UPMC Shadyside Family Medicine Residency – February 19, 2020

Each Wednesday afternoon, our residency program has protected didactic lecture time and ten times per year we focus on Wellbeing. On February 19, 2020 we focused on healthy eating. This included a presentation by PGY1 Suzanne Whittemore and attending Dr. Rowena Pingul-Ravano on meal preparation with an emphasis on whole food, plant-based diets. Patient centered information including reduction in heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Resident centered information including quick and easy recipes and meal preparation suggestions were provided as well.

After this session, 13 residents and 7 faculty members attended a pizza cooking class at Enrico Biscotti. The class began with a family style dinner during which the interdisciplinary team had time to reflect on food preferences and past experiences. We were instructed by the chef on selection of appropriate, local pizza ingredients, and shown a demonstration of pizza preparation. Lastly, it was our turn to create our own individual pizza and place into the wood-fire oven. Overall, the day was a great opportunity for community building and unwinding with other residency members. After the session, many residents enjoyed the chance to reevaluate their dietary habits and learn a new, hands on skill.

Results/Outcome Survey
1. What was the general understanding of the purpose of the project/program by participants?
Physician wellness, healthy eating/cooking for self and patients
2. During the project/program, what tangible tools or strategies were demonstrated or taught (i.e,
coping skills for wellness and life balance)?
Healthy eating habits for self and patients
3. What word(s) best describes how you feel when you are experiencing stress or well-being
imbalance?
Burned out
4. What suggestions do you have to increase the probability of success for the project/program for
other institutions?
Program initiated based on resident suggestions/requests
5. What do you intend to do, upon returning to work, that you learned and practiced during the
activity, that will improve your response to stressful situations?
Meal prepping