While hospitals are essential and play an integral role in the health of a community, they are undeniably places that hold a lot of tension for patients and providers alike. The Wellness Center at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG) is working to alleviate this pressure.
Established in 2011, the Center provides wellness programs and resources that educate, enable, and empower staff to lead healthier lives. For the past 10 years, Khadijah Grant has worked for this initiative and now serves as the Staff Experience and Wellness Manager.
“For me, wellness isn’t just about holistic health,” Khadijah said. “It’s all about community.”
From yoga to massages to acupuncture, the Center focuses on building a strong community among providers and fostering a safe haven. It is an anchor for all staff to reset when they experience stress, are feeling overwhelmed, or just need to stop and breathe for a moment.
Throughout her tenure, Khadijah has innovated programming by introducing new offerings such as reiki, a Japanese energy-healing practice that uses gentle hand placements to promote relaxation and stress reduction, something she shares has been a massive hit.
“I find meaning in feeling like I can be an agent of change,” Khadijah said. “[The Wellness Center] is a beacon of light for our caretakers.”
The program also holds a strong presence in the Hospital when tragedies happen, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic or when staff members experience a personal loss. By using tools such as healing circles and calling on help from Sojourn Chaplaincy, they ensure everyone is getting the support they need.
Khadijah shares that the Wellness Center also has a framework for staff recognitions. The program makes a point of creating honor pieces around campus and finding new ways to highlight staff milestones. They additionally highlight new staff as part of a larger program to develop leaders, ensuring that everyone is heard.
“Everything we do for our staff translates to what happens in our patient care,” Khadijah said. “As a leader, it’s important for me to advocate for staff and make sure that we’re following through on our promises,” Khadijah said.
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The Wellness Center is currently only open to staff but is actively working to open to the public. All provided programming is free.