On March 11, 2020, after more than 118,000 diagnoses in 114 countries and 4,291 deaths, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Few could have foreseen the long-term impacts the pandemic would have on the physical and mental wellness of the nation’s health workforce. As the world observed the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this month, a group of health care professionals from across the country convened in Washington, DC to advocate for health care workers’ well-being and mental health.
On March 18, the Healthcare Leadership Collaborative brought together leaders and professionals from across the nation for a series of insightful sessions, workshops and discussions aimed at fostering a culture of support and trust within health care organizations. Organized by Johns Hopkins in partnership with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, the event coincided with the National Academy of Medicine’s annual Health Workforce Well-Being (HWWB) Day. Emory representatives at the event included Evan Thoman, Emory’s Chief Well-Being Officer, Dhaval Desai, MD, hospital medicine physician and the co-lead of the EmWELL Physicians Workgroup, and Krystyna Morgan, EmWELL’s director.
HWWB Day is an annual event marking the date the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act was signed into law in 2022. Named after Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency medicine physician who tragically died by suicide during the peak of the first COVID-19 surge, the act provides federal funding for mental health education, awareness campaigns and resources to support the well-being of health care workers. Key themes of this year’s event included transforming the culture of health care and medicine through listening, storytelling and authentic leadership.
"Our participation in this summit underscores Emory's commitment to fostering a culture of well-being," says Thoman. “As leaders, we must be intentional in our efforts to create environments where our team members feel that their well-being is protected and supported."
Keynote speaker Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work®, highlighted the role of trust in exceptional workplaces and encouraged health care leaders to embrace change to attract top talent and achieve long-term success. Other panelists and guest speakers presented on topics including leading culture transformation, creating systems where health care workers thrive, improving listening skills to enhance leadership effectiveness and interpersonal interactions, and the power of storytelling in building connections and supporting effective advocacy.
"As health care providers, our well-being directly impacts patient care,” says Desai, who also serves as the ambassador for the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. “This summit has reinforced the importance of empathy and honest communication in our daily practice."
For more information about recent advances in health care workforce well-being, please read the EmWELL FY24 Year in Review report here or visit their website at Office of Well-Being (EmWELL) | Emory University | Atlanta GA.