News and Views section
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The McGill Residents Wellness Committee Mandate
by Wissam Shalish, PGY-2, McGill University
18 months ago, I saw myself eagerly embarking on the residency ship. Surely, there was some anxiety in the air, given the novelty of the adventure, but otherwise it all looked bright and sunny in the horizon. Aboard this ship, there were about 30 other individuals, 9 of which were fervent new comers like me. The other twenty or so people rapidly welcomed us aboard, as our journeys began. Very rapidly we became good friends. They were all very nice and looked like they were having a great time. However, they did not have that “spark” in their eyes. Some of them appeared really fatigued, others would often complain, and others were much more discrete about their frustrations.
The ship seemed to be sailing fast in the first few months. We had to get accustomed to its functioning, its resources, its purpose. The sun wasn’t always as bright, and some days there were only clouds. It rapidly became obvious to us, the newbies, that the adventure will have its sunny days and its rainy days. It was unavoidable. For some of us, the experience was much harder, for multiple reasons. Naturally, we each developed our own coping mechanisms to cruise by the difficult times. The so-called “spark” was no longer visible (But it was still there)!
A year had passed, and it was time to welcome aboard a new set of residents. This time, I was the observer looking from the outside in. It was the same process all over again...
Last year, 4 residents (Thomas Saba, Nadine Korah, Tamara Gafoor and myself) co-founded the Resident Wellness Committee, aka RWC. Our mandate is to promote resident well-being with social events, debriefing sessions and help with career planning. Our activities have included a day apple picking, a staff vs. Resident soccer game and picnic, as well as the famous “resident skit night”, a yearly tradition whereby residents and staff laugh about life at the Children’s. However, we are much more than a social club. We also aim to provide residents with the necessary tools and resources for “surviving” residency. We have recently completed a Survival Guide, designed to help residents with academic and career choices. In addition, we are currently in the process of forming a “welcoming committee” that will address the challenges faced by new comers (especially those who are foreigners and whose primary language is not English).
In August 2009, the McGill R2’s lost a classmate, a companion, a friend. A cheerful, energetic and inventive young woman who never left the house without her smile. One day, after a difficult day at the hospital, she tragically took her own life. The straw that broke the camel’s back. This truly sad event deeply touched many of us, even those of us who did not know her.
Almost every day, as residents, we are faced with medical errors. As trivial as they can be, they can affect our morale in many ways. But how do we cope with these moments? Do we talk about it to someone? If so, to whom? Or do we simply internalize it somewhere within? What other defence mechanisms, or distractions, do we have to get over the difficult times?
Almost a month after the bereavement of our beloved colleague, the RWC organized a debriefing session amongst the residents, in attempts to answer the above questions. It was indeed a very fruitful workshop that allowed us to externalize our emotions, share some of our coping mechanisms and learn about the multiple resources within our framework that can be of precious use. After all, we are all in the same boat...
If you would like to inquire more about the Resident Wellness Committee, please do not hesitate to contact us at Wissam.shalish@mail.mcgill.ca
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New inpatient unit
by Shalea Piteau, PGY-2, Queens University
Kingston General Hospital celebrated the opening of the new inpatient pediatric unit on December 11, 2009. The new 18,000-square foot unit, a 34 percent increase in space over the former facilities, contains 25 beds. The PECU and PICU are included in the new unit, allowing consolidation of pediatric care to one area in the hospital.
Construction began in July 2008, and the patients moved into the new unit on December 16, 2009.
The pediatric inpatient unit includes the following features:
- An increase of ICU beds from 4 to 6
- Single patient rooms for more privacy and infection control
- 8 isolation rooms
- A rehabilitation therapy room
- Mechanical lifts in every patient room
- State-of-the-art articulating arms/booms to replace traditional headwalls in the ICU
- An art program that allows patients to customize room décor
- Green building features
The new unit was made possible, in part, by donations from the community. At the time of the opening, more than 11,000 community members had made gifts to help pay for the new unit. A number of local families and national companies made lead gifts, which were recognized at the opening celebrations.
At the opening event, one of the donors shared the story of his son’s birth and subsequent illness and of the outstanding care provided by the KGH pediatric team. He spoke of the challenges of being the parent of a critically ill child in a unit with no privacy and commented on how the new inpatient unit will provide a much better environment for care. This story underscored the benefits of the bright new facilities and the difference that the more spacious and better-designed space will make in the lives of young patients in the future.
The pediatric chief resident echoed the residents’ thoughts by saying:
“We are very excited to move our patients into this family-friendly, technologically-advanced facility. It is a bright unit, and every room has a view of the lake. Our new unit will enhance the delivery of care to patients and be a rewarding experience for all. “
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Apple Cranberry Bran Muffins
by Mary McHenry, PGY-2, Dalhousie University
(Mary’s modified recipe from The Lighthearted Cookbook, by Anne Lindsay)
3 cups natural bran
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
2 tbsp white vinegar (milk and vinegar substitute for buttermilk)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I used olive oil)
1/2 cup molasses
1 cup frozen cranberries (cut in half), or frozen blueberries
1 cup sliced and chopped apple
In large bowl, mix together bran, flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda. In another bowl, combine eggs, milk, vinegar, oil, and molasses; pour into bran mixture and stir just enough to moisten, being careful not to overmix. Pour in cranberries and apples and mix (again, don’t overmix!).
