Resident Wellness

The University of Colorado General Surgery Residency emphasizes wellness for all our residents. At the start of the year, we welcome all incoming interns by hosting an Intern Welcome Week full of activities for them to get to know our current Residents. Additionally, the residency hosts an annual wellness event at a Colorado Rockies baseball game where all General Surgery trainees are invited to attend. We also host quarterly wellness events that are organized by the resident-run wellness committee as well as annual events such as the Chief Send-off to help establish and build relationships in a large program.

Additional recurring wellness offerings include:

• Weekly "Muffins and Meditation" conferences with Dr. Mark Nehler at Denver Health
• Intern Coaching and Mentoring Program with program directors and specialty faculty
• Resident mental health appointments
• “Jeopardy Call System” to assist with covering shifts
• Wellness Half Day
• Colorado FAMLI Medical Leave eligibility
• Built in float system to assist with planned leaves and vacations

Family Medical Leave

The University of Colorado General Surgery Residency Program is deeply committed to supporting residents through the realities of life both inside and outside the hospital. We recognize that major life events (including pregnancy, adoption, caregiving responsibilities, illness, and the loss of loved ones) are part of being human, and outstanding surgical training must include compassionate, individualized support during these moments.

Our program has extensive experience helping residents successfully navigate family and medical leave while continuing to thrive personally and professionally. We have developed a robust and flexible approach that prioritizes both trainee wellbeing and educational success. Every resident who requires leave receives individualized guidance regarding available benefits, personalized leave planning, and tailored rotation scheduling to support a smooth transition before, during, and after leave.

We have built-in systems to accommodate changes in clinical assignments when needed, including adjustments for call limitations during late pregnancy and protected transitions for all new parents after the birth or adoption of a child; regardless of whether the resident is the child-bearing parent. We also do not require residents to use medical leave for routine medical appointments, reflecting our belief that accessing healthcare should be normalized and supported.

Each expecting parent is paired with an individual resident mentor who has lived experience navigating parenthood during surgical training, helping foster community, practical support, and psychological safety. Most importantly, our residents describe a culture that is genuinely supportive, experienced, and compassionate around family medical leave.

In addition to our program-specific policies and support systems, residents also benefit from the broader resources available through the University of Colorado Graduate Medical Education office, including family and childcare-related benefits through the institutional GME benefits program.

Additional information about University of Colorado GME benefits and childcare resources can be found through University of Colorado Graduate Medical Education Benefits.

Additional University of Colorado Resources:

Resident Mental Health Clinic

AVAILABLE 24/7

Call 303-724-4716 or e-mail [email protected] to inquire about same-day appointment availability. You may need to leave a message.

Urgent concerns after-hours, on weekends, or on holidays:

Call 303-370-9127 for the on-call psychiatry attending

More information:

Resident Mental Health Clinic Website

Colorado Physician Health Program

Counseling and health assistance for residents.

Phone: 303-860-0122

Office Hours: M-F 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Website: cphp.org

GME Wellness

Office of Graduate Medical Education – Wellness

Includes information and resources on:

• Fatigue Management (hospital sleep rooms/rideshare reimbursements)
• Hospital Wellness Rooms
• Mental Health and Wellness
• Financial Wellness
• Physical Wellness
• Resident Crisis Resources
• Urgent and Routine Care