Work-life-balance: how to ensure that wellness transforms from an abstract concept to a proactive initiative within training programs.

Wellness initiatives within programs are nothing new. From structured lectures, wellness days, yearly retreats and more, programs have incorporated multiple strategies to ensure that residents and fellows are informed of how to care for themselves during training. But why do these initiatives fail to create a tangible response? And why do so many trainees still out of balance when it comes to training? Dr.Anum Baig, a PGY2 in psychiatry at Charles R.Drew University of Medicine and Science, discusses her experience of being a wellness liaison within her program and what she believes will work to enhance the wellness initiatives within training programs. In this episode, we discuss the following:  What is the definition of work-life balance and how does it differ from wellness?  What are some common initiatives that programs make to ensure that wellness is integrated within medical training?  What are some basic steps that trainees can take to ensure that they prioritize work-life-balance?  What are the common trends that seem among new vs. well-established programs in terms of wellness initiatives?  What are is a wellness liaison and how does their role differ from that of administrators?  What is the structure of such a role and how does it differ from typical wellness initiatives?