The Importance of GME Wellness
Northeast Georgia Medical Center is committed to the mental and physical health and wellness of all our residents, fellows, faculty physicians and staff.
Residency and fellowship can be an inherently stressful time in the career of a physician, and the well-being of our trainees is something we take very seriously at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Declines in physician well-being are linked to lower quality patient care and patient satisfaction, increased errors, and decreased health system performance. Our goal is to ensure that our residents and fellows are equipped with the tools and resources that enable them to be their best so they can provide the highest quality care for our patients.
“In the current healthcare environment, residents and faculty members are at increased risk for burnout and depression. Psychological, emotional, and physical well-being are critical in the development of the competent, caring, and resilient physician. Self-care is an important component of professionalism; it is also a skill that must be learned and nurtured in the context of other aspects of residency training. Programs….have the same responsibility to address well-being as they do to evaluate other aspects of resident competence.”
– ACGME Common Program Requirements, Section VI
Program Overview
Northeast Georgia Health System prides itself on four core values, all of which help us achieve our mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. These values shape the daily interactions between our physicians and residents, faculty, staff, volunteers, board members, patients, and their loved ones.
Our Core Values are also embedded in how we prioritize the overall well-being of our residents. Each component of our wellness curriculum and programming is directly influenced by one or more of the Core Values.
Resident Assistance Program (RAP)
The Resident Assistance Program (RAP) is a free counseling and mental health support service offered in partnership with the NGHS Employee Assistance Program. Designed to address the unique challenges and stressors commonly experienced by medical trainees, the RAP strives to support personal and professional wellbeing through confidential, solution-focused services.
Residents and fellows are automatically enrolled in the RAP upon their arrival to NGMC. Participation in the RAP consists of two wellbeing check-in visits per year with a RAP psychologist or counselor. Trainees may opt out of the RAP at any time.
Residents and fellows may also self-refer to any individual RAP services including traditional counseling, professional coaching, or other consultation to determine appropriate interventions based on their needs. Those needing more specialized treatment may be referred to a community provider through their insurance.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
800-273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Website
Self-Screening Tools
The following screening tools may be used to explore possible mental health risks but should not be used as a substitute for professional assessment or treatment. If you would like to discuss your results with a mental health professional, please schedule an appointment with the Resident Assistance Program or contact the Director of GME Wellness.
Resources for Expectant & New Parents
Residency and fellowship training is not only a time of tremendous professional growth — for many, these years may bring major life milestones, including parenthood. Whether your plan includes expanding your family or starting a new one, we offer resources no matter where you are in the journey.
Parental Leave
There are several important things to consider when planning your parental leave. This includes reviewing employee rights and policies, establishing care for you and your child during your leave, and planning your return to work.
New and Expecting Parents
NGMC has been recognized as Georgia’s #1 Women’s Hospital for three consecutive years, offering delivery locations at both the Gainesville and Braselton campuses. Click below to learn more about women and children’s services, childbirth classes, and choose from a list of our women’s health specialists.
Nursing Parents
NGHS offers quiet, private spaces for nursing parents at our hospital campuses in Gainesville and Braselton and the NGPG Medical Park II office. Each space includes power outlets, a refrigerator, and a comfortable chair.
Our GME lactation room specifically for nursing residents is located within the ground floor resident lounge at NGMC Gainesville. This private space is equipped with a mini-fridge and plenty of electrical outlets for pumping and storage.
NGMC Lactation Spaces
- Gainesville Campus:
- Discharge Lounge of the ER on the 1st floor
- GME Resident Lounge on the ground floor
- Medical Park 2:
- Family Medicine Clinic – across the hall from the break room
- Braselton Campus:
- Outside the staff elevators on the 4th floor of the main hospital
Cornerstones of Resident Education (CORE) is a didactic series in which residents engage in meaningful activities and discussions on an array of wellbeing-related topics. The evidence-based wellness curriculum is carefully curated to provide relevant and useable information, tools, and experiences to our residents.
Topics include:
- Sleep & Fatigue
- Mental Health Risks
- Stress Management
- War Stories Physician Panel Discussion
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- And more
The House Staff Organization (HSO) is a resident-led reporting and information-sharing structure with the mission of improving communication and cooperation amongst residents at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. It provides a forum for discussion, advocacy, and idea-sharing on matters pertaining to Graduate Medical Education.
II.C. Resident/Fellow Forum: The Sponsoring Institution with more than one program must ensure availability of an organization, council, town hall, or other platform that allows all residents/fellows from within and across the Sponsoring Institution’s ACGME-accredited programs to communicate and exchange information with other residents/fellows relevant to their ACGME-accredited programs and their learning and working environment.
II.C.1. Any resident/fellow from one of the Sponsoring Institution’s ACGME accredited programs must have the opportunity to directly raise a concern to the forum.
II.C.2. Residents/fellows must have the option, at least in part, to conduct their forum without the DIO, faculty members, or other administrators present.
II.C.3. Residents/fellows must have the option to present concerns that arise from discussions at the forum to the DIO and GMEC.
Currently, town hall-style HSO meetings occur quarterly and all NGMC residents are encouraged to attend. The Director of GME Wellness or other designated GME administrator may attend a portion of HSO meetings in order to gain visibility to relevant matters or to provide administrative support. Residents are guaranteed to have at least one quarterly HSO meeting free from institutional leadership per academic year.
