In today’s episode, we offer invaluable insights on how to effectively partner with leadership to make a compelling and effective case for physician well-being and organizational transformation.  

Dr. Brooke Buckley is an expert in navigating organizational systems and advocating for wellness and culture change within healthcare settings. She is currently the Chief Medical Officer of Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital. She is responsible for the leadership of the hospital’s physicians. Dr Buckley is a general surgeon by training.  She also serves on the Committee of Clinical Leadership for the American Hospital Association and on the American Medical Political Action Committee Board for the American Medical Association.

Dr. Jessie Mahoney is an experienced physician wellness leader and organizational leader. She led local and regional wellness initiatives at The Permanente Medical Group from 2003 to 2020. She was also a Site Chief of Pediatrics. She is well-versed in addressing the challenges of balancing operational pressures with the needs of physicians.

Dr. Buckley emphasizes the importance of understanding healthcare systems, their rules, and structures, and how to work within them to advocate for change. She also outlines strategies for speaking the language of executive leadership to bring wellness to the forefront of the conversation—whether that’s improving retention rates, reducing turnover, or addressing the impact of burnout on patient care. Translating wellness needs into the impact on finances, turnover, productivity, and quality of care can help you make a compelling case for change.

Two tips we share in this episode:

Be Strategic and “Not a Victim.”

Advocacy for wellness requires a shift in mindset. Instead of focusing on fairness or what’s right or wrong, it’s crucial to be strategic, understand what leadership “needs”.  Speak to what they care about. Bring the impact of physician unwellness on hospital finances, quality of care, cost of care, physician availability, and patient access to the forefront of discussions.

Grieve and Move Forward.

Burnout is not an excuse to disengage. It can be an invitation to assume leadership and advocate for change.  Physicians have the most profound understanding of the issues that need fixing and should be the ones to lead the charge. 

Before jumping in, it’s important to acknowledge and allow yourself and others to grieve the loss of what they thought medicine would be like. It's hard to advocate rather than complain when you are depleted, angry, and/or emotionally reactive.

If you find this episode helpful, please subscribe, share with your colleagues, and leave a review to help others find the podcast.

If you are a physician wellness leader, or want to be, coach with Jessie - 1:1, in topic-focused small groups, or at a retreat. www.jessiemahoneymd.com.  

If you want to bring true wellness and culture change to your institution or organization, hire one or both of us to speak or lead a workshop.

If you would like to create a retreat for your team, reach out to Jessie. https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/team-coaching-retreats

*Nothing shared in the Mindful Healers Podcast is medical advice.

 

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