Spoon into nonstick or paper-lined large muffin tins filling almost to top. Bake in 375°F/190°C oven for about 25 min. (If using Convection oven, bake at 350°F b/c it gets hotter quicker!). Remove from oven and let stand for 2 min before removing muffins from tin. Makes about 20 muffins. Enjoy!
Gingerbread Cookies
by Shalea Piteau, PGY-2, Queens University
2 Tbsp butter, softened
2 Tbsp canola oil
1/3 cup dark cooking molasses
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg or 2 large egg whites
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp salt
granulated sugar for rolling
Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl combine butter, oil, molasses, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until well blended and smooth. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and salt. Add to the molasses mixture and stir by hand just until you have a soft dough. Roll dough in 1 - 1.5 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on cooking sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 9minutes.
Enjoy!
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Benin electives
by Justine Rouette, PGY-4, University of Montreal
À quelques jours de mon retour en terre québécoise, je vis en plein paradoxe. D’un côté, l’impatience de retrouver mon amoureux, ma famille, mes amis, ma maison… D’un autre, la crainte de partir, de quitter ce pays aux mille mystères, aux couleurs magnifiques.
Il y a quelques jours encore, je serais bien partie avec une semaine d’avance. Car la vie au Bénin, c’est une aventure au quotidien… c’est amusant par moments, mais aussi lassant que tout soit toujours compliqué…
Ah, le plaisir d’avoir des épiceries où l’on trouve de tout, tout le temps (et pas seulement quand M. Machin a pensé à faire la commande), ouvertes aux heures indiquées (et pas seulement quand Mme Chose décide de se pointer); des transports en commun efficaces et fiables, avec des horaires clairs de départ et d’arrivée; des distributeurs automatiques facilement accessibles…des gens qui viennent au rendez-vous le jour dit, à l’heure dite…
Au-delà de ces petits tracas, il y a aussi une réalité impitoyable, que j’ai côtoyée tous les jours à l’hôpital…
La pauvreté, c’est merdique. Voir son enfant mourir car on n’a pas le moyen de le soigner, c’est horrible. Refuser une hospitalisation car on doit garder de l’argent pour nourrir ceux qui restent à la maison, c’est odieux, un choix qu’aucun parent ne devrait avoir à faire. Devoir supporter la violence d’un mari tyrannique car on n’a pas les ressources monétaires et humaines pour le quitter, c’est épouvantable.
L’analphabétisme. La famine. Le manque d’hygiène. L’ignorance. La pollution. L’absence d’eau courante, d’électricité. C’est le lot habituel de la grande majorité des béninois.
J’ai réalisé aussi que, malgré l’individualisme quasi pathologique et la surconsommation, la vie en Amérique du Nord est un privilège hors du commun.
Je ne crois pas qu’il soit éclairé de cracher sur ce style de vie, qui constitue sans doute un idéal pour la plupart des gens d’ici. Oui, le rêve américain peut sembler risible à ceux qui le vivent à tous les jours… mais il ne l’est pas aux yeux de ceux qui n’ont rien.
Mais depuis le début de la semaine, je suis titillée par une douce nostalgie à l’idée de mon départ imminent…Je repense à ces moments inoubliables vécus ici, qui me sembleront bien loin une fois rentrée au Canada…
Le crépuscule se change doucement en nuit. Les grillons entament leur chanson. J’apprends à lire à une jolie princesse en regardant Gisèle se faire coiffer.
Le soleil se couche, éclairant d’une lumière dorée les palmiers. Nous filons en moto sur les sentiers rouges d’Abomey.
Le vent souffle fort. Sur la plage, des pêcheurs tirent leur filet hors de l’eau. Ils sont bientôt rejoints par leurs amis, qui participent à l’effort, au son des chants et des percussions.
Dimanche soir. La route des pêches est en effervescence. Je sirote un Fizzi Pamplemousse face à la mer, à la cafét d’Angèle.
Balade sur la plage. Un jeune garçon grimpe agilement dans un cocotier pour y cueillir des noix.
Cérémonie vodou. Je danse, encouragée par les rires et les applaudissements.
Leçon de cuisine béninoise avec Maman Faye. Thé marocain au clair de lune. Palmiers se balançant au gré du vent. Poignées de main chaleureuses. Sourires éclatants.
Ainsi, je ne conserverai pas de l’Afrique l’image de la terre idéale. Je ne cracherai pas sur mon mode de vie. À l’inverse, j’en profiterai d’autant mieux que je réalise pleinement le luxe que cela constitue. Mais je ne peux pas m’empêcher d’avoir un pincement au cœur en envisageant mon départ…
PS: dû à une panne généralisée d'internet sur l'ensemble du Bénin, je n'ai pas pu publier ce message avant mon départ...mais son contenu demeure tout aussi authentique!
Posted: January 2010
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