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Medical education is designed to prepare physicians for the clinical complexities of caring for patients, but much of what trainees must learn extends far beyond medical knowledge. From navigating hospital workflows and understanding team dynamics to developing technical skills in high-pressure environments, medical students and residents are often expected to figure out essential aspects of their work through trial and error. These unwritten expectations can add significant cognitive burden to an already demanding training process. What if more of this hidden curriculum could be taught explicitly, allowing future physicians to devote more of their attention to learning medicine and caring for patients? In this episode of Caring Greatly Liz Malphrus, MD, MPP, a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's six-year plastic surgery residency program, discusses her efforts to make medical education more accessible, practical and supportive of trainees. From teaching residents how to approach clinical consultations to examining the policies and incentives shaping healthcare, Liz discusses why greater transparency and knowledge-sharing can help reduce unnecessary friction in medical training. Liz also talks about Penn Micro, a free virtual microsurgery course designed to help surgical trainees build technical skills outside the operating room. Rather than relying solely on the traditional model of learning through observation and supervised practice during high-stakes procedures, the course uses accessible exercises, including pen-and-paper drills, to develop dexterity, muscle memory and confidence. Liz describes how structured practice and coaching helped junior residents develop skills typically reserved for more senior trainees, demonstrating that meaningful innovations in surgical education do not always require expensive technology or extensive resources. Now in her first year as an attending plastic surgeon, Liz reflects on the transition from trainee to independent practitioner and the choices physicians face as they define their careers. She discusses the tension between productivity pressures and time needed for thoughtful patient care and medical education. She also reflects on how different practice settings can shape opportunities for advocacy and professional autonomy. Throughout the conversation, Liz returns to the importance of recognizing physicians as human beings whose needs, priorities and professional identities evolve over time. Creating a more humane healthcare system, she notes, requires attention on both patient and care team experiences. Drawing on her background in health policy and surgical training, Liz is an advocate for practical educational innovations, greater transparency and more human-centered approaches to medicine. In addition to being a plastic surgeon, she is the co-creator of Penn Micro as well as the creator of Cut & Tell, a Substack publication and podcast focused on medical education, healthcare policy and the practice of medicine. Liz Malphrus is a leader who cares greatly. Related links: PennMicro - Penn Microsurgery Training Cut & Tell The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Caring Greatly, Stryker. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.

Healthcare leaders are navigating an increasingly multigenerational workforce, with Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z working alongside one another. Each generation brings different experiences, expectations and perspectives to the workplace. As Gen Z enters the healthcare workforce, leaders are grappling with questions about how to attract, engage and retain younger care team members. New research from Strategic Education and The Harris Poll challenges some assumptions about what Gen Z professionals in healthcare want from their careers, revealing a generation that’s eager learn and grow, values trust and loyalty, and wants to know their employers are invested in their future. In this episode of Caring Greatly, host Liz Boehm speaks with Adele Webb, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN, Executive Dean of Healthcare Initiatives at Strategic Education, about findings from a survey of more than 1,500 patient care professionals and 300 healthcare leaders. One striking finding is that 70% of Gen Z care team members expect to explore a new role in the coming year. While that number may raise concerns about turnover, Adele explains that it also reflects a strong desire for professional development, continuing education and opportunities for career advancement. For healthcare organizations struggling with workforce shortages and retention, understanding these motivations may be an important part of building a more sustainable workforce. The conversation also challenges assumptions about younger generations and workplace loyalty. Despite perceptions that Gen Z employees are less committed to their employers, 95% of Gen Z respondents reported valuing long-term organizational commitment. Adele discusses the importance of communicating early and often about all the educational benefits and career development opportunities organizations offer to employees. Too often, there is a disconnect between what an organization offers and what employees know is available to help advance their career. Adele emphasizes that employers must make career pathways more visible, accessible and affordable, while recognizing that investing in professional growth can strengthen trust and retention. Liz and Adele also explore how artificial intelligence (AI) may shape the future of nursing and other healthcare professions. While AI has the potential to reduce some administrative burdens and augment clinical work, Adele emphasizes the enduring importance of human connection in patient care. Drawing on her experience as a nurse, educator and mentor to younger generations, she offers a hopeful perspective on the future of nursing and practical insights for leaders seeking to build workplaces where clinicians across generations feel supported, valued and empowered to grow. Adele Webb is a leader who cares greatly. Related link: 2026 Healthcare Workforce Barometer: The state of retention, career mobility and workforce readiness The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Caring Greatly, Stryker. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.

