Rekindle Your Relationship, Restore Your Mind, and Refresh Your Spirit

We’ve heard from Pennsylvania physicians that one of their greatest needs is work/life balance and maintaining their well-being.

“The traditional physician’s white coat is not a super-cape that protects physicians from conditions that affect us all, including burnout,” said Heather Wilson, executive director of The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and deputy executive vice president of PAMED. “It is critical that those who give so much of themselves to care for others have an awareness of the signs of burnout and take the steps to get help as early as possible.”

A recent survey suggests that nearly 50 percent of physicians have experienced burnout at some point in their careers. However, there are things physicians can do to be proactive in order to stop burnout before it starts. One way involves developing healthy coping strategies and resilience.

A couples Resiliency Retreat offered by the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society gives attendees an innovative new way to gain practical knowledge and skills for enhancing their relationships and their relationship skills.

So, bring your spouse or significant other, and join the Foundation for a Resiliency Retreat Nov. 6-8 at the Nemacolin Resort and Spa in Farmington, Pa.

This couples retreat, facilitated by David Steinman, MD, and Rita DeMaria, PhD, LMFT, LSW, offers you the opportunity to relax, learn, and earn CME* at the same time.

Couples enjoy breakfast and morning group sessions. After Saturday’s catered lunch, cooking demonstrations or a guided stretching and hiking activity will be offered. Participants have the opportunity to join a “Free Your Mind with Wine and Art” reception. The schedule allows for you to enjoy other activities of your choice at Nemacolin at a 10 percent off discounted rate.

Participants will be greeted by the facilitators on Friday evening upon arrival and will be given program materials as part of the initial orientation to the weekend. Saturday morning begins with a presentation on the “Why, What, and How of Relationship Skills.”

Participants will learn to identify different communication styles and how to become more understanding, empathic, and compassionate toward their partners and others in their lives including other family members, as well as business and professional associates and patients. Key communication tools will be presented to guide reducing conflict, improving problem solving, short circuiting anger, and establishing healthier patterns of communication.

Participants will learn how relationship conflicts begin and how to shift negative patterns into understanding. In addition, participants will learn about the dimensions and stages of committed relationships and marriage. Each stage has a set of developmental tasks that help couple develop a committed, loving, and understanding relationship. Participants will have the opportunity to complete the Stages of Marriage Questionnaire (SMQ). The workshop will include didactic and experiential presentations, group discussion, as well as individual and small group work.

The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society is a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Medical Society.

You can find more Life of Medicine resources from PAMED and the Foundation, including tips to prevent burnout, at www.pamedsoc.org/lifeofmedicine.

* This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. The Pennsylvania Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Pennsylvania Medical Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physician should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The planners and faculty for this activity have no relevant relationships to disclose.