefit you in this phase of training and beyond.

• Give yourself some grace! The work you’re doing is demanding, the hours are long, and endoscopy can be much harder than it looks.
• Ergonomics, sleep, mindfulness, exercise, healthy eating, and staying hydrated go a long way.
• Use your vacation time! It’s important to take breaks and disengage from work when you need to.
• Maintain the relationships that are important to you. We can’t say enough about this.
• Mentorship is invaluable. Lean into that and don’t hesitate to seek guidance, especially as you become attendings.
• Learn to balance your personal and professional goals. Figure out what energizes you and what drains you. Take on tasks that align with your values and enhance your sense of purpose; find ways to modify the things that don’t.
• Recognize signs of burnout in yourself and your peers. Know what resources are available to you and consider contributing to wellness programs at your institution.

Practicing wellness includes all of the above, but it is more than that.  Wellness is a daily mindset where we continue to find meaning and purpose in the things we do, the people we interact with and the thoughts we have. The outside world certainly impacts our wellness, but we also hold the power to shape our own wellness. Figure out what “fills your cup” and take active steps daily to replenish that cup!

Let’s take a moment in this season marked by reflection to appreciate the many milestones achieved and practice gratitude to those who’ve been by us along the way. Call the parent. Text the friend. Surprise the significant other with the spontaneous date night (or at least takeout). Your generosity put into practice will support the wellness in their lives and your own.