Emergency medicine requires clinicians to build trust quickly, often in high-stakes situations and under significant pressure. For locum tenens physicians, whose work assignments are temporary, the challenges with building trusted relationships with new team members can be compounded by the uncertainty of varying organizational cultures and navigating unfamiliar environments inside and outside the hospital. In this episode of Caring Greatly, emergency physician Helena Halasz, MD, shares how she fosters human connections and creates psychological safety when joining new care teams. From early introductions to encouraging questions from residents and new nurses, Helena describes the small behaviors that can establish an environment of openness and mutual respect, even when relationships may last from only a single shift to a few weeks. Helena also explores the realities of navigating high-stress situations in the emergency department, including caring for aggressive or combative patients. She reflects on learning to balance respect for patient autonomy with her responsibility to protect care team members, and how transparently communicating her clinical reasoning is a practice that can help build trust when her approach differs from established practices at a location. The conversation also examines what healthcare organizations can do more broadly to support locums clinicians. Helena discusses the importance of thoughtful onboarding, access to safety reporting systems, closing the loop when incidents are reported, and proactively providing information about physical safety and workplace resources. Ultimately, she argues that leadership is not dependent on tenure or title: the energy and behaviors clinicians bring into a shift can influence the psychological and emotional safety of everyone around them. Helena Halasz, MD, is an emergency medicine physician who works as a locum tenens attending across many U.S. healthcare facilities. Her experience moving between clinical environments gives her a unique perspective on team culture, psychological safety, workplace violence and the ways individual clinicians can contribute to safer, more connected care environments. Helena Halasz is a leader who cares greatly. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Caring Greatly, Stryker. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.

Physicians, nurses and other care team members working in hospitals and health systems are often asked to move through trying and traumatic moments that put their emotional, psychological and physical safety at risk without having time or resources to fully process what they’ve experienced. In the course of 30 minutes, they may witness the death of a child and deliver devastating news to a family. Within the same hour they may encounter a patient who lashes out with verbal threats or physical violence. Being a healthcare professional requires enormous skill and humanity, and the weight of it all can take a toll. Mel Herbert, MD, FACEP, describes the cumulative stress and cognitive burden as something clinicians can carry with them over the course of an entire career with the load getting heavier and heavier with each experience. Mel is an emergency physician, educator, entrepreneur and founder of EM:RAP. He is also a medical consultant and writer on The Pitt, an Emmy award winning medical drama. Mel’s decades of experience help put the spotlight on human-centered stories in healthcare, bringing more awareness to the difficult and diverse realities that healthcare professionals face every hour of their shift. In this episode of Caring Greatly, Liz Boehm talks with Mel about what it takes to protect healthcare professionals across the three pillars of care team safety: psychological and emotional safety, dignity and inclusion, and physical safety. Mel doesn’t shy away from addressing the need to normalize meaningful mental health support for clinicians, the stigma surrounding substance use disorder, and the importance of creating pathways to treatment and recovery. He also talks about the importance of courage and grace when a team member learns that a colleague may need help. They also explore the persistent realities of workplace violence in healthcare and the limits of asking individuals or single departments to solve problems that are fundamentally systemic. At the center of the conversation is a reminder of why this work matters: humanity. Mel shares personal stories from decades in emergency medicine about patients who challenged him, changed him and reminded him that every person has a story. He reflects on leadership, grief, caring without judgment and the importance of preserving human connection even in the most difficult circumstances. As he explains, holding on to that humanity can make the work even more meaningful, but clinicians also need systems and support that help them carry its emotional, psychological and physical weight. Mel Herbert is a leader who cares greatly. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Code Lavender, Caring Greatly, Stryker. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.

