Wellness Coaching, Physician Burnout, Perspectives on Underrepresented Learners

It gives me much pleasure to announce that we will be holding our first in-person JC since February.  We will need to restrict our attendance and will comply with our host’s ground rules so, please don’t forget your masks and remain conservative in your social interactions. Also, there will be HOUSE POINTS for those who come in an Oktoberfest theme.

 A few years ago, I came across an article in the New Yorker by the surgeon and a favorite author, Atul Gawande entitled, Personal Best that describes how elite athletes and musicians have career-long relationships with personal coaches and whether a similar model could be of benefit to the medical community. He provides some interesting insights and prompted me to further explore the techniques of successful coaching. We will spend some time exploring the differences between coaching and mentoring, introduce the topic of positive psychology, and how to tailor our efforts to the benefit of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. I expect we have among us a host of individuals who have had formative experiences with great coaches or know of inspiring approaches to coaching and we encourage your contributions. I came across an article about a great coach, Dorothy DeLay  a Julliard faculty considered the “most coveted violin teacher in the world” who was an exemplar of positive psychology. Please take the time to review the package as it provides a host of interesting content that will help us advance our discussion and build upon our multi-front effort to build a culture of wellness in our educational and practice communities.  

Atul Gawandi Personal Best The New Yorker 

Gazelle G et al, Physician burnout: coaching a way out Gen Intern Med 2015 Apr;30(4):508-13.  

Pluskota A. The application of positive psychology in the practice of education2014 Mar 19;3 1801-3-147. 

Najibi S, et al.  Differences in Coaching Needs Among Underrepresented Minority Medical Students. Fam Med. 2019 Jun;51(6):516-522.