Health and Wellness | School of Medicine

The Postgraduate Wellness Office is located in the PGME Office at 70 Barrie Street. The Wellness Advisor and Director meet with residents to discuss a variety of issues including careers, finances, academics, and personal matters. Book an appointment by email at postgradwellness@queensu.ca or by phone at (613) 533-2543.

Postgraduate Wellness Office

The Postgraduate Wellness Office is a valuable resource for residents and clinical fellows. It provides a variety of services for learners including:

Help with the transition from undergraduate medical student to postgraduate resident.
Support, counselling and referrals for postgraduate residents in difficulty. Support is provided on all aspects of the resident experience including issues relating to personal, career, financial, and academic matters.
Support for International Medical Graduates and referrals to existing University programs of interest to the international community.
Informing residents about their rights in academic matters.

Although the majority of residents cope well during training, a significant number struggle in areas of physician health and wellness. Key stressors include:

finances
career choice; competitive environment
demanding schedules
exam pressure
personal relationships
surrounded by suffering and death
sleep deprivation
sense of little control over training, hours
high level of responsibility
focus on errors and poor outcomes

The Office is overseen by Dr. Melissa Andrew, Director, Resident Wellness, and she works closely with the Wellness Advisor, Dr. Bryce Durafourt. They are pleased to meet with learners, either virtually or in person, regarding any difficulties that are encountered during residency.

When residents based in Kingston do rotations outside of Kingston, they will primarily access resources based in Kingston by directly contacting the Wellness Office. For residents who are geographically removed from Kingston for long or continuous rotations, Regional Learner Advocates (RLAs) are available in each community outside of Kingston where there is a satellite residency program, or a dedicated clinical teaching unit with continuous learners.

The Wellness Office is located inside of the PGME Office at 70 Barrie Street. To book an appointment with a member of the Wellness team, contact them at postgradwellness@queensu.ca or by phone at (613) 533-2543.

Meet the Wellness Team

Dr. Melissa Andrew is the Director, Resident Wellness, and has provided support and guidance to postgraduate learners since 2007. She is a psychiatrist and Associate Professor who works within the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Queen’s University. Dr. Andrew is an award-winning clinician who was recognized in 2021 with a CAME Certificate of Merit Award for her dedication and commitment to medical education.

Dr. Bryce Durafourt is the Wellness Advisor and supports residents and fellows by providing one-on-one support for trainees dealing with a variety of different challenges as they navigate training. He completed his B.Sc. in Microbiology and Immunology, his M.Sc. in Neuroscience, and his M.D.,C.M. degrees at McGill University. He went on to complete neurology residency at Queen’s University. Dr. Durafourt has interests in acute care neurology, including vascular neurology as well as epilepsy and electroencephalography. His practice includes inpatient stroke and general neurology clinic, as well as directing the resident-led urgent neurology clinic.

Counselling

The School of Medicine has a dedicated counsellor, Anna Paolucci, through a service provided by the School of Medicine and Queen’s Student Wellness Services (SWS). These services are provided at arm’s length from the School of Medicine for the purposes of maintaining anonymity and confidentiality.

Therapy / counselling is available free of charge. Additionally, sessions are also available virtually or via phone for those who are unable to attend sessions in person. One initial face-to -face session is often preferable prior to scheduling these alternatives. For those who may prefer a self-help approach, the following self-help workbooks are free and accessible online.

Anna Paolucci is currently on Leave. To book a counselling appointment during her absence please contact general counselling admin assistance at (613) 533-2506.

If you encounter any difficulty in connecting with counselling or have any other related concerns regarding this support, please reach out confidentially to the wellness office via postgradwellness@queensu.ca for assistance in accessing the support you need.

There is a 24-hour helpline available for Residents, medical students, their partners and their families offered through PARO. This number is: 1-866-HELP-DOC (1-866-435-7362)

If you (or someone you know) are thinking of suicide and do not know that you are safe, please go to the nearest Urgent Care center. Please let me know if this is happening for you or someone you care about so that I can support you. You are not alone.

You can also call 988, which is a new Suicide Crisis Hotline available across Canada.

Accommodation

Trainees with functional limitations arising from disabilities can be provided with accommodation so that they have the opportunity to meet the academic, clinical, provincial, and national licensing and employment requirements of their program of study. Any incoming trainees with previous accommodations in place should reach out to the Wellness Office as soon as possible to discuss their needs at Queen’s. Trainees should carefully review the Accommodation for Trainees with a Disability policy for full information.

In order to receive accommodation, trainees should follow this process:

Inform the Director, Resident Wellness, of their intent to pursue a formal request for accommodation. This can be initiated by completing this form. This is the intake form, and other more detailed forms may be requested throughout the process.
Review any substantiating documentation and remove any unrelated health information that they wish to keep confidential
Alternatively, appointments can be scheduled directly with the Director, Resident Wellness by emailing postgradwellness@queensu.ca to discuss the process and request for accommodation.

