Project Summary:
By 2035, Wisconsin may face a shortage of over 3,000 physicians (Wisconsin Hospital Association, 2023). In a recent national study, 62.8% of surveyed physicians reported burnout, up from 38.2% in 2020, alongside declining work-life satisfaction (Shanafelt et al., 2022). Nearly 90% felt stress from the politicization of medical care, with burnout associated with moral distress and compromised integrity (Sinky et al., 2023). Rates of reported burnout continue to grow, and there is a knowledge gap about how to address feelings of burnout at an individual level. Supporting physician well-being may reduce mental health stigma in the workforce, encouraging those in need to seek help. The 2025 event equips physicians with tools and knowledge to support their well-being while focusing on individual-level burnout. It will emphasize personal reflection and storytelling as strategies to strengthen resilience, improve listening, and enhance empathy toward patients. Participant feedback from the 2024 event shaped the learning objectives.
While the previous event also addressed physician wellness, it focused more on organizational trauma and system-wide factors. Attendees asked for a stronger focus on individual burnout, which led to the 2025 event’s learning need and objectives. Following the event, learners will be able to:
- Explain the importance of self-care and resilience
- Discuss how to empower physicians to face hardship with integrity
- Recognize the impact of healing
Speakers, who are all physician authors, will deliver CME content through speech and discussion, and attendees will have the opportunity to engage with speakers. Speakers will include:
- Keynote: Michelle Harper, MD
- Panelists: Arif Ahmad, MD, FACC, FHRS; Bruce H. Campbell, MD, FACS; Roger Kapoor, MD, MBA Moderator; Michelle L. Graham, MD, MME, FAAP
This event primarily targets physicians, but allied health professionals, nurses, patient care staff, and anyone in the healthcare profession looking to learn and collaborate with other health professionals on the topic of physician wellness is welcome to attend. WisMed is expecting approximately 100 attendees to be at the event.