Peer Support Ambassadors: A Program to Advance a Supportive and Inclusive Clinical Learning Environment

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Peer support is crucial for physicians experiencing distress.
• Formal peer support programs for residents and fellows are scarce.
• Existing training often overlooks the unique challenges faced by residents from historically excluded groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a peer support program for graduate medical education (GME) trainees.
• To train resident leaders in peer support and trauma-informed care.
• To address disparities in resident well-being and mistreatment.

Main Methods:

• Trained 10 diverse resident leaders in peer support, trauma-informed care, and restorative practices.
• Deployed trained ambassadors to support peers within various medical specialties.
• Facilitated opportunities for participants to train other residents.

Main Results:

• Increased participants' confidence and skills in peer support and referral.
• Enhanced awareness of mental health resources and strategies for addressing mistreatment.
• Broadened participants' understanding of diverse resident experiences and fostered inter-specialty connections.

Conclusions:

• The GME Peer Support Ambassador (PSA) Program effectively enhanced resident leaders' skills and awareness.
• The program improved participants' ability to support peers and address systemic issues.
• Future improvements include enhanced networking opportunities and broader program dissemination.