Members of Akron Children’s medical staff enjoy time together on the pickleball courts at Akron’s Towpath Tennis Center.
In late August, a group of APPs and physicians across several Akron Children’s departments came together to serve up some fun on the pickleball courts at Akron’s Towpath Tennis Center. The first of its kind, attendees enjoyed food, mingling with peers, pickleball instruction and a chance to show off their newly learned skills in a round-robin friendly competition.
“It was a very hot day, but everyone had a blast,” said Laura Pollauf, MD, director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Akron Children’s, who hosted the 2-hour event for medical staff through the Sports & Leisure committee. “The nice thing about pickleball is that it reaches across all age groups and doesn’t require any special skills, so you can just go out and have fun with colleagues.”
To start, the group learned about pickleball and its history. The instructor then taught them the rules and how to play the game. Finally, teams were set up with 4 players each to give them a chance to practice during games.
The instructor was there during game play to answer questions and offer further instruction. When teams weren’t playing, they could sit on the sidelines under umbrellas to watch, mingle and snack on goodies.
“It was meant more as a social and team-building event than a competitive one; just something fun to do together,” said Dr. Pollauf. “It was a hit, and staff is asking to do it again! I’m hoping we can host the event 2 more times next year.”
About Sports & Leisure
To help combat burnout and stress in the workplace, medical staff leadership developed the Provider Resilience Task Force in 2018 to better support medical staff and our care teams. It later evolved into a function-specific committee and this year, co-chairs Dr. Pollauf and Akron Children’s Director of the Advanced Practice Provider Center Jenny Michel, APRN-CNP, further expanded upon the program by adding 4 subcommittees: Conference Planning, Volunteer, Peer Mentorship and Sports & Leisure.
“We realized post-pandemic so many tasks had gone virtual, and our care teams weren’t connecting — personally or professionally — in many ways,” said Dr. Pollauf. “We wanted to do more to help medical staff build stronger relationships, support and collaboration networks across the hospital.”
Sports & Leisure hosted an event earlier this month at Halliday’s winery for medical staff and their significant others.
For Sports & Leisure in particular, the goal is to bring medical staff together outside the clinical setting to support provider wellness and boost engagement. It’s a great way for colleagues to interact in a different way and mingle with staff they maybe haven’t crossed paths with directly in the hospital. Plus, events are centered around physical activity and socialization — both proven ways to relieve stress and boost positive energy.
Sports & Leisure’s first event was held in February 2024 with an ice-skating event for medical staff and their families. On Sept. 28, the subcommittee sponsored 5 med-staff teams in this year’s Akron Marathon Race Series by paying their entrance fees. In October, the Sports & Leisure committee hosted an event at Halliday’s Winery in Lake Milton for med-staff members and their significant others.
“Hosting fun activities gives med staff a chance to meet with colleagues on a different level and establish stronger relationships, so when we’re back in the hospital, we can put a face to a name and it leads to better care,” said Dr. Pollauf. “Our profession is stressful, and this committee is a great way to support one another. It’s a way for us to come together to socialize, destress and share in positive experiences.”
APPs Marlene Thompson and Cody McCullough now serve as co-chairs of the Sports & Leisure subcommittee. For event ideas, suggestions or questions in general, contact them at cmccullough@akronchildrens.org and mthompson@akronchildrens.org.
