Connect

In recognition of Healthcare Worker Wellbeing Day on March 18, UVA Health marked the day with a sidewalk “chalk hugs” campaign designed to celebrate and thank the people who care for our communities every day.

Messages of gratitude, encouragement, and connection appeared on walkways and outdoor gathering spaces. The campaign invited community and team members from all roles — clinical and non-clinical — to pause, reflect, and recognize one another. Chalk huggers included nursing and undergraduate students, retired schoolteachers, middle-school students, and one grateful patient.

“Healthcare is deeply human work,” said Ann Kellams, MD, Co-Director of UVA Health Office of Team Wellbeing. “This simple, visible gesture reflects our commitment to supporting the wellbeing of those who show up for patients, families, and one another every day.”

The chalk messages — created using washable, temporary materials — highlighted themes of teamwork, compassion, and appreciation. The campaign spanned both main campuses and satellite locations, reinforcing a shared sense of connection across the organization.

Joel R. Anderson, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNL, Director, Medical Center; Assistant Professor, UVA School of Nursing; Co-Director, Office of Team Wellbeing, says, “When we take a moment to see and show gratitude toward one another, we strengthen the foundation that makes great care possible. The chalk hugs campaign is a reminder that we can create a culture of wellbeing, one team at a time.”

Healthcare Worker Wellbeing Day is nationally recognized on March 18 and serves as a reminder that caring for healthcare workers is essential to caring for patients and communities.