The Emergency Medicine Resident Retreat: Creating and Sustaining a Transformative and Reflective Experience.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Wellness Programs

Background:

• High burnout rates are prevalent among emergency medicine residents.
• Resident retreats are a common wellness initiative to address burnout.
• Existing retreats often prioritize social events over structured well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a longitudinal, year-specific resident retreat curriculum for emergency medicine trainees.
• To foster resident well-being, professional development, and team cohesion.
• To provide a structured, restorative experience away from the clinical environment.

Main Methods:

• Designed individualized retreats for each postgraduate year of training.
• Incorporated activities focused on personal well-being, reflection, team building, and professional development.
• Held retreats off-site to ensure separation from the hospital workplace.

Main Results:

• The retreat program has been sustained for nearly a decade.
• Trainee evaluations of the retreats are consistently high.
• 93.75% of residents agreed retreats benefit their training; 94.2% felt they increased enthusiasm.

Conclusions:

• A year-specific emergency medicine resident retreat program is feasible and sustainable.
• The retreat curriculum has become an integral part of the residency.
• The program fosters positive experiences for both residents and faculty, enhancing overall training.