UCSF Residency Team: Creating a Cookbook to Celebrate Teamwork and Tradition

Carly - May 27, '25

At the University of California, San Francisco, Nicole, Curriculum and Special Projects Manager in the Department of Medicine, works with an incredible group of faculty and residents who make up the Internal Medicine Residency Leadership Team. While their day-to-day focus is on training the next generation of doctors, they recently took on a creative new project: a team cookbook.

“Our group changes from year to year and we wanted something collaborative and fun to have as a symbol of our dedication and passion to not only one another but to our program as a whole.”

A Collaborative Keepsake

The team started by gathering everyone to explain the idea, then spent a few months collecting recipes and stories. One resident contributed her own cartoon caricatures and illustrations of the dishes, making the book even more personal.

“It was a team effort from start to finish. Once we finalized the book, we had a distribution party where we picked up the books and spent time together reminiscing about the recipes inside. Already, people are excited about making each other's recipes!”

A Fun Way to Reflect and Reconnect

“This was such a fun way to commemorate and engage our group with something other than work. While our main goal is to educate our future doctors, it’s important to take time and recognize our hard work and dedication.”

The cookbook has already become a treasured memento, and possibly the start of a new tradition.

“We know that this cookbook will be a keepsake of a lifetime and hope it becomes a tradition for years to come. Already thinking about volume 2!”

Want to Create a Team Cookbook of Your Own?

Whether you’re part of a hospital, company, or nonprofit, a cookbook is a meaningful way to bring your team together.

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