Health care professionals dedicate their lives to helping others, but the personal toll of their work often remains hidden.
A new book, "Physician Wellness and Resilience: Narrative Prompts to Address Burnout," edited by Pauline Davies of Arizona State University's Hugh Downs School of Human Communication and Dr. Cynthia M. Stonnington of Mayo Clinic, sheds light on this critical issue while offering tools to support physicians' mental health and resilience.
Stonnington, a professor of psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and associate medical director for the Office of Joy and Well-Being at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, collaborated with Davies to compile 26 compelling narratives from practicing doctors and medical students.
The narratives highlight personal and professional challenges, such as sexism, medical errors, difficult colleagues and the pressures of treating COVID-19 patients.
“These stories reveal physicians not just as skilled professionals but as human beings with emotions, vulnerabilities and moments of triumph,” Davies said. “It’s a call to see and support the person behind the white coat.”
To encourage actionable change, the book includes discussion prompts alongside each narrative. These are designed to spark meaningful conversations, foster collaboration and nurture a supportive work environment for medical professionals.
“During a recent workshop with psychiatry trainees at Cleveland Clinic, we used one of the narratives,” Stonnington said. “The experience was incredibly impactful, demonstrating how storytelling can help trainees reflect on and navigate the pressures of their field.”
The book’s diverse perspectives span multiple medical specialties and career stages, touching on experiences such as treating COVID-19 patients, overcoming workplace challenges, and coping with personal fears and uncertainties. It aims to expand discussions about burnout and mental health in the medical profession and to advocate for a more empathetic and supportive culture in health care.
Available both in print and as an open-access resource, "Physician Wellness and Resilience" is a tool for medical educators, practitioners and mental health professionals seeking to address burnout and promote resilience.
The open-access version of this book has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
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