FMIG Well-being Champion Program

Medical professionals are more prone to stress, burnout, depression, and suicide. Now you can help do something about it.

Become a Well-being Champion and guide your fellow students to a healthier state. Help them build necessary skills to create a culture of well-being and overcome the numerous challenges they face in the classroom and clinical setting.

Please note: applications are currently closed.

How It Works

Well-being Champions receive training to produce and facilitate workshop sessions at their medical schools. The sessions cover six specific wellness topics that comprise the Bridge to Better series.

Suicide Prevention (In collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Resiliency
Burnout prevention
Substance use prevention
Building trust and cultivating relationships
Indebtedness

Champions meet virtually on a regular schedule and in person twice a year to develop skills in instruction, training, curriculum development, and programming.

Mentorship and training are provided by past Well-being Champions and family physician experts in education and well-being.

Help Your Peers, Build Leadership Experience

In addition to supporting their student peers and positively contributing to their communities, by participating in the FMIG Well-being Champion program, students receive tangible benefits including:

Access to training, evidence-based strategies, and necessary resources (toolkits, educational tools, etc.)
Leadership skills
Strengthened CV in preparation for the Match
Excellent networking opportunities

Training Schedule and Travel Requirements

This program is designed for first- and second-year medical students who can commit to up to three-years in the champion role.

By applying to become a Well-being Champion, students commit to the following requirements in 2023:

March: 2 hours for onboarding and training (virtual)
Flexible 1:1 mentorship meetings
Regular team training sessions up to twice every two months
April-May: prepare and present first well-being session at medical school (approximately 2 to 3 hours of collaborative work is needed per session)
April 24 – April 28: attend the AAFP Physician Health and Well-being Conference (travel, meals, hotel, and conference registration expenses reimbursed)
July 26 – July 29: National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students (travel, meals, hotel, and conference registration expenses reimbursed)
August 2023 – March 2024: lead regular well-being programming

After their first year of service, Well-being Champions continue to serve in a mentorship role for incoming champion cohorts for up to two years as their schedule allows.

How to Apply

Applications are currently closed.

All medical student members of the AAFP are eligible to apply. Membership is free and required to access the application.

Priority is given to students who can make up to a three-year commitment (i.e., are in their first or second year of medical school).

2022 Well-Being Champions Cohort

Halimah Hamidu-Egiebor, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, MS-3
Lauren Hisatomi, California North State University College of Medicine, MS-2
Khevna Joshi, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, MS-2
Aryanna Thuraisingam, Campbell University, School of Osteopathic Medicine, MS-2
Joanna Bernatowicz, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, MS-2

Contact us

If you have questions about the FMIG Well-being Champion program or the application, please email Nicole Johnson at njohnson@aafp.org

Disclaimer

Physician Health First: Building Resiliency Intersectionally During Graduate Education (BRIDGE) is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2,200,002 with zero percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.