Physician Wellness Retreats (2009)

15-MINUTE BEGINNINGS
with Melissa Melnitzer, MD CCFP
Break-out sessions with
Heidi Walk, MD CCFP & Tiina Veer, BA RMT

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa
Cambridge, Ontario

Saturday, December 5, 2009
NEW  –  THIS DATE OPEN TO
ALL HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS!
The Millcroft Inn & Spa | Caledon, Ontario

This Physician Wellness Retreat is a one day event developed in response to the input of seventy-eight family physicians who participated in the original one hour workshop when it was presented across the province in April 2009. Feedback was extremely positive for the one hour session, and participants overwhelmingly asked for more. OCFP is now offering a retreat that goes beyond the initial workshop and beyond a “day to relax” to a dedicated day to begin to experience new ideas and practices that you can choose from to take back into your daily life and work. This takes place in a country spa resort setting so that if you wish you can round out your stay with spa treatments, local walks, and so on as you wish.

Experiential workshops include the original one hour session followed by choices of 2 out of 3 breakout sessions including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Deep Restoration, and a Peer Support through Writing example experience. Research shows repeatedly that many physicians are highly stressed, and that better self-care makes for better patient care, and so this program offers you practical educational time that is full of potential benefits not only to you but also to the people you care for in your practice.

Langdon Hall (www.langdonhall.ca), a member of Relais & Châteaux, has many amenities, including award-winning dining and a luxurious spa.  Participants may wish to consider an extended stay to take in spa treatments, paddle down the Grand River, golf or enjoy local walks.  Special rates have been arranged for participants who choose to stay and enjoy this incredible venue:  a Friday night only rate, and a two-night rate that includes one dinner and two breakfasts.

The Millcroft Inn (www.vintage-hotels.com/millcroft), an historic venue on a 100-acre estate, is nestled in the rolling countryside of Southern Ontario’s Hills of Headwaters, also with award-winning dining and spa facilities.  Participants may wish to consider an extended stay to enjoy spa treatments, local hikes (Bruce Trail nearby), country drives and quaint local hamlets.

To inquire about or register for either of these physician wellness retreats, please contact:

Ontario College of Family Physicians
340 Richmond St. West, Toronto, M5V1X2
Telephone: 416-867-9646
Fax:  416-867-9990
Email:  ocfp@cfpc.ca
Web:  www.ocfp.on.ca

To view a PDF brochure for Oct 24, click here: Physician Wellness Retreat Brochure

The hope for this work is that it will eventually be available for other health care providers, as well.  This retreat model is appropriate and can be modified to suit many different groups, besides just physicians.  If you would like to inquire about offering this retreat or one like it within your organization/institution, please contact Melissa directly (contact details below).

Melissa Melnitzer
(416) 533-0172
melissa498@yahoo.ca