Medical residency is one of the most demanding and transformative periods in a physician's career. Residents routinely care for critically ill patients, witness trauma and loss, navigate difficult clinical decisions, and shoulder tremendous responsibility while continuing to learn. These experiences contribute to high rates of burnout, emotional exhaustion, and mental health challenges, making resident wellness an essential part of medical education.

The S.T.A.R. Program for Resident Wellness is Indiana University School of Medicine's comprehensive wellness initiative designed specifically for resident physicians. Developed through years of research and innovation within the Department of Emergency Medicine, the program combines two powerful approaches to resident well-being:

1. A personalized wellness dashboard that helps residents monitor their well-being over time through validated self-assessments, personalized feedback, and curated support resources
2. Resident-led peer support groups that provide confidential, structured opportunities for physicians to reflect on shared experiences, build resilience, and support one another in a psychologically safe environment

The results have been remarkable. Within the IU Emergency Medicine Residency Program:

• More than 90% of residents have participated in at least one peer support session.
• More than 70% have returned for multiple sessions.
• 96% reported feeling better after just one session.
• 100% recommended the program to fellow residents.
• 100% of trained peer leaders felt prepared to facilitate future sessions.

Today, the vision for the S.T.A.R. Program for Resident Wellness extends far beyond one residency program. With philanthropic support, we can expand this proven model to additional residency programs throughout the IU School of Medicine and ultimately share it with academic medical centers across the country.

Your gift to this fund provides broad, flexible support for the S.T.A.R. program, including but not limited to:

• Expansion of peer support groups to additional residency programs
• Training of resident peer support leaders and continued support of these facilitators
• Resident wellness resources and educational programming
• Continued innovation and evaluation of evidence-informed wellness initiatives

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to the next generation of health care leaders!

Please note, the name and purpose of the fund displayed on this page constitute the authorized description of the fund by the Indiana University Foundation, Inc. Your gift supports the fund as described herein.

Gifts will be administered by the Indiana University Foundation, Inc. which represents Indiana University, including the IU School of Medicine. This is not a gift to Indiana University Health, and the Indiana University Health Foundation will not play a role in administering these accounts.