House Staff Organization (HSO) Executive Council
The HSO Executive Council is a group of peer-elected Program Delegates who represent the interests of all residents of NGMC GME. This group is responsible for the overall vision and direction of the HSO and is expected to hold regular Council meetings in addition to quarterly HSO town hall-style meetings. The HSO Executive Council will communicate frequently with GME Administrators on a variety of matters relating to residents’ work and learning at NGMC GME.
HSO Executive Council Delegates, 2021-2022:
Healthy interpersonal relationships and a strong support system are significant contributors to overall wellbeing. At NGMC, we seek to facilitate social connections between residents, fellows, faculty, staff, and their families through regular social events, support groups, and other programming.
Annual and past events include:
- GME Welcome Picnic
- Bowling and Laser Tag
- NGMC Strikers Soccer Team
- Top Golf
- GME Awards Banquet
- Holiday Socials
Resident and Fellow Fuel Gauge
The Resident and Fellow Fuel Gauge is a two-item instrument delivered to residents and fellows bi-weekly that allows them to rank their overall “fuel levels” around their physical, mental, and emotional health. Monitored solely by the Director of GME Wellness, this confidential feedback method allows for early identification and intervention for individuals who may be struggling and gives visibility to wellbeing trends among programs. Current participation in the Resident and Fellow Fuel Gauge is over 80%.
Sleep and Fatigue Support
Sleep deprivation and fatigue are among some of the most difficult issues encountered in residency and fellowship. In addition to its impact on personal wellbeing, unmanaged fatigue can impact one’s ability to safely care for patients. Check out our guide on How to Recognize Sleep Deprivation and Fatigue.
In addition to comfortable call rooms, NGMC GME also offers one-way taxi or rideshare reimbursement for any resident experiencing fatigue that impacts their ability to drive home safely.
Fitness Equipment and Discounted Gym Memberships
A treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, and other fitness equipment can be found in our first-floor resident lounge. Residents are also eligible for discounted memberships at several local gyms and fitness centers.
Therapy Dog
Meet Gili! Gili is a Mini Goldendoodle and a beloved member of the NGHS Employee Assistance Program team, devoted solely to supporting the employees of NGHS. She is a certified therapy dog and makes regular visits to the residents at CORE sessions to provide a few moments of stress relief.
GME Ombudsperson
The GME ombudsperson is an independent, neutral and confidential resource for residents, fellows and faculty with training-related concerns. They may provide guidance on matters relating to academics and performance, administrative policies and procedures, safety and environmental concerns, interpersonal conflicts, harassment, discrimination, disciplinary actions, career planning, and other topics related to the training environment. They may also assist with referrals to formal contacts or pathways for investigation, review of policies and procedures, facilitation of group dialogue, and educational activities. The ombudsperson does not hold a core faculty position or administrative role within GME, and they are not involved in formal investigations, grievance proceedings, or administrative decision-making. They maintain the confidentiality and privacy of all residents, fellows and faculty, excluding situations in which there is an imminent risk of serious harm.
About Dr. Maya: Dr. Maya is board-certified in Family Medicine and primarily based out of the urgent care clinic in Braselton, but he also provides coverage for several NGPG outpatient locations. He joined NGPG in 2017 after completing his residency at Mercer. In addition to his clinical work, he has held roles as a medical director and service line director and has served on various NGHS committees. His experiences as a physician and leader are an asset to the ombudsperson role.
To contact Dr. Maya in his ombudsperson role, email ombuds@nghs.com. This mailbox is only accessible to Dr. Maya, and all messages are confidential.
Recent Tweets
Tweets by ngmcgmeContact Us
Holly Stewart, MS
Director, Educational Support and Well-Being
Holly holds a Bachelor of Social Work, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Georgia. Her professional and research interests include mentoring, diversity, equity, and inclusion, grit and resilience, and systems-level change to improve clinician burnout and distress. She has many years of experience working in advocacy and support roles with healthcare students and trainees, and is passionate about helping residents thrive in their professional and personal lives.
- Call 770-219-8740
- Email Holly
Jessica Bowling, MS
Coordinator, GME Wellness
Jessica Bowling, MS, manages events, special projects, and other programming for GME that supports the wellbeing of residents, fellows, and staff. She has over a decade of experience in higher education, specializing in helping learners overcome barriers to academic and personal success. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Science from Brenau University.
- Call 770-219-8740
- Email Jessica
Mac Hafele, PhD
Neuropsychologist, NGHS Employee Assistance Program
Dr. Hafele is a licensed psychologist and is experienced in providing counseling services to medical students and hospital faculty, staff, and residents. Prior to arriving at NGHS, Dr. Hafele was employed with Emory University and Emory Healthcare’s Faculty Staff Assistance Program. She is a former U.S. Marine, is board certified as a Traumatic Stress Expert, and is an Advanced Conflict Mediator.
- Call 770-219-3161
- Email Dr. Hafele
- Email the Resident Assistance Program
Sakib Maya, MD
Ombudsperson, GME Wellness
Dr. Maya is board-certified in Family Medicine and primarily based out of the urgent care clinic in Braselton, but he also provides coverage for several NGPG outpatient locations. He joined NGPG in 2017 after completing his residency at Mercer. In addition to his clinical work, he has held roles as a medical director and service line director and has served on various NGHS committees. As the GME ombudsperson, Dr. Maya is an independent, neutral and confidential resource for residents, fellows and faculty with training-related concerns, including academics and performance, administrative policies and procedures, safety and environmental concerns, interpersonal conflicts, harassment, discrimination, disciplinary actions, career planning, and other topics related to the training environment.