Healthcare is built on science, technology, systems and processes, but at the heart of healthcare are humans. For more than three decades, Liz Boehm has studied healthcare organizations, spent hundreds of hours inside hospitals and spoken with thousands of clinicians and healthcare leaders. Across those experiences, one conclusion has remained constant: patient safety starts with care team safety. In this milestone episode of Caring Greatly, Liz turns the microphone, and camera, on herself to share some experiences that shaped her work and her belief in creating safer, more human-centered healthcare environments. She reflects on growing up across cultures, working in a rural health center with the Peace Corps, building a career in healthcare research and listening to hundreds of clinicians and other care team members describe the realities of burnout, moral injury, wellbeing and organizational change. Liz also shares the stories that have stayed with her, from a physician who rediscovered his love of medicine by reconnecting with his values, to a nursing ethicist who challenged her to think differently about what organizational budgets reveal, to a bedside nurse using Heart of Safety Coalition resources to bring Code Lavender to her own team. Together, these experiences demonstrate that meaningful change can come from leaders at every level of an organization, with or without formal authority. As Caring Greatly enters its next chapter and adds video after seven years as an audio-only podcast, its purpose remains the same: to amplify voices that advance psychological and emotional safety, dignity and inclusion, and physical safety for those who work in healthcare. Liz Boehm is Executive Strategist of the Heart of Safety Coalition and host of the Caring Greatly podcast. Her work has spanned healthcare research, strategy and care team safety, with a focus on identifying and sharing the practices that make healthcare safer and more sustainable for the people delivering care. Liz Boehm is a leader who cares greatly. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Code Lavender, Caring Greatly, Stryker. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.

Self-regulation is the ability to recognize and manage our emotional, mental and physical responses to stress so we can think clearly, make sound decisions, and engage effectively with others. In healthcare and other high-pressure environments, self-regulation helps individuals move beyond instinctive "fight, flight or freeze" reactions and respond with intention, empathy and professionalism. In this episode of Caring Greatly, Jennifer Luer, DNP, RN, CPPS, CPHQ, System Director of Employee Safety and Wellbeing at SSM Health, explores the powerful role of self-regulation in healthcare leadership and workplace safety. Drawing on her journey from critical care nurse to system leader, Jennifer shares how personal experience, patient safety work, and a passion for supporting care team members shaped her approach to building a healthier, safer work environment at SSM. Jennifer also discusses why employee wellbeing deserves dedicated focus, how self-regulation helps individuals stay grounded under pressure, and why creating a culture of safety requires both personal skills and system-level support. From workplace violence (WPV) prevention to leadership communication, self-regulation techniques allow individuals to regain balance during challenging moments, reduce burnout, improve communication, strengthen relationships, and maintain the capacity to provide safe, high-quality care and effective leadership. Jennifer is a registered nurse and system leader specializing in healthcare safety and quality through evidence-based best practices and continuous improvement. Her work centers on advancing emotional, physical and psychological safety for care team members and patients alike. Pursing her passion and purpose as a nurse, she joined SSM Health in 2007. Jennifer also has than 11 years of experience in process improvement, event investigation and root cause analysis. In June 2021, she transitioned into her role as System Director of Employee Safety, following leadership of Regulatory, Infection Prevention, Risk, Quality and Patient Safety. Jennifer has been instrumental in designing and implementing the Care for Caregivers program, including systemwide education on the second-victim phenomenon. She has also helped lead key initiatives such as the rollout of WPV prevention training, simplified single-icon WPV reporting, proactive EHR workflows for violence risk, and standardized tools that support a holistic approach to care team safety. Dr. Jennifer Luer is a leader who cares greatly. Related links: Article: Built on safety, powered by peopleJennifer Luer on LinkedIn The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Caring Greatly, Stryker. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.

At some point in their training or careers, most clinicians will experience intense stress, suffering, loss and critical incidents that can have lasting impacts on their psychological and emotional safety. Despite the prevalence of traumatic stress in healthcare settings, most care team members are not taught about the effects it can have on their mind and bodies. As a result, they normalize traumatic stress symptoms such as exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, emotional disconnection, or the inability to be fully present. In this episode of Caring Greatly, Marie Nutter, BSN, RN, CNOR, a practicing perioperative nurse and trauma-sensitive yoga educator, explores how traumatic stress shows up in the lives and bodies of healthcare workers. Marie describes how traumatic stress gets internalized when stress, grief and loss go unprocessed over time. Drawing from both her professional experience as a nurse and her own journey through personal loss, Marie shares how care team members often learn to push through adversity, only to discover that unresolved stress eventually returns through exhaustion, disconnection and difficulty of concentrating or being fully present. The conversation delves into the power of trauma-informed approaches to healing, including the role of body awareness, grounding practices and trauma-sensitive yoga. Marie explains how small, intentional moments of reconnecting with the body can help restore a sense of choice, presence and control. She also offers reflections on what healthcare organizations and leaders can do to better support their teams, emphasizing that trauma recovery is a shared responsibility that begins with recognizing that trauma is a natural adaptive response. Additionally, leaders can offer compassionate support and provide access to trauma-informed resources. As a seasoned nurse at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, a trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator, and founder of Mayday Yoga, LLC, Marie educates people about the effects of traumatic stress and loss and how they might mitigate day-to-day exposure in real-time. Through 15 years of navigating high demands of perioperative nursing, 10 years of personal yoga practice, and seven years of offering trauma-informed wellness services to the healthcare community, Marie has learned that people’s professional and human credibility are not defined by their ability to withstand difficult work-life events. In 2020, Marie was named an example of resiliency by Psychology Today Magazine, and she continues to offer individuals and work teams an opportunity to tap into their own inner wellness. Marie Nutter is a leader who cares greatly. Related links: Website: Mayday YogaArticle: 5 Mind-Body Exercises to Help Reduce Traumatic Stress Book: Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Code Lavender, Caring Greatly, Stryker. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.

