Wellness Works: A Longitudinal Approach to Promoting Radiology Program Director Wellness and Community through the...

Radiology residency program directors (PDs) encounter a wide range of stressful challenges. It has been shown that peer support groups can support the wellbeing of professionals. The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of developing a longitudinal national pilot program of radiology PD support communities. Secondary goals included assessing effects on participant wellness and gathering feedback for possible continuation.

Program structure was based on a prior regional radiology PD group. Association of Program Directors in Radiology members were invited to join the IRB-exempt pilot. Participants were divided into five groups led by peer facilitators. Facilitator training sessions were conducted before and during the program. Virtual and in-person sessions were held during the pilot, November 2023 through July 2024. The Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index (PFI) was administered to participants pre- and post-program. An anonymous post-program feedback form was provided.

Forty-two APDR members enrolled; the majority (71%) were current PDs. The Stanford PFI data indicated significant improvement in the Overall Burnout Scale with pre-program mean score 2.8 (2.2-3.4) versus post-program 1.9 (1.4-2.5), p-value 0.036, effect size 0.570, and in the Work Exhaustion Scale, with pre-program mean score 3.5 (2.8-4.2) versus post-program 2.4 (1.8-3.0), p-value 0.017, effect size 0.652. 22 participants completed the feedback survey; 68% rated the program experience "excellent" and 32% "good." Major narrative themes included the positive impact on participant sense of community as well as access to resources and sharing of ideas.

This pilot resulted in the creation of radiology PD support communities with the aim of demonstrating feasibility as well as potentially positively impacting member wellbeing through community and mentorship. Although the study had several limitations, overall participants rated the experience as positive. Moreover, the narrative feedback has since served as the foundation for the establishment of an ongoing PD peer mentorship program in radiology.