“Rule Number Three: At a cardiac arrest, the first procedure is to take your own pulse.”
In his satirical masterpiece “The House of God,” Samuel Shem poignantly captures the trials of medical internship, illustrating the tremendous emotional and physical demands of medical training. Through his vivid narrative, Shem critiques the entrenched normalization of an excessively demanding work culture and questions the complacency with which such conditions were accepted at the time. Although the novel emerged in the 1970s—an era marked by rampant bureaucracy and unregulated work hours—its core message resonates profoundly today. It serves as a powerful reminder that physicians must first fill their own cup—nurturing their well-being and resilience—to pour compassionate care into the lives of others
Fast forward to 2024, an era marked by overwhelming clerical burdens, rigid performance metrics and the residual moral injury inflicted by a global pandemic. The health care landscape continues to demand more with fewer resources, raising the question: has physician wellness finally risen to the forefront of the agenda? The answer, encouragingly, is yes. Through experience and introspection, it has become evident that fostering wellness cannot rest solely on the shoulders of individual health care providers. Instead, it must be embraced as a shared responsibility among organizations, hospitals and physicians themselves.
In a profession historically rooted in the principle of holistic care, including care for the physician, a profound paradigm shift has emerged. The osteopathic philosophy emphasizes the interconnectedness of body, mind and spirit—not just for patients but for practitioners as well. In this context, two professionals share their insights and strategies for integrating self-care into their demanding lives, ensuring they can provide compassionate, high-quality care.
An editorial by Thomas Schwenk powerfully underscored the urgency of addressing environmental and systemic challenges, drawing a parallel between physicians and the proverbial “canary in the coal mine.” The call for change at institutional and organizational levels was clear, prompting the implementation of transformative measures. For example, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) now requires residency programs to incorporate wellness education and activities into their curricula. Hospitals have also introduced initiatives such as dedicated “wellness rooms,” more flexible scheduling policies and enhanced access to mental health and counseling services. These efforts reflect a growing acknowledgment that the resilience of the health care system is intrinsically linked to the well-being of its caregivers.
Another powerful strategy to combat the growing sense of disconnection among physicians is to encourage their involvement in leadership. Working within the constraints of hospital policies often exposes systemic gaps in care, leaving physicians feeling like workers tasked with meeting organizational demands, rather than autonomous professionals. Leadership roles offer an avenue to reclaim agency, address these gaps and actively shape the health care landscape. My own involvement with state and national organizations has been transformative, allowing me to contribute to meaningful change while fostering a deep sense of purpose and empowerment. Additionally, the connections formed, and the sense of community built through these roles provide a restorative and fulfilling dimension to the experience, proving that leadership not only benefits the system but also nourishes the soul.
When it comes to leadership and discovering passions beyond the clinical setting for rejuvenation, Emily Hurst, DO, stands out as an inspiring example. As the current president of the Michigan Osteopathic Association, she graciously shared her insights on maintaining wellness while excelling in her many roles with passion, compassion and dedication.
How does this phase of your professional life shape how you manage the stressors you face?
Stressors will come your way that you are unable to anticipate, and I have learned a few things that help me through them. One of the biggest lessons I learned is that what may seem like an insurmountable challenge or stressor, may actually be an opportunity to grow in a different direction. I’ve had several circumstances where I thought I was at the end of the road and all was lost, but it actually forced me to go in a different direction that was 10 times better than where I was to begin with—it’s really hard to see in the moment, but if you are open to seeking another direction, or using the opportunity to take the best of what you had and utilizing those components rebuilt in a different way, your resilience will be much better. All our experiences, both good and bad, shape who we are, and I would not change any of them for the world.
What lessons have you learned through trial and error in maintaining wellness?
Wellness has been a long journey for me. I started in practice when it wasn’t really discussed or considered an item of importance. I went through some major life stressors and recognized I had really worn myself down to nothing, and I couldn’t possibly give to my patients and family if I couldn’t first even take care of myself. I didn’t know what that looked like, and then, I was supposed to teach something I had never done or done well to my students! I try to practice what I preach, so have been working on that part of my life ever since. I’ve had to learn grace in that I can’t control everything, that it is not only okay, but important to take care of us, and recognize that finding and supporting a purpose-driven life with joy means more than any amount of money that I could ever make. I learned that finding moments of wellness instead of beating myself up for not meeting my wellness goals is what worked for me. I also work to recognize what my body tells me when I’m stressed and particularly pay attention when my body says to slow down or even stop.
If you could share one piece of advice (in a single line) for your peers in health care, what would it be?
Always follow and seek that which you enjoy, it will lead you down a path that arrives in a fulfilling life and career founded in what you love most.
The journey toward physician wellness is both personal and collective. As health care professionals navigate the complexities of modern medicine, from unrelenting demands to systemic challenges, the importance of prioritizing well-being cannot be overstated.
In 2024, we stand at a pivotal moment in health care, where wellness is no longer a peripheral concern but a central tenet of professional sustainability. From mindfulness practices to leadership opportunities, institutional reforms to individual strategies, the path forward requires a collaborative commitment to nurturing the healers who sustain our health care systems. By filling their own cups, physicians not only preserve their own vitality but also ensure they can continue to provide compassionate, high-quality care for those who need it most.