Viewpoint
A Fond Farewell
It is bittersweet knowing that this is my last Viewpoint column. At the annual meeting this month, I will pass the baton to my successor, President-Elect Lyle Swenson, M.D.
During my term as MMA president, I have tried to call attention to the issue of physician well-being. Over the months, I discovered that this topic was already on the minds of many physicians, medical directors, and leaders of health care organizations. I found that our colleagues have been waiting for venues to express their need for better work-life balance and greater professional satisfaction. I also heard from many dedicated and passionate physicians who have been studying and attempting to address those issues in Minnesota and around the world.
It is fitting that the MMA promote efforts to address professional well-being, and I am excited that we will be hosting a summit next month for physician leaders. It will be an opportunity to share resources and ideas and learn from those who have created successful programs for improving work-life balance and alleviating burnout. The summit is scheduled for October 27, 2011, and you can learn more about it at www.mnmed.org/wellbeingevent.
As your immediate past-president, I will continue writing about these issues from time to time. I also plan to keep adding resources on physician wellness to the MMA website. I welcome your ideas about and suggestions for how the medical association might continue to call attention to the issue of well-being in our profession.
In addition, as leaders of the health care team, we need to be mindful of the effect stress can have on those who work beside us. The literature documents rates of burnout, mental illness, and personal stress among nurses, social workers, clergy, and others involved in health care that are similar to those of physicians.
Finally, I wish to again thank the members of the MMA Physician Well-being Task Force for their inspiration and support of our common mission. I also want to thank the staff of the MMA and Minnesota Medicine, who have shown enthusiasm for the issue of well-being and who have personally encouraged me. My special thanks to Karolyn Stirewalt, J.D., Scott Smith, Carmen Peota, Kim Kiser, and Janet Silversmith for their support and superb work. I also wish to thank my predecessors—our past MMA presidents—who have encouraged me to continue the work that we have begun.
As physicians, we touch the lives of countless Minnesotans, whom we are privileged to serve. In order to best care for them, we must first care for ourselves and our colleagues. We also must rediscover the joy of practicing medicine and renew our commitment to those we teach.
Blessings on all of you!