On Wednesday, May 21, Department of Medicine employees gathered in the Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium to hear Wellness Council co-chairs Kaitlyn Waugaman, MPH, RDN, LDN, and Josh Stripling, M.D., share updates on the council’s progress. The duo announced the newly selected 23-member council, who will serve a two-year term and meet monthly to advance ongoing projects and initiatives.
Leaders also informed employees of several wellness efforts being implemented across UAB, including the new Applause program, faculty development opportunities, and research career ladder improvements.
Subcommittee representatives joined in the conversation by sharing key updates on pilot programs implemented through the Council, including:
- Leadership evaluation: The 2024 Leadership Evaluation Committee piloted an initiative in the Division of Nephrology where leadership evaluation surveys were distributed. This effort led to meaningful improvements in leadership behavior, job evaluation, and staff assessment.
- Access and scheduling: The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology is piloting an initiative focused on evaluating the Access Center and improving patient scheduling. Committee members are working with scheduling system administrators to test messaging, improve communication with patients, and develop strategies to engage providers, aiming to streamline scheduling and enhance access to care.
- Onboarding and retention: Members identified the need for a standardized onboarding process, leading to the discovery and dissemination of a comprehensive checklist on the UAB Human Resources website. The committee has seen encouraging results from these pilot programs and is expanding its efforts through small-scale testing.
- Engagement: Members discussed opportunities to build a culture where faculty and staff have a voice in the decisions that impact their wellness, highlighting the deployment of the DOM Wellness Council's anonymous comment box and the future goal of celebrating DOM employees through strategic storytelling and acknowledgment initiatives.
The council remains committed to supporting and implementing institutional standards of wellness through initiatives that motivate, empower, and unify staff and faculty for the benefit of each other, patients, and the community. Additional accomplishments will be shared at MGR this fall.