Finding the Meaning in Your Day
Physician and Resident Wellness
Growing up, Dr. Seth Marks remembers his mother’s words as he went out the door each day: “Do good!” Her advice continues to resonate with him to this day.
“As I look back, those words carry so much meaning. It encouraged me to perform well on tests or in class, to behave and be respectful when visiting someone’s house, and to prioritize my own well-being. You need to be ‘doing good’ in all those things to achieve overall wellness,” he explained.
Dr. Marks, a pediatric endocrinologist and the Leadership and Wellness Lead in the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at Children’s Hospital-Health Sciences Centre, is deeply passionate about wellbeing.
“Finding meaning and purpose every day is essential. We work in a very stressful field and put in long hours. Wellbeing and wellness are important for everyone and for healthcare workers. There’s evidence to show that the wellbeing of physicians and other healthcare providers’ wellbeing impacts patient outcomes,” he said.
To foster a culture of wellness in his department, Dr. Marks has facilitated a number of initiatives.
“We have provided coaching supports to our department leaders and our early career faculty members, focusing on leadership, resilience, and wellness. We’ve also conducted group sessions on these topics and are partnering with Doctors Manitoba to start a peer-to-peer support group within the department,” said Dr. Marks.
Dr. Marks is also proud of some steps his department has taken to try to improve the wellbeing of their residents. A wellness council helps coordinate these initiatives for the residents. Organized social events and meals allows them to have time away from the hospital as a cohort. A recent staff-resident soccer game organized by the residents was a huge success.
During a busy, all-consuming day, Dr. Marks likes to take time to reflect on the positive moments he’s experienced.
“For me, as a pediatrician it’s those interactions with the silly two-year-old in my clinic. If I can find one or a couple of those moments every day, that helps me get through everything else,” he said.
“It’s not about minimalizing the challenges or tough feelings we experience day-to-day working in healthcare – those are inevitable – but about pairing them with finding the joy and meaning in your day.”