The request will be reviewed by the Wellness Office, in conjunction with KHSC Occupational Health where applicable. Any PGME accommodation plans will be reviewed by both the trainee and their Program Director prior to being finalized.The trainee's Program Director will be responsible for implementing the plan, and for scheduling periodic reviews.

Trainees with accommodations in place must still meet all of their learning objectives and attain the competencies of the program. Adjustments to their training program, including extensions of training, may be necessary to meet all program requirements. This is reviewed by the trainee’s Program Director on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that religious accommodations and family circumstance accommodations are not included within the Accommodations for Trainees with a Disability policy. For information about religious accommodation, please refer to the Religious Accommodation for Trainees policy. Questions about accommodation for family circumstances should be directed to the Wellness Office or the trainee’s Program Director.

Regional Learner Advocates

Regional Learner Advocates act as the local, identifiable representative for Queen's School of Medicine residents and students. They communicate directly with the Postgraduate Wellness Office regarding any learner whenever there are significant concerns of unprofessional behaviour, academic difficulty, or illness or concerns that may impact on the learner's performance or education.

It is the role of the RLA to:

Provide or arrange support for learners in aspects of their learning experience, including personal health, career, financial and academic matters.
Ensure that any support provided will be provided in a discrete and confidential manner. The learner will be encouraged to discuss issues with their Program Director.
Facilitate referral for learners who seek personal health care and counselling.
Act as a local advocate for learners to mediate conflicts between learners and staff (teaching, hospital), and concerns of professional behaviour that have been raised by/about learners.

View the list of Regional Learner Advocates

Whom to Contact

Name	Reason to Contact	Contact Information
Dr. Karen Schultz, Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education	Academic Difficulty Academic Appeals Intimidation and Harassment	karen.schultz@queensu.ca To provide Dr. Schultz with anonymous feedback, please log into Elentra and follow the feedback link. (613) 533-2543
Dr. Melissa Andrew Director of Resident Wellness	Personal Difficulties Career Advice Academic Difficulty Accommodations and Return to Work Intimidation and Harassment Sexual Violence	postgradwellness@queensu.ca (613) 533-6000 x32543
Anna Paolucci Counsellor for Medical Learners, Queen's Student Health Services	Confidential Personal Counselling Intimidation and Harassment Sexual Violence	Anna Paolucci is currently on Leave. To book a counselling appointment during her absence please contact general counselling admin assistance at (613 ) 533-2506. If you encounter any difficulty in connecting with counselling or have any other related concerns regarding this support, please reach out confidentially to the wellness office via postgradwellness@queensu.ca for assistance in accessing the support you need.
Jordan Sinnett Program Manager, Postgraduate Medical Education	Transfer Process Intimidation and Harassment	jordan.sinnett@queensu.ca (613) 533-2543
PARO Help Line	emergency or urgent matters referrals for a wide range of issues.	https://myparo.ca/helpline/ 1-866-HELP-DOC (1-866-435-7362)
OMA Physician Health Program	substance use disorders psychiatric disorders prompt intervention referral to treatment, monitoring and advocacy.	https://php.oma.org/ 1-800-851-6606
KHSC Employee and Family Assistance Program	Professional and confidential counselling personal, family or work-related problems speak immediately with a counsellor if you are in crisis. Log into the KHSC intranet for further information.	https://kingstonhsc.ca/staff-wellness/mental-wellness/getting-help/employee-family-assistance-program-efap 1-800-663-1142

Resources

Queen's/KHSC Resources
Director of Resident Wellness	The Director of Resident Wellness provides assistance and support to residents in difficulty.
Regional Learner Advocates	RLAs are local, identifiable representatives in Belleville, Oshawa, and Peterborough who provide support to Queen's residents in those communities.
School of Medicine Counsellor	Residents have access to a new counselling service provided by the School of Medicine and Queen’s Student Wellness Services (SWS). Anna Paolucci is the designated counsellor for the School of Medicine and she meets with students and residents who are experiencing feelings of stress and pressure in their daily lives.
Postgraduate Policies	For detailed information on a wide variety of topics, please refer to specific postgraduate policies.
KHSC Employee and Family Assistance Program	KHSC residents have full access to a wide range of confidential services through Homewood Human Solutions. Visit their website or visit KHSC Occupational Health, Safety, and Wellness to find out more, or call Homewood Human Solutions at 1-800-663-1142
Queen's Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Services	The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Service is part of the Human Rights and Equity Office, an independent department on campus located in Mackintosh Corry Hall. SVPRS is the point on contact on campus for students impacted by sexual violence and for prevention initiatives.
TAO - Therapy Assistance Online	TAO is an online, mobile friendly library of engaging, interactive pathways that promote wellness and can help you bounce back from challenging times. Self-directed pathways are based on scientific research and have been found to be helpful to students who are motivated to maximize the way they think and feel You can complete TAO pathways at your own pace, wherever you are, and when you want TAO can also be incorporated into your mental health appointments Many different pathways are available. If you need help deciding which ones are best for you, the platform offers you a self-assessment tool that can help tailor an intervention designed to meet your needs

