Partners in physician wellbeing: Physician Wellness Network Spring Gathering

Collaborating to support physician health and wellness is a major priority for Doctors of BC. One initiative, spearheaded by the Physician Health Program (PHP), is the Physician Wellness Network (PWN) which promotes the coordination and alignment of physician wellness supports in BC. This past April, the PWN hosted its first in-person Spring Gathering to foster in-person connections, identify alignment opportunities, and break down siloes in physician wellness services throughout the province.

Partnering to support physician wellness

The event brought together both individuals and partner organizations invested in the well-being of British Columbia’s physicians and medical learners. Attendees included physicians, Doctors of BC leadership, and representatives from UBC-CPD, SWITCH BC, Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, Rural Education Action Plan, and more. 

Doctors of BC President, Dr Ahmer Karimuddin, spoke to the importance of building partnerships—both personal and professional—and learning from each other to create positive change for physicians, and the health care system. Participants learned about the Medical Staff Wellness Strategy at Richmond Hospital, and the tools in use there to boost physician wellbeing, such as mindfulness sessions, fun physical activities, and the creation of an on-site Wellness Library. And Dr Elisabeth Baerg Hall shared details on the benefits doctors acquired by attending her online group, Build a Better Core: Executive Function Skills for Physicians with ADHD. Those who attended also took part in a narrative medicine exercise, led by Drs Karen Shklanka and Caroline Schooner.

“I loved the narrative medicine session of the PWN Gathering: people synergistically built on each others’ reflections, and this led to profound and empowering insights not only about ourselves, but also around systemic challenges in our work environments.” – Dr Fahreen Dossa, Co-chair VA/VC Physician Wellness Steering Committee/VCH Interim Regional Medical Director, Medical Staff Wellness 

Nurturing new ideas for physician well-being

Attendees left the event with new connections and a stronger understanding of the physician wellness work underway across the province. The next PWN gathering will take place virtually this November. If your organization has a leadership role for physician wellness or provides non-profit physician wellness and support services, please consider joining the PWN and attending the next gathering by filling out the registration form.

Dr Erin Hasinoff, co-chair of MDs4Wellness at North Shore Division of Family Practice, said: “I came away from the gathering with new ideas and enthusiasm for initiatives that we can explore in our local North Shore community.”

How we support British Columbia’s physicians

The important work of the of the PWN is possible thanks to funding from Scotiabank, MD Financial Management Inc., and the Canadian Medical Association as part of the Physician Wellness+ Initiative.

The PWN is one of many PHP and Doctors of BC initiatives that support physician health and wellness. Others include:

• CBT Skills for Physicians and Medical Residents
• Drop-In Peer Support Sessions
• Physician health, wellness, and safety through the Physician Health and Safety Agreement
• Extensive policy work around physician burdens

If you would like support with life transitions, workplace concerns, and more, you can call PHP’s confidential helpline 24/7 at 1.800.663.6729 or visit the PHP website for more inform