Healthcare professionals experience rates of burnout, depression, anxiety and other mental and emotional health challenges that often exceed those of the general population. Yet many clinicians never seek support due to stigma, concerns about confidentiality, logistical barriers, or fear of professional repercussions. As a result, many continue caring for others while silently struggling themselves. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Daniel Saddawi-Konefka founded the Emotional PPE Project to help address these challenges by connecting healthcare workers with mental health professionals willing to provide confidential, pro bono support. What began as an immediate response to an unprecedented crisis has grown into a broader effort to reduce barriers to care while advocating for lasting cultural and systemic change across healthcare. In this episode of Caring Greatly, Daniel joins Liz to discuss why he intentionally talks about both mental and emotional health, the three primary barriers that prevent healthcare professionals from seeking care, and why solving the problem requires more than resilience training. They also explore the role leaders play in shaping organizational culture, the importance of modeling vulnerability, and the policy, educational, and organizational changes needed to create healthcare environments where seeking support is viewed as a sign of strength rather than weakness. Dr. Daniel Saddawi-Konefka is a physician, researcher, and founder of the Emotional PPE Project. He is a leader who cares greatly. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites.

“Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff,” or GROSS, is a healthcare improvement approach first introduced by Dr. Melinda Ashton at Hawaii Pacific Health in a 2018 New England Journal of Medicine article. Originally focused on empowering clinicians to identify and eliminate unnecessary EHR tasks to reduce administrative burden and improve joy in practice, GROSS has since gained momentum as a broader movement to improve care team safety and wellbeing. At UNC Health, Jennifer Bissram, MSIS, MBA, and Emily Kertcher, PhD, OTR/L, are members of a team focused on ease of practice for clinicians. They took the idea of GROSS, which is often applied in a single unit or department, and scaled it across the organization. They also expanded it beyond the EHR and technical issues to allow clinicians to identify pebbles, rocks and boulders (small irritants to major obstacles) anywhere in their workflows or work environments that cause distraction, create inefficiencies or reduce clinical effectiveness. In this episode of Caring Greatly, Emily and Jennifer talk about the inspiration behind their team’s efforts to scale GROSS across the health system, as well asthe steps required to make the scaled-up program work. They also discuss why it’s necessary to focus on building trust and relationships to drive program success well beyond operational excellence. Jennifer Bissram and Emily Kertcher are leaders who care greatly. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites.

When a workplace violence (WPV) event occurs in a healthcare setting, physicians can be good de-escalation partners for nurses and other care team members. In this episode of Caring Greatly, Jason Stopyra, MD, MS, Enterprise Vice President of Public Safety at Advocate Health, talks about how his experiences as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and an emergency physician shaped his perspective and led him to his current role. Dr. Stopyra shares what changes when a physician leads public safety and how it can shift the culture around WPV prevention and response. He also talks about how he centers WPV efforts around his love of people, his deep understanding of clinical perspectives and workflows, and various patient conditions and challenges.   As the Enterprise VP of Public Safety Dr. Stopyra oversees security operations across more than 70 acute care sites and 1,000 ambulatory locations, leading a team of more than 1,500 officers. He also directs the enterprise WPV mitigation strategy and is responsible for public safety training, investigations, physical security technology and Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM).  Additionally, Dr. Stopyra is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Implementation Science at Wake Forest School of Medicine. His combined clinical expertise and dedication to public safety helps advance the safety and wellbeing of care team members and the patients they serve.    Jason Stopyra is a leader who cares greatly.    The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites.

