by Hannah Buckelew

Members of the UAB Department of Pathology attended a department wellness outing at Oak Mountain State Park on Saturday, October 14. Colleagues, alongside their families, enjoyed one another’s company over an outdoor picnic.

Attendees brought an assortment of food and grilled burgers together. Children enjoyed a variety of activities, including games, fishing and face painting.

“What a wonderful opportunity for our faculty, trainees and staff to get together in such a relaxing setting outside of our work environment,” says Yabing Chen, Ph.D., Jay M. McDonald Endowed Chair in Laboratory Medicine, Vice Chair, Faculty Development and Education. “We enjoyed nice weather, beautiful waterfront views, and delicious food representing different cultural backgrounds, and most importantly, the friendly interactions and chatting among all, including families, friends, children and pets. I am very thankful for the creative and dedicated work of our wellness champions and program managers.”

The event was inspired by Gian Piero Carames, M.D., PGY2, Resident Leader in Engagement, and was organized by Fatima Igdoura, Program Manager, Monica Henderson, Program Manager for training programs, and Susan Mills, Program Coordinator for fellowships. 

“The Oak Mountain outing was a breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively,” says Fatima Igdoura. “We had a great group of faculty, residents, staff and their families attend, have fun and eat lots of burgers. The retreat coincidentally followed the Grand Rounds seminar titled ‘Building Positive Culture and Community in a Challenging Healthcare Landscape’ presented by Drs. Megan Hays and Katherine Meese. One of their strategies was to create a sense of belonging by providing ‘opportunities to belong.’ We want to keep trying to create these opportunities for people to connect inside and outside of the workplace.”