The Well-being Word
Associate Vice-Chair of Well-Being
Hi friends!
This month was full of fun and meaningful opportunities to connect with colleagues. Between the Supporting Women of WUDA retreat and Trivia Night, we had wonderful chances to spend time together outside of our usual work routines and to get to know teammates, both new and familiar, in a different way.
While Trivia Night may look like “just a game,” it is actually a powerful way to build community. It creates space to learn something new about one another, strengthen relationships, and reinforce the idea that we are truly better together. The evening was a great reminder of the incredible diversity of knowledge, interests, and life experiences within our department. Our collective strength comes from the many perspectives we each bring, and it takes people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience for a team to truly thrive.
Anyone who has ever played trivia knows that success depends on a well-rounded team. A reality TV binge-watcher is just as essential as a classic literature expert. The person who brings great snacks can be just as important for team morale as the one who nails the sports questions. Every strength matters, and together, all of our knowledge makes us stronger.
One of the best parts of events like Trivia Night is discovering the hidden talents and interests of our colleagues. The teammate you work alongside every day might also be a geography whiz, a music trivia master, or the keeper of some very niche and impressive facts. These moments help us see one another more fully, beyond our roles, and often spark new conversations and connections that carry back into our workday. Taking time to notice and appreciate one another’s contributions, strengths, and individuality helps foster a sense of belonging and meaning at work.
We hope you left this month’s events with a smile, a new fact or two, and maybe even a new connection. While many of us wear the same blue scrubs at work, outside of work, we are all unique individuals with diverse passions and talents. Events like these remind us that well-being is not only about rest and resilience but also about gratitude, shared moments of joy, and a sense of connection with one another.
Yours in Wellness,
Erin
What’s ahead?
May | Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May 16 | WashU Day with the St. Louis Battlehawks
May 26 | 2026 Academic Showcase
May 26 | C.R. Stephen Lecture featuring Max B. Kelz, MD, PhD
June 1 | LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
June 1 | Simon Haroutounian Professorship Installation
June 8 | Wellness Program: Nature Series at Outside Becker Medical Library
June 28 | WashU and St. Louis CITY2
July 25 | WashU Night with St. Louis CITY SC
Supporting Women of WUDA Retreat
The Supporting Women of WUDA group hosted its fourth annual retreat on Saturday, April 11, at the Whittemore House on WashU’s Danforth Campus. Colleagues from across the department gathered for a morning of connection over breakfast, followed by programming focused on reflection and practical application.
Highlights from Trivia Night 📸
A Day in the Life of Mara Bollini, MHA, BSN, RN, CPPS
Meet Mara Bollini, Director of Patient Safety and Quality within the Center for INQUIRES. Mara has been with anesthesiology helping to shape the structure, systems, and goals that guide the work within the patient safety and quality space across the department for over 13 years. The position requires the ability to dive into the details of a given situation or dataset while appreciating the big picture and impact from a department perspective.
5 a.m. — At least 3 times a week I start my day early with coffee and water in hand as I drive to the gym for one of the following classes – Hike & Hybrid, Strong, Boot Camp, or PowerCycle. I’m a member of what the gym calls “6AMer’s” or “the Breakfast Club” and it’s a great way to start the day.
7:15-8 a.m. — Light breakfast, feed the dogs (Moby & Rally), check emails, get ready to start the workday, navigating the priorities for the day and the week.
8 a.m. – 5/6 p.m. — No day is exactly the same. There are a variety of meetings on several initiatives within the department, School of Medicine, BJC, and research that I have role in either managing or participating in.
Patient Safety — Meetings vary from collaboration with specific departments or across the School of Medicine, within our Center for INQUIRES team, hospital safety meetings that are either case specific, or monthly meetings with committee report outs.
Quality & Informatics — I help plan the agenda for our internal department Data Governance group which prioritizes the data and project requests that come through our internal submission process. I also help facilitate the data validation process as well as access and reporting from the quality arm (Anesthesiology Performance Improvement and Reporting Exchange) of our Multi Center Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG) membership. I provide a variety of reports at the division level to meet contract service requirements. I also assist with quality project meetings to determine the needs of the team to help them be successful.
