Resident physicians are particularly susceptible to burnout due to the stresses of residency training. They also experience the added pressures of multitasking because of the increased use of computers and mobile devices while delivering patient care. Our Family Medicine residency program addresses these problems by teaching residents about the mindful practice of medicine. We utilize A. A. Milne’s classic children’s books, Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, along with Benjamin Hoff’s The Tao of Pooh to explain Dr. Ron Epstein’s four habits of mindfulness: attentive observation, critical curiosity, beginner’s mind, and presence. We also use video clips from two Disney movies, The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and A Day for Eeyore as well as Kenny Loggins’ song, House at Pooh Corner. With Winnie-the-Pooh’s help, residents learn how to become more mindful physicians by incorporating Epstein’s four habits of mindfulness into their daily practice.

According to the American Board of Family Medicine, “The scope of family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes, each organ system and every disease entity.” What makes the seemingly daunting task of practicing family medicine possible is that family physicians learn to utilize similar clinical reasoning for all of their patients regardless of age, and that they care for patients in the context of their families. In our work with residents, we utilize a multimedia presentation that incorporates poetry by Shel Silverstein, the song, He Was Walking Her Home, by Mark Schultz, and the Pixar/Disney movie, Up, to help teach these concepts and demonstrate how caring for multiple generations simultaneously enriches the care of each generation.

Family Medicine residency programs in the United States are required to promote resident well-being. This article describes how one residency does this by teaching the concepts of Positive Psychology and Authentic Happiness developed by Dr. Martin Seligman utilizing a multi-media curriculum. As part of this curriculum, residents listen to the song “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” watch selected scenes from the movies Mary Poppins and The Lion King, and see a performance of the song and dance Electricity from the show Billy Elliot, the Musical. Research showing that happiness is contagious is also discussed. Finally, residents learn how to increase their own happiness by completing three exercises shown by Dr. Seligman to promote happiness.