Food Bank, ChristianaCare Partner on Farmacology Rotation for Residents
September 17, 2024
In addition to sunshine and rain, fresh vegetables need attention and care before they’re harvested.
Recently, Nicole, Alex, and Kendal spent a day as students at Food Bank of Delaware’s 5-acre Farm in Newark. They worked side-by-side with our staff and volunteers as plants were tended, and produce was harvested, cleaned, then packaged for neighbors who visit our Healthy Pantry Center.
What’s remarkable about these students is that they are medical residents in ChristianaCare’s Family Residency program; they participated in this hands-on learning experience as part of a new elective rotation focused on well-being and nutrition: Farmacology.
As medical residents, they’ve completed both their undergraduate and medical school education. Residency is a supervised clinical training period and a full-time job in the field as they learn to provide health care under supervision and guidance from experienced doctors.
Associate Program Director Elise C. Hogan, MD, MPH, FAAFP, of ChristianaCare, says the partnership is win-win for both organizations and
the community. “We’re giving our residents early exposure. We want them out in the community,” said Dr. Hogan.
Kyle Brolis, our Agricultural Programs Director, chose those same words: “win-win” to describe the Food Bank’s perspective. “It’s a natural partnership that should happen. Food is connected to our well-being. When we see food as medicine, it’s important to include training for new doctors.”
These students and the elective are also linked to a 5,000-square-foot garden located behind the hospital on ChristianaCare’s Newark Campus. ChristianaCare’s iLEAD Discovery Garden was kickstarted with leadership from Tabassum Salam, MD, MBA, FACP, ChristianaCare’s Chief Learning Officer.
Produce from this garden is delivered to caregivers – staff – lounges, explained Mark D. Mason, PhD, MEd, CGP, a resident well-being specialist and licensed psychologist at ChristianaCare, who along with Dr. Hogan, and Denise Taylor, MS, RD, Senior Research Associate, Academic Affairs at ChristianaCare’s Institute for Learning Leadership & Development (iLEAD), are spearheading this pilot program.
In the iLEAD Discovery Garden, ChristianaCare’s Katelyn Fritzges, MD, a primary care physician who is trained in Culinary Medicine, is delivering four Food is Medicine Workshops throughout the growing season.Each workshop includes a garden activity, vegetable highlight, and a recipe for sampling.
“Resident well-being and personal well-being are tied into the elective as well,” said Dr. Mason.
Dr. Hogan notes that the elective also brings a sense of community to the residents. “It has been fun. They are outside learning, working with their hands,” she said.
The Food Bank staff and the neighbors we serve are happy to have a new – and thriving partnership – with ChristianaCare. We can’t wait to see how our partnership grows!
