Wellness Ambassador of the Month
Daphne Darmawan – Pediatrics

How long have you worked at UC Davis?

I have worked for UC Davis Health in the Department of Pediatrics for 3.5 years!

What does Wellness mean to you?

I find wellness in connecting with people over shared experiences. I love meeting new people and hearing them speak about their passions. It’s even better if they can share and teach me some new skills along the way!

Why did you become a wellness ambassador?

I entered pediatrics residency knowing that it would be challenging and that I would need to build my resilience to survive the rigors of medical training. I became a wellness ambassador to explore resources to build on my own well-being and to share strategies that I found helpful with my colleagues.

How long have you been a wellness ambassador?

I have been a wellness ambassador since March 2021!

What has been the most rewarding or positive part about your experience thus far?

Being able to bring wellness initiatives for the pediatrics residents to life with the help of funding from the Wellness Mini-Grant!

What are some challenges you face as a wellness ambassador, especially through the pandemic?

The biggest challenge I have faced has been coming up with wellness programming for our entire residency program when so many of our meetings have turned to a virtual or hybrid format. 

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with new wellness ambassadors?

Collaborating with other wellness champions is key! It’s helpful to brainstorm ideas for wellness programming together and to have a team of people that can help you implement your wellness initiatives.

Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being aims to build an environment that makes the healthier choice the easier one, while providing staff and faculty with the required support to make UC Davis the healthiest community. How do you feel you have contributed to our mission?

I help to coordinate monthly “Wellness Morning Reports” for the pediatrics residency program. Instead of our usual case conferences, we have protected time in the morning to get our residents together for fun activities such as yoga, Zumba, decorating gingerbread houses, potting flowers, etc. By building in this wellness programming into the curriculum, residents are able to connect with each other in an informal way which translates into a more supportive and inclusive culture as well as improved teamwork in the clinical setting.

What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

In my free time, I enjoy learning new skills such as aerial silks, lyra, and unicycling! I also enjoy yoga/acroyoga, rock climbing, paddleboarding, and longboarding.