PCOM Internal Medicine Residency – 2020

The Penn Highlands Family Medicine Residents are very thankful for Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association’s support towards resident wellness this year amidst the COVID-19 crisis. While our original plans of professional painting classes and lakeside activities were cancelled due to COVID-19 and stormy weather respectively, we were able to find a safe and fun way to promote stress relief, bonding, and wellness. In addition to promoting healthy eating and team bonding skills, this year our objectives included promoting local businesses. We invited POMA board members to join the activities as well.

We started the afternoon with freshly-made strawberry-banana smoothies, free from preservatives and additives, from a locally owned restaurant called Presko. We next enjoyed healthy salads and sandwiches from a local Italian restaurant called Napoli’s. We then explored our creative side with fun, colorful and slightly messy tie-dye. We made shirts, bandanas and even tie-dyed a soon-to-graduate third year resident's white coat! Although we all had varying experiences with tie-dye, the residents all worked together to help one another with our projects. We ended the retreat with writing a letter to ourselves to re-read once we graduate residency, whether that would be in a month or in two years.

A survey at the end of the event showed that over 80% of the residents felt the activities helped increase awareness of local businesses, and 100% felt more inclined to eat healthier and promote his or her own wellness such as making time to rest and relax after the retreat. Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity.

Penn Highlands