Every two weeks, Internal Medicine physicians in Vancouver Acute meet for lunch to discuss challenging cases. These regular attending rounds provide a safe space to receive support from peers, reduce feelings of isolation, and build camaraderie. The catering for these sessions is one of the ways VPSA is supporting VA Internal Medicine with wellness funding.
“These meetings are very popular with our group, and the feedback we receive is overwhelmingly positive,” said Dr. Brian Kim, who, along with Dr. Lawrence Chow, acts as the division’s wellness champion. “Participants consistently described attending rounds as one of the most meaningful opportunities to connect with colleagues outside of the day-to-day demands of clinical work.”
Drs. Kim and Chow administered a survey of attending rounds attendees and the results were encouraging. The highest rated benefit was helping physicians feel more connected to their colleagues, followed closely by reducing feelings of stress and isolation. Participants also felt that the relationships and conversations fostered through attending rounds translated into better collaboration and, ultimately, improved patient care. Overall well-being was also rated highly, reflecting the value of creating dedicated time for community and fellowship within the division.
“The written comments highlighted several recurring themes,” added Dr. Chow. “Many spoke about the importance of building genuine relationships with colleagues, particularly in an environment where physicians can often feel isolated despite working alongside one another. Several noted that the sessions created opportunities for more meaningful conversations than would normally occur in clinical settings and helped foster a stronger sense of belonging within the group.”
Participants also appreciated having a space to share experiences, discuss challenges, exchange resources, and learn from one another. Several comments described the sessions as restorative, grounding, and professionally fulfilling. Others emphasized that attending rounds helped strengthen the culture of the division and reminded them that they are part of a supportive community of colleagues facing many of the same challenges.
During the 2025/2026 fiscal year, Internal Medicine also used its wellness funding for an AI forum. Again, the response was extremely positive. Twenty-two physicians completed the post-event survey with respondents finding the session highly relevant and practical. Attendees left with both a better understanding of AI tools and a strong intention to incorporate them into their work. Nearly all the survey respondents reported feeling more hopeful that AI tools could improve physician well-being.
These initiatives support the Institute for Healthcare Improvements’ quintuple aim. They address clinician burnout, and ultimately enhance the care experience, improve population health, and reduce costs.
Do you have an idea for a wellness initiative for your department or division? Fill out this letter of intent to see if you are eligible for VPSA funding. Funding covers physicians’ time to work on the project and participate in project activities as well as catering costs, group activities that enhance individual approaches to manage burnout symptoms or interventions aimed at organizational and work group strategies for reducing risk of burnout, hiring expertise when required, commensality groups and/or social events that meet certain requirements.
Photo: Attending rounds: a safe space to discuss challenging cases, support one another, and build camaraderie in the Internal Medicine Division.