By Jamie Durana
At a National Academy of Medicine (NAM) event celebrating the inaugural Health Workforce Well-Being Day in March 2024, Dr. Michael Foti shared a personal story that reveals the hidden struggles many medical professionals face. He explained, after being diagnosed with a panic disorder and depression, he was “ashamed that I couldn’t live up to being a doctor.” Foti ultimately “found the courage to get help, and it was the best decision I could have made.” For clinicians facing mental health challenges, stigma can create a barrier to seeking and receiving help, Foti said.
Ensuring health workers like Foti can access mental health care when needed benefits their well-being and also benefits patient safety and quality of care. In 2021, clinician burnout in the United States reached a record high: over 62% of physicians reported experiencing symptoms of burnout. However, change is possible. A 2023 American Medical Association survey found reports of burnout had dipped below 50% for the first time since 2020. As more hospitals, health systems, and other organizations invest in tackling clinician burnout, there is hope to improve the health care system for caregivers and patients alike.
Growing Impact of Health Workforce Well-Being Day
Health Workforce Well-Being Day, held annually on March 18, was established to drive collective action and raise awareness about the burnout crisis. Health care organizations nationwide embraced the day with events, discussions, and more. In addition to the NAM event where Foti shared his story, events recognizing the inaugural day in 2024 took place across the United States. The University of Virginia (UVA) Medical Center Hour, UVA Compassionate Care Initiative, and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation came together for a discussion on mental health to mark the day. The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare held a webinar on addressing moral injury as part of their Compassion in Action series. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a guide on improving health care workers’ professional well-being.
Building upon the momentum generated by the inaugural Health Workforce Well-Being Day, several key events have been planned for 2025. On March 17, the NAM will launch the national commemoration with a public event showcasing examples of progress and will also host a Change Maker Summit dedicated to building the case for health workforce well-being and providing tools to promote it. An array of virtual and in-person activities will be held by several organizations, including an event held by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation that will bring experts together to discuss effective leadership and culture transformation that can help health workers thrive.
Inspired by the unifying concept behind Health Workforce Well-Being Day, the Office of Well-Being at Northwestern Medicine is leading local efforts to mark the day in 2025 across their enterprise. “My hope is that we have this moment to remind people of why we have to continue to care about this issue, celebrate the progress we have made, and train our leaders on how they can keep advancing the culture of well-being,” said Gaurava Agarwal, chief wellness executive for Northwestern Medicine.
Organizations are encouraged to get involved by hosting events, joining the Change Maker Campaign, and recognizing the day on social media. The NAM’s action toolkit provides ideas for how to participate, including inviting clinicians to share their experiences on social media. Organizations planning to hold events can submit details to the NAM to be included on this year’s Health Workforce Well-Being Day public calendar.
Change Makers Driving Progress
The National Academy of Medicine’s Change Maker Campaign offers an opportunity for health-related organizations to affirm their commitment to advancing health worker well-being. Nearly 400 organizations have already joined, and the campaign is continuing to welcome participants who will have the opportunity to exchange ideas on their well-being initiatives at the first NAM Change Maker Summit on March 17. In 2024, Change Maker organizations shared wins from a range of well-being initiatives. CDU Kedren Mobile Street Medicine Program found success in a hybrid work model and creating an “up-skill training initiative” for employees, CDU Kedren’s Jerry Abraham said. Richard Kortentager of University of Kansas Medical Center noted that the Center’s annual well-being conference “helps build community as well as institutionalize well-being as a core value to enhance the employee experience.” Anna Legreid Dopp of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists emphasized that a long-term commitment is key: “Our commitment is embedded with the ASHP’s strategic plan, vision statements, policy positions, standards, resources, and programming.”
Taking Action Together
Sustaining health workforce well-being as a value across the health sector requires a comprehensive approach that recognizes the humanity of those who dedicate their lives to caring for others. Health Workforce Well-Being Day is designed to inspire collective action, inviting health care organizations and beyond to commit to fundamental transformation across the sector.
In his remarks during the first Health Workforce Well-Being Day commemoration, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy reminded the audience that working together is the path to ending the burnout crisis. “Right now, the numbers and stories are telling us our health workforce is not as well as it could be and it’s on all of us to take action and lift this up to be the priority it should be,” Murthy said.