Financial Resources
Resolve Credit and Financial Counselling Services	Resolve Credit & Financial Counselling Services is a community-based non-profit credit counselling service. We are an accredited member of the Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services (OACCS) and the Canadian Association of Credit Counselling Services (CACCS). We are also a registered Canadian charity and a member agency of the United Way.
KHSC Employee and Family Assistance Program	Professional and confidential counselling for personal, family or work-related problems is available for residents. Visit Homewood Health website or call 1-800-663-1142 to make an appointment with a counsellor or to speak immediately with a counsellor if you are in crisis. KHSC residents have full access to a wide range of confidential services through Homewood Human Solutions. Log into the KHSC intranet for further information.
PARO	PARO maintains a financial planner on their website for residents.
MD Financial Management	MD offers financial and wealth strategies designed exclusively for Canada's physicians and their families. MD provides services such as financial planning, insurance, and incorporation advice.
Chartered Banks	Most Canadian chartered banks offer financial planning services to their customers free of charge. Contact your bank today to learn more about its services and to create a financial plan.

Community Resources
Addiction & Mental Health Services KFL&A (AMHS-KFLA)	AMHS-KFLA is a non-profit corporation providing a continuum of services to those with mental health and/or addiction issues in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington area.
Telephone Aid Line Kingston (TALK)	TALK is a phone line dedicated to serving the Kingston Community and beyond. They offer a completely confidential, non-judgmental, and anonymous listening service.
Sexual Assault Centre Kingston	The Sexual Assault Centre Kingston provides free, confidential, non-judgmental support to survivors of sexualized violence, offers public education on issues of sexualized violence and strives toward the prevention of all forms of sexualized violence.
TEND Academy	Organizational & personal strategies that can be used to reduce the negative consequences of high stress and high trauma work environments.

Provincial Resources
OMA Physician Health Program	The PHP serves the needs of physicians suffering from substance use disorders, and/or psychiatric disorders through prompt intervention, referral to treatment, monitoring and advocacy.
PARO Help Line	The PARO 24 Hour Helpline is available to residents, their partners and family members, as well as medical students. It provides immediate assistance in emergency or urgent matters, also also referrals for a wide range of issues.

National Resources
CMA Physician Health	A collection of news, online information, and other resources relating to physicians health maintained by the Canadian Medical Association.
Resident Doctors of Canada Wellbeing Library	The E-Library is a comprehensive repository of documents about resident issues, and about Resident Doctors of Canada (formerly the Canadian Association of Interns and Residents - CAIR).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should I contact regarding a transfer to another residency program?

For career advice, contact Dr. Melissa Andrew, Director of Resident Affairs.

To begin the transfer process, contact Mrs. Denise Jones, PGME Assistant Program Manager.

For further information, refer to the Postgraduate Transfer Policy.

What kinds of leaves of absence are there? How to I arrange a leave?

There are many kinds of leaves including sick days, short term disability, long term disability, compassionate leave, bereavement leave, and a leave of absence. Full details are provided in the Leaves of Absence Policy.

A request for a leave of absence must be submitted in writing to the Program Director. Additional questions about the kinds of leaves and the process to request one may be directed to Dr. Melissa Andrew, Director of Resident Affairs, or Ms. Jordan Sinnett , Postgraduate Program Manager.

What do I do if I am experiencing intimidation or harassment at work?

Contact Dr. Karen Schultz, Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education or Dr. Melissa Andrew, Director of Resident Affairs.

A Resident Intimidation and Harassment Policy is posted on our policies page and is listed under 'Harassment'.

What do I do if I am experiencing sexual violence?

Contact Dr. Karen Schultz, Associate Dean, Postgraduate Medical Education or Dr. Melissa Andrew, Director of Resident Affairs.

Resources include:

Queen's University policy on Sexual Violence
Queen's Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Services
Sexual Assault Centre Kingston (record your story, report anonymously)

Where do I find further information about resident health and safety?

Full information can be found in the Resident Health and Safety Policy.

I am a resident in Belleville, Oshawa, or Peterborough. Who can I contact for assistance?

All residents, regardless of their location, are welcome to contact Dr. Melissa Andrew whenever they find themselves in difficulty. Residents may also contact our Regional Learner Advocates, available in each community outside of Kingston where there is a satellite residency program, or a dedicated clinical teaching unit with continuous learners.

Where are the offices of Dr. Schultz and Dr. Andrew located?

Dr. Karen Schultz's office is located in the Postgraduate Medical Eduction Office at 70 Barrie Street.

Dr. Melissa Andrew's office is also located in the PGME Office at 70 Barrie Street. Appointments are usually available on Wednesdays. To book an appointment with Dr. Andrew, you can contact her at postgradwellness@queensu.ca or by phone at (613) 533-2543.