WELCOME NEW INTERNS AND FELLOWS!
Upcoming events:
- Schwartz Center Rounds: 10/6 CC121. More information can be found here: Schwartz Rounds – Home
- Cooper Solution Discounts on local attractions:Entertainment
- Free Concerts: Commissioners announce lineup for 2026 Summer Concert Series | Camden County, NJ
- Snack box refill:If you drop your snack box off at 101 Haddon Suite 204, I will refill them for you! We can refill it once a quarter!
- Register or check you registration to Vote: Here
If you have an event you want uplifted, please email me at bass-maya@cooperhealth.edu
Helpful Links
· New Link for Discounted daycare: Bright Horizons For Cooper Housestaff
· Residents’ guide to accessing Primary Care at Cooper: Wellness Resources for Trainees
· Cooper GME Wellness Page: https://wellness.cooperhealth.org/gme-wellness/
· Cooper Wellness Page: Compassion & Resiliency Experience (C.A.R.E.) Program
· Cooper’s Community Resources: Cooper Unite
· Cali Courses for Professional Development: http://portal/Departments/CALI/CALI%20Catalog/Forms/AllItems.aspx
- GME Wellness resouces: Wellness Resources
Wellness Tip: Value Clarification
In the middle of busy clinical days, competing demands, and constant decision-making, it’s easy to feel stretched thin or disconnected. Often, that feeling isn’t just about workload—it’s about misalignment between what we’re doing and what we value most.
What is Values Clarification?
Brené Brown describes values as the beliefs that guide our behaviors and decisions. When we’re clear on our values, we have a compass—one that helps us choose how we show up, even in difficult moments.
Values clarification is the process of:
- Identifying what truly matters to you
- Narrowing those values to your core values
- Using them intentionally to guide daily choices
Step 1: Identify Your Values
Start by reflecting:
- When do you feel most fulfilled at work?
- When do you feel frustrated or misaligned?
- What qualities do you most admire in others?
Common examples: compassion, growth, family, integrity, curiosity, equity, excellence
Step 2: Identify Your Core Values
A key insight from Brené Brown: we can live into only 1–2 core values at a time.
Try this:
- Write down 8–10 values that resonate
- Narrow to 3–4
- Then challenge yourself to select your top 1–2 core values
This is the uncomfortable but meaningful part—because it brings clarity.
Step 3: Move from Values to Behaviors
Values only improve well-being when they become actionable.
Ask yourself:
- If “compassion” is a core value, what does that look like during a busy inpatient service?
- If “growth” is a value, how will I make space for it this week—even for 10 minutes?
Brené Brown emphasizes that values are not aspirations—they are practiced behaviors.
Why This Matters for Well-Being
When our actions align with our core values:
- Decision-making becomes easier
- Boundaries feel clearer and more justified
- Burnout is mitigated by a stronger sense of purpose
Even small choices—how you respond to a patient, a colleague, or yourself—can reflect your values.
5-Minute Practice for This Week
Take 5 minutes to:
- Identify your top 2 core values
- Write one specific behavior for each this week
Example:
- Value: connection → Behavior: sit down (even briefly) during at least one patient encounter
- Value: balance → Behavior: protect one uninterrupted meal break
Wellness doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from doing what matters most, more intentionally.
If your department or program would like a facilitated Values Clarification workshop, reach out and I will find a time to run one for you!