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Nearly 240 members of the WMed community and the larger Kalamazoo community gathered in September for an important discussion on the multifaceted topic of wellness.  

The Third Annual WMed Well-Being Promotion Symposium was held Thursday, September 5, 2024, at the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus in downtown Kalamazoo. The free event featured a variety of workshops covering important topics ranging from burnout prevention and mindfulness to regulating emotions and promoting personal and organizational well-being. 

“I’m grateful to everyone who came together to make this event possible, including the keynote speakers, breakout session presenters, and all of the volunteers and attendees who showed up and engaged so fully,” said Karen Horneffer-Ginter, PhD, the medical school’s associate dean of Culture and Chief Wellness Officer. “This symposium has become an important tradition at WMed and provides a meaningful way to slow down and give attention to the importance of taking care of ourselves and supporting the community of those we work with and learn with every day.” 

Attendees at this year’s symposium heard kickoff remarks from Dr. Horneffer-Ginter and WMed Dean Robert G. Sawyer, MD.  

The morning keynote address – “More Than Yoga and Pizza: Individual and team strategies to increase professional fulfillment” – was presented by Jillian Bybee, MD, director of Wellness for Graduate Medical Education and associate program director for the pediatric residency program at Corewell Health West.  

Dr. Bybee, also an assistant professor of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, explained to attendees the importance of taking time for self-care in times of stress. 

“If we don’t start to take care of ourselves, we can’t show up to take care of other people,” Dr. Bybee said. “The best way to start is by starting. If you don’t have five minutes, it’s never going to change. But if we slowly take five-minute increments for ourselves and for our teams, we can make a huge difference.” 

Attendees participated in two separate breakout sessions on September 5, with three options to choose from in each session. The breakout sessions covered a range of important topics, including establishing work-life boundaries, cultivating and maintaining healthy work relationships, and peer support programs, among other topics. 

Attendees also got the chance to hear noontime remarks from Eric Achtyes, MD, MS, DFAPA, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at WMed, as well as the afternoon keynote address – “Zero Suicide Implementation in Health Systems” – from Brian Ahmedani, PhD, LMSW, director of the Center for Health Policy & Health Services Research at Henry Ford Health. 

“We intentionally brought in two keynote speakers with very different, but equally inspiring messages,” Dr. Horneffer-Ginter said. “Both were very much appreciated by those who attended the event.” 

Dr. Horneffer-Ginter said attendees were provided with a post-event survey and the results will help guide planning for next year’s symposium. 

The annual symposium is held in memory of Rebekah Sharp, MD, a beloved faculty member at WMed, who passed away on August 29, 2021. The event is also held in conjunction with National Suicide Awareness Month and National Physician Suicide Awareness Day, both of which are recognized in September.