Systems and Research in Well-Being-Episode 1--Developing Local Systems to Support Physician Well-Being

Practicing physicians have one of the most stressful jobs in the U.S., making them particularly susceptible to burnout.  The impacts of prolonged burnout have enormous implications for physicians and their families, as well as their patients and the health care system itself. In this first of three interviews with Sydney Ey, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, we explore that institution’s successful Resident and Faculty Wellness and Peer Support programs, which she helped establish. Dr. Ey discusses the specific strategies she found most effective in helping physicians grapple with their experience of stress and build their resilience. Dr. Ey’s experiences provide insights for Program Directors and others in the GME community seeking to establish their own systems of support for physicians and others working in the clinical learning environment. Dr. Ey discusses some common obstacles, as well as key facilitators, to the development of such programs that helped pave the way for the OHSU programs' success.