Retreats

House officers participate in a variety of retreats throughout the three years of residency. These provide time for resident bonding, reflection on education, and discussion of issues important to the entire residency.

Intern Retreat:  All interns are protected from clinical responsibilities to attend a weekend retreat in the Fall to relax, reflect, and enjoy each others’ company in a more casual setting after the first three months of residency. It has been held at different locations, most recently at a beach-side lodging in Saco, Maine  far enough from Boston to serve as a welcome escape from city life to enjoy activities such as barbequing, swimming, and hiking.

Fall Housestaff Retreat: All residents receive coverage to attend this all-day, all-housestaff retreat, which involves talks and activities that promote class bonding and help develop professional and clinical skills. Fellows and attendings cover clinical services while residents are at the retreat. Resident input is solicited to plan activities and topics of discussion, such as curricular changes, how to be an effective teacher on the wards, and dedicated time for Academy-specific skills building.

Spring House Staff Retreat: The Spring all-day, all-housestaff retreat is held off the hospital premises and serves as a forum to discuss new topics in pediatrics, and brainstorm ways to improve the residency experience. In recent years, residents have debated cases of medical ethical dilemmas, hosted leaders in health policy to learn about the changing health care landscape in Massachusetts and the United States, and explored emerging applications of AI in healthcare. 

The Fall and Spring retreats are each capped off by a House Staff Association-sponsored Happy Hour.