Resident Life

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Three residents in one of the resident workrooms at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

Wellness initiatives

As a trainee, your physical and mental health is a priority to both Mayo Clinic and the department. Trainees have access to several resources to promote well-being, as well as time off clinical duties to attend appointments.

Fitness centers
Groups on campus
Well-being

Fitness centers

Trainees exercising in a studio Mayo Clinic residents or fellows can experience 24/7 free access to the Bill Hewitt Employee Wellness Center — opened in the summer of 2024 and spans 6,700 square feet with modern cardio machines, weight machines, free weights, a studio for live classes, and includes showers and locker rooms for convenience.

Additionally, residents or fellows at our three campuses get discounted membership fees to area gyms. In Jacksonville, Florida, residents and fellows can obtain an exclusive discount with the YMCA (several locations).

Groups on campus

Mayo Employee Resource Group (MERG) in Florida Opportunities to join a variety of groups on campus provide regular social activities and can help enhance your training while connecting with a broad group of peers.

Trainees will have the opportunity to join a Mayo Employee Resource Group (MERG) at any time during their training program. Current MERGs on the Florida campus include groups based on African, Asian, and Latino heritage as well as groups focused on veterans, global health volunteering, professional development, family resources and events, and LGBTI and differently-abled staff and allies.

Well-being

Cardiovascular diseases fellow works on a computer at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The Student Services office provides resources to promote academic, emotional, social, cognitive, financial, and physical well-being. Career and academic services include academic advising, peer tutoring, and accommodations for learners with disabilities or health conditions. Mental health services, counseling, interview practice, and a variety of enrichment sessions on topics like budgeting, resiliency, and stress and burn-out are also available through the Student Services office.

Why you think focusing on wellness is important and how it has helped you? We were designed to thrive. However, the journey to becoming and functioning as a physician has its unique challenges that, if not identified and discussed, can have a significant effect on our well-being. I have found this to be true both personally and with my fellow colleagues. Important barriers and contributors to burnout that have been identified are imposter syndrome, comparison, perfectionism, and poor self-worth. These topics need safe and honest spaces to dive in and understand how they could be affecting us.

As medical professionals, we are supporting our patients in their journey to true health- physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. For us to give and support our patients through this journey, we also must be well ourselves. And thus, I have seen the importance as twofold: both to support us in our well-being and make us more effective for our patients

I have personally found that as I have been a part of the wellness initiative, I have found more fulfillment in my work and life. When challenges come, I have faculty and residents I can openly talk to and gain increased perspective. Below I have summarized how I have seen the immense benefit of highlighting and creating spaces to build our wellness.

It shapes how I experience and navigate life
It serves as an anchor through hardships and challenges, and allows me to build resilience
It creates meaning in my life
It reinforces our humanity and gives me a holistic sense of self
It enables me to live fully and vibrantly
It allows me to show up as ourselves (in our uniqueness) in a world where conformity is tempting and too often the default
When we are well within ourselves and relationally with others, we can show up for others

Anna Demian, M.B.B.S.
Class of 2024, Family Medicine Resident, Wellness Champion

We have activities every month that focus on the wellness of our residents. In addition, every quarter, we block a ½ day for a wellness event, typically off campus.

Four residents pose with surfboards on beach.

Care Resource Managers

Being a resident at Mayo Clinic can come with some unexpected challenges and Care Resource Managers are here to provide support and guidance. They work with learners to navigate obstacles and identify solutions that encourage resiliency and thriving during their training process. Should a learner need to step away to take a medical leave of absence, Care Resource Managers work closely with the learner and staff to ensure that support and smooth transitions occur throughout the entire process.

Mental Health Counselors

Confidential short-term and solution-focused counseling services
Services offered over video
Counseling records are not kept in your medical records or training records
Our services aim to help learners adjust to and manage their learning environment, cope with personal challenges, gain self-awareness, and address psychological concerns.

Accompanying Talent

Mayo Clinic is committed to help your spouse and/or significant other find employment prior to your move to Rochester, Minnesota. This program, referred to as Accompanying Talent, is available to all matched trainees and has contacts with employers in Rochester, the surrounding area, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. We offer opportunities for your spouse or significant other to connect with opportunities at Mayo Clinic as well as with external companies. Personalized support is available, including:

Career counseling
Resume writing and interviewing workshops
Mock interviews
Invitation-only networking
Informational interviews or job observations

Photo of wooden walkway leading to beach.

Life in Jacksonville

Although Jacksonville is the largest city (square miles) in the continental U.S., it maintains a smaller-town feel with many suburban areas. Our residents love the diverse activities, entertainment and restaurants that Jacksonville has to offer. With live concerts, craft breweries, the largest urban park system in the U.S. and four different beach areas, it's never hard to find something to do.

Jacksonville offers the beach, outdoor shopping centers, and the river walk downtown – specifically the river art market (RAM). I love the Jacksonville airport because with TSA I can be parked through the gates for flight in less than 20 minutes. The city also is in great proximity for weekend drips including Orlando for Disney/Universal, Miami, Amelia Island and lots of other less-than-a-four-hour drive places I have not even gotten to yet.

Nadine Elhage, D.O.
Class of 2024, Family Medicine Resident

As a Jacksonville native, I decided to come back for residency; it's a fantastic place to live and the best place to work. Typical activities include going to the beach, followed by a meal at any one of our restaurants with good vibes (shout out to Moon River Pizza). All of us residents hang out regularly, including pickleball, game nights, hiking around parks, etc. We have plenty of high-end, affordable housing options in safe and convenient areas. Mayo has been a stellar residency.

Thomas DeLuca, D.O.
Class of 2025, Family Medicine Resident

There are so many great things about Jacksonville; what I love most are the weather, multiple professional sports teams, fantastic art and science museums, a large variety of shops and clothing stores, great restaurants, and miles of beautiful beaches! My ideal day is to go to the beach for a sunrise swim with co-residents, grab breakfast from Parlor Donuts, spend mid-day at Town Center for shopping and lunch, and end the day at Saint John’s River downtown watching a sunset on a river taxi.

Dani Zapp, D.O.
Class of 2025, Family Medicine Resident