Deborah Visconi, CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center was one of the first healthcare CEOs to sign the Heart of Safety Declaration of Principles, which expands the definition of care team safety to include psychological and emotional safety, dignity and inclusion, and physical safety. In this episode of Caring Greatly, podcast host Liz Boehm talks with Deb about what it means to lead across the three pillars of care team safety at the fourth largest publicly owned hospital in the United States. For Deb, it starts with human-centered leadership that creates a culture of transparency and trust.   For more than 30 years Deb has provided visionary leadership to hospitals and healthcare systems across the New York and New Jersey metropolitan region. In 2017, she joined Bergen New Bridge and has transformed the 933-bed acute and long-term care hospital into a community asset and destination medical center in New Jersey. Deb is a visionary leader with a passion for elevating patient and care team experiences, leading with a focus on compassion, consistency and quality. Her entrepreneurial style and strategic planning expertise has enabled her to navigate highly complex environments with creativity and poise to expand programs, improve services and enhance provider relations.     As a Latinx hospital leader, Deb understands the unique issues and needs of underserved communities, which she has prioritized in the hospital’s community health needs assessment process and its ongoing outreach efforts. This work led to the hospital’s development of the first LGBTQ Wellness Center in Northern New Jersey. And in 2018, to increase care access to the 20,000 Bergen County veterans, the medical center became a Veterans Community Care Provider. Driven by service, Deb is an active community volunteer and board member, serving on several local, state and national boards for healthcare associations, executive leadership organizations, universities and more. Her leadership skills, stewardship and numerous accomplishments have earned her and Bergen New Bridge many awards and industry accolades.    Deborah Visconi is a leader who cares greatly.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites.

The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act is a first-of-its-kind law that supports healthcare workers’ mental health and wellbeing. Since its enactment in 2022, the law has helped transform processes, improve systems and save lives.  This law and the ongoing work by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and its ALL IN Coalition have also helped reduce or eliminate the structural, institutional and cultural barriers that prevent healthcare workers from accessing the mental health care they need and deserve.      In this episode of Caring Greatly, podcast host Liz Boehm speaks with Lauren Muñoz, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, a research scientist at The George Washington University’s Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity. Dr. Muñoz is also a member of the technical assistance center that helped coordinate collaboration among the Health Resources and Services Administration grantees under the Dr. Lorna Breen Act. During their conversation, Lauren describes the grantees’ work, the value of a national collaborative driving team member wellbeing in diverse environments, and the impact of enduring resources available for leaders to support system-wide organizational improvements.   Dr. Muñoz earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and PhD in nursing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and for eight years provided clinical nursing care – first as a hospital nurse and later as a rheumatology nurse practitioner. Since 2019, Dr. Muñoz has conducted research on issues impacting the healthcare workforce, including work environment challenges and decisions surrounding healthcare careers and education. From 2022 to 2025, she was the project manager for the Workplace Change Collaborative, a technical assistance center for federally-funded organizations, implementing strategies for healthcare and public safety workforce wellbeing. She currently serves as the Health Equity Scholar for the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity, a global network of health equity leaders, and continues her research. Dr. Lauren Muñoz is a leader who cares greatly.   The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites.

Having a mental health condition, including depression or substance use disorder, does not automatically mean that a physician, nurse or other healthcare professional is unable to provide patient care in a competent, ethical and professional manner. Chris Bundy, MD, MPH, FAPA, FASAM, and other leaders of state-based professional health programs (PHPs) support physicians and other healthcare professionals as they navigate mental health conditions and help find supportive paths back to practice once their illness is managed.  In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Bundy talks about how PHPs work, his involvement with the Washington PHP and the Federation of State PHP. He shares some common misperceptions about mental health and substance use, and why the stress and trauma-exposure inherent with working in healthcare environments may create unique vulnerabilities for care team members. Dr. Bundy explains some of the challenges and limitations of PHPs, and discusses how many programs have expanded their purview to support a broader group of healthcare professionals beyond physicians. Today, many PHPs offer support to pharmacists, dentists, physicians’ assistants and nurses.  Dr. Bundy is Executive Medical Director of the Washington Physicians Health Program (WPHP) and Chief Medical Officer of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP). Board