Thriving In and Out of the Reading Room: A Faculty Development Workshop

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Radiology
• Positive Psychology

Background:

• Radiologists dedicate significant time and energy to their profession, making work a key factor in life fulfillment.
• Burnout and job dissatisfaction are significant concerns within academic radiology.
• A novel faculty development workshop was created to address these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, implement, and evaluate a faculty development workshop aimed at enhancing well-being and job satisfaction for radiologists.
• To provide practical strategies for incorporating elements of positive psychology into daily professional life.
• To foster a sense of community and peer support among radiology faculty.

Main Methods:

• The workshop was based on the PERMA model of well-being (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement).
• Interactive, small group exercises were used to teach strategies for integrating PERMA elements.
• Anonymous voluntary electronic surveys were administered to participants post-workshop.

Main Results:

• The workshop was delivered to 58 faculty members across eight sessions.
• Participants reported the workshop as highly valuable and practical.
• The workshop was perceived to enhance camaraderie and facilitate peer learning.

Conclusions:

• The faculty development workshop shows promise in improving job satisfaction among academic radiologists.
• The initiative offers a potential strategy for addressing burnout in the field.
• Internal development allowed for customization to faculty needs and broad engagement.