Building a Culture of Well‑Being: Dr. Kristen Demertzis on Systemic Change in Medical Training
Release Date: 02/03/2026
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Building a Culture of Well‑Being: Dr. Kristen Demertzis on Systemic Change in Medical Training
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In this episode, Dr. Stuart Slavin speaks with Dr. Kristen Demertzis, clinical psychologist and director of GME Well‑Being at Northwell Health. They explore how thoughtful, system‑level approaches can strengthen the well‑being of residents, fellows, faculty members, and program leaders across a large academic health system. Dr. Demertzis shares her journey into resident well‑being work, the importance of early culture‑setting during orientation, and how fostering psychological safety and shared vulnerability helps residents and fellows feel supported. She discusses a range of...
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Empowering Faculty Leadership: Dr. Saadia Akhtar and the Well-Being Champion Model
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In this episode, Dr. Stuart Slavin speaks with Dr. Saadia Akhtar, professor of emergency medicine and senior associate dean for Trainee Well-Being and GME at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. They explore the evolution of Mount Sinai’s GME Well-Being Champion Program—an initiative that empowers faculty champions across specialties and sites to identify local challenges and drive meaningful improvements in workplace culture and efficiency. Dr. Akhtar shares how the program fosters collaboration, builds community, and supports learners and champions through structured debriefs,...
info_outlineIn this episode, Dr. Stuart Slavin speaks with Dr. Kristen Demertzis, clinical psychologist and director of GME Well‑Being at Northwell Health. They explore how thoughtful, system‑level approaches can strengthen the well‑being of residents, fellows, faculty members, and program leaders across a large academic health system.
Dr. Demertzis shares her journey into resident well‑being work, the importance of early culture‑setting during orientation, and how fostering psychological safety and shared vulnerability helps residents and fellows feel supported. She discusses a range of initiatives—reflective discussions, stigma‑reduction efforts, wellness check‑ins, and enhanced access to mental health resources—that promote connection, normalize help‑seeking, and improve awareness of available support.
The conversation also highlights how data‑informed decision‑making, cross‑department collaboration, and continuous evaluation are driving meaningful improvements in resident/fellow experience. Listeners will gain insight into how intentional culture‑building and system-wide engagement can create healthier, more resilient learning environments in medical education.
Podcast Chapters
00:00 – Introduction and Welcome
01:00 – Dr. Demertzis’ Journey into Resident Mental Health Advocacy
03:06 – Dr. Demertzis’ Leadership as Director of GME Well‑Being and Committee Integration
04:57 – Expanding GME Well‑Being: Multi‑Role Leadership in Culture and Orientation
07:51 – Establishing Culture and Psychological Safety
08:39 – Addressing Mental Health Stigma and Implementing Wellness Checks
12:27 – Launching Digital Well‑Being Tools: Website and App Enhancements
13:40 – Using Data to Drive System-Wide Well‑Being Improvements
16:28 – Closing Thoughts and Resources