Research — I am the Program Manager for Patient Engagement for the THRIVE research study. I have been a member of this research team since the drafting of the proposal. My role includes leading and facilitating our Patient Partner Panel which is made up of patient partners sites participating in THRIVE. I am also the primary interviewer for any participant screening positive on the Brice survey administered at post-op day 1 and day 30. I schedule Zoom meeting interviews with these participants that are recorded and then reviewed by the study adjudicators who determine if an awareness event occurred.
After 5/6 p.m. until winding down 10:30/11 p.m. — My evenings vary depending on the time of year and meal prep on weekends so trips to the store can be scheduled.
Theater — I have loved performing in and seeing theatrical productions since the 2nd grade. When rehearsing for a show, rehearsals can run 6:30-10 p.m. 3-4 times per week until the show opens. It has been an honor to be nominated for two Outstanding Performer awards by the St. Louis Theatre Circle within the past 3 years.
Volunteer — I’ve been a member, now emeritus member, of the Siteman Cancer Center Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) since 2017. I was Co-Chair and Chair of the Committee through Covid managing to keep it going as one of the only active PFAC’s during Covid across BJC.
Music — I love seeing live music whether a large venue or small musical group. One of my favorite concerts in 2025 was seeing Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Outdoors — I love being outside, riding my bike, hiking, kayaking, pickleball, and tennis are a few of my favorite activities to fill my evening hours when daylight is sustained or on the weekends. I would love to learn how to garden, I don’t currently have a green thumb but would love to grow my own fruits, vegetables, and herbs someday.
Family and friends — Out of all of these activities my favorite is sharing time with my amazing family and lifelong friends I am fortunate to share my life with.
More Veggies & Less Grocery Shopping
Get a Farmer’s Market Crop Box right here on campus!
As part of our 8ight Ways to Wellness, you can sign up as a CSA member and receive a weekly or bi-weekly Crop Box filled with locally grown produce, meat, eggs, yogurt and other artisan goods. Brought to you by WashU’s Office of Sustainability and HR in partnership with Local Farmer CSA. You can cancel or put your account on hold at any time. Normally, participants will be charged a one-time $15 registration fee.
For the month of April, any WashU employee will have their registration fee waived.
Need some Summer Camp ideas for your Kiddos?
Did you know that WashU’s Child and Family Care Facilitator put together a list of summer camp options?
Summer 2026: Share this list of summer camps with your team!
Our WUDA Supporting Parents Website also has a curated list suggested and vetted by our own department members.
PIA SAFE Corner
This month, our team participated in a QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Training, and we wanted to share a few key takeaways:
Key Principles of QPR:
- Early recognition matters: Identifying warning signs early improves outcomes.
- Early questioning opens conversations: Asking directly can help someone feel seen and supported.
- Early intervention and referral are critical: Connecting individuals with appropriate resources can save lives.
Interested in learning more? Check out this helpful document that outlines the core steps of QPR.
PIA SAFE is a peer-based program in the Department of Anesthesiology designed to address concerns about negative behaviors, conflicts, and microaggressions experienced by department members. Check out the PIA SAFE website or email Erin Herrera (erinherrera@wustl.edu) to learn more!
The Well-developed Podcast
When you’re not at your best, it’s hard to learn or perform well. The Well-developed Podcast offers a space to reflect, recharge, and explore how bringing your whole self to work can boost your personal and professional growth. Discover how your unique strengths, values, and preferences can support your well-being and development.
Have an idea for a podcast topic? Share your suggestions using the form at the bottom of our webpage. Thanks for influencing our podcast’s evolution!
Take 2 for the Team
This quick and easy platform encourages everyone in the department to take just two minutes out of their day to send a note of appreciation to a colleague. Accessible via the departmental INTRAnet, the app delivers your message of thanks straight to your teammate’s inbox.
Take a moment today to celebrate the people who help make our department a better place to work. A small gesture can go a long way.