Lifting Spirits One Fist Bump at a Time

Duke Anesthesiology uses digital shoutouts as a way to nourish positive culture

A digital sign.
Duke Anesthesiology shouts out good work by faculty and staff with "Fist Bumps" that appear in department newsletters, on a special website and on digital screens in team workspaces. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

This story is part of the Forward Together series.

Not long after Rebekah Temple started at Duke two years ago, she was waiting for an elevator near the offices of the department’s leaders on the fifth floor of Duke University Hospital’s HAFS Building.

On a nearby video screen, Temple saw her first batch of “Fist Bumps” in the form of digital photos featuring smiling department team members and short descriptions of ways they helped colleagues.

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“While I was standing there, I got to read about some of the good things our staff and faculty did and how our people appreciate each other,” said Temple, the Departmental Human Resources Manager for Duke Anesthesiology. “It seems like a small thing, but it’s really positive and nice to see.”

Initially envisioned as a way to lift spirits during the pandemic, Duke Anesthesiology’s “Fist Bumps” – colleague shoutouts that appear on digital flyers in departmental workspaces, in weekly departmental email newsletters, on social media and a standalone webpage – have become an enduring part of the department’s encouraging climate.

For Duke Anesthesiology, the “Fist Bumps” have become a small-but-important common thread for a department of faculty and clinical staff members who serve patients in hospitals, and on-site and hybrid administrative staff who support educational and research endeavors.

Duke Anesthesiology Director of Communications Stacey Hilton, left, and Communications Specialist Chris Keith, are the duo behind the Fist Bumps program. Photo courtesy of Duke Anesthesiology.

A report on workplace culture released last year by Gallup and Workhuman shows that employees who receive high-quality recognition – praise that is fulfilling, authentic, personalized, equitable and embedded in an organization’s culture – report feeling happier, more energized, more engaged and less stressed than employees who don’t.

The idea for the digital fist bumps took root in the spring of 2020 as the pandemic forced some department staff members to work remotely. As a way to highlight the work of department team members, while also building a sense of camaraderie, Duke Anesthesiology Director of Communications Stacey Hilton proposed the idea of providing Duke Anesthesiology faculty and staff a platform where they could praise helpful colleagues.

“We wanted to create something that could still keep us connected, keep morale high and continue to lift each other up,” Hilton said. “We wanted to find a way to acknowledge each other’s hard work, their dedication and provide some emotional support.”

As part of a portfolio of items under the supervision of then Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs Dr. Madhav Swaminathan, Hilton collaborated with Communications Specialist Chris Keith to develop a web-based submission form, a webpage and graphics for the effort. They chose the name “Fist Bump” as a nod to the COVID-era replacement for handshakes.

Since 2020, Fist Bumps have highlighted the good work of Duke Anesthesiology's team members.

The first batch of 10 fist bumps went online on April 27, 2020. Among the team members recognized were Anesthesia Technician Angela Rogers for ensuring equipment in pediatrics treatment rooms was thoroughly disinfected, Instructional Media Designer Jack Newman for setting up a way to conduct virtual interviews with potential fellows and then-resident Dr. Kathryn Pearson who, during a night shift at the Durham VA Hospital, got a strawberry milkshake for a patient who had requested one.

“The veteran was incredibly grateful and had a big smile,” then-intern Dr. Nathaniel Erskine wrote in his submission.

In the years since, a total of 112 fist bumps have been given.

Last year, Anesthesia Technicians Justin Shore and Christian Keville got a Fist Bump for quickly getting important equipment in place for an emergency surgical procedure. Meanwhile, Nurse Anesthetist Jennifer Easterling received a Fist Bump for delivering compassionate care for a patient in need.

Duke Anesthesiology Departmental Human Resources Manager Rebekah Temple has enjoyed learning about her colleagues and their important contributions through the Fist Bumps program. Photo by Stephen Schramm.

“It really helps our staff to know they’re appreciated,” said Duke Anesthesiology Administrative Coordinator Melinda Macalino, who has worked in the department for 21 years and got a Fist Bump for the support she gave to staff assistants during the upheaval of the pandemic. “It makes people feel like they belong and that people have their back. That’s very important.”

Dr. Chakib Ayoub received a Fist Bump for supervising a late-night epidural for a patient in respiratory distress, which made a major difference in the patient’s hospital experience. Ayoub, who has worked in the department since 2017, said the fist bumps, and other department traditions – such as the annual Jeopardy-themed edition of Grand Rounds or regular gatherings outside of work – speak to the department’s uniquely collaborative and encouraging spirit.

“People here have a positive attitude,” Ayoub said. “They share their expertise, they cover for each other. This is unique. You don’t find this in every department.”

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