Update on SFMMS Physician Wellness Task Force Efforts

Jessica Mahoney, MD

As 2020 comes to a close, phrases like physician wellness, physician well-being, professional fulfillment, resilience, and burnout have become all too familiar to physicians.

These are not novel phrases, but as front-line workers, physicians have experienced some of this year’s most trying moments firsthand. As a result, the San Francisco Marin Medical Society (SFMMS) has a renewed dedication to nourishing and sustaining its physician members throughout Marin and San Francisco. This fall, SFMMS re-established its Physician Wellness efforts, with the goals of healing and supporting physicians in Marin and San Francisco, working towards sustaining physicians in their medical practice, and providing wellness practices and activities beyond social events. With guidance from Dr. Jessie Mahoney, the effort began with a workgroup of fifteen dedicated physicians. The first task of this group was focused on completing a proposal to CMA Wellness and Sutter Health for physician wellness activities in three categories: social connection, educational programming, and professional services. In November, the group submitted their proposal and are awaiting disbursement of funding to support valuable and well-rounded physician wellness activities to SFMMS members. In the meantime, SFMMS is continuing to convene this monthly Physician Wellness Work-

Wellness Book Recommendations:

“In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope” by Dr. Rana Awdish

“Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World” by Vivek H. Murthy, MD

“Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity” by Ronald Epstein, MD

“The Inner Work of Racial Justice” by Rhonda V. Magee group, to guide the direction of Physician Wellness efforts, to identify and evaluate the many resources currently available, identify unmet needs in the local physician community, recommend strategies for SFMMS to address those needs and support our local physicians. Dr. Jessie Mahoney is a pediatrician, a Physician Coach, long-time Physician Wellness Leader, and yoga and mindfulness instructor. She served as a Chief of Physician Health Wellness at TPMG for many years. She is the former Chair of the CMA Subcommittee on Physician Wellness, and the current Chair of the SFMMS Task Force on Physician Wellness.

The Physician Wellness Workgroup is continuing to accept participants until the end of January, and you are invited! If you would like to join this group or for more information please contact Dr. Jessie Mahoney atjessiemahoneymd@gmail.comor Molly Baldridge, MPH atmbaldridge@sfmms.org.

Additional Free Wellness Resources for Physicians:

The Mindful Healthcare Collective mindfulhealthcaerecollective.com - A free, physician-led community with the purpose of helping those in healthcare connect, heal and grow. Offers experiential mindfulness and coaching opportunities led by physician experts in the field. Greater Good Science Center https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ - A unique resource for both science and wellness practices, including free online trainings, a library of best practices, podcasts, and much more. The Greater Good Science Center studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society. UCSD Center for Mindfulness https://medschool.ucsd.edu/som/ fmph/research/mindfulness/Pages/default.aspx - A resource for online mindfulness activities, guided practices, mindfulness and compassion research, and in-depth trainings. Spirit Rock Meditation Center https://www.spiritrock.org - Set among 411 acres of serene oak woodlands in the secluded hills of West Marin County, California. Spirit Rock offers a breadth of programs in a variety of formats to fit anyone's schedule, needs and meditation experience — from two-hour, to online, to drop-in classes and daylong events to silent residential retreats lasting from three days to two months and advanced practitioner programs spanning a year or more. CMA Care4Caregivers Now https://www.cmadocs.org/wellness/ care4caregivers - Free and confidential peer coaching from trained medical practitioners who understand the rigors and emotional stresses of the profession – and who know the value of a safe, confidential and non-judgmental space. Many peer coaches utilize the program and receive ongoing support because of the value they derive from it.