Wellness and Outreach

Wellness 

One of our program aims is to train future leaders in Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) by cultivating individual interests into clinical and academic niches and supporting fellows in reaching their highest potential by promoting balance and meaning in work. To that end, our program provides fellows with ample opportunity to attend community building activities and social events. We also provide access to a variety of holistic programming opportunities to suit individual needs and interests as well as access to mental health support. There are various funded fellow social activities a year as well as several divisional and departmental social functions such as book clubs, dinners, bowling, jazz brunch, and picnics. PEM fellows also participate in a hospital wide fellows academy which hosts social events for fellows across multiple departments as well as hosts relevant career development workshops. The Emergency Medicine department also has a dedicated wellness committee that is continually planning department wide programming. For mental health support fellows have access to free, confidential counseling as well as have access to a variety of mindfulness activities and physical activities such as yoga and self-defense training. Additionally, a perk of practicing in NYC is access to a myriad of sporting events, museums, theatre and other cultural activities, for which the hospital provides discounted tickets to many.  

Community Involvement

Steve Miller Health Fair

The Steve Z. Miller Pediatric Emergency Health Fair is sponsored by the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine within the Department of Emergency Medicine. The one-day fair serves over 600 school aged children annually from the local Washington Heights community and features close to 25 booths, run by representatives from almost every division in the Children’s hospital. Each year the PEM fellows create and lead one booth. The children participate in hands-on learning activities related to a variety of health topics including nutrition, injury prevention, and exercise. The health fair has reached more than 10,000 neighborhood school children providing a fun and engaging introduction to pediatric health topics.

For more information on our Social Emeregency Medicine initatives, please visit https://www.emergencymedicine.columbia.edu/about-us/social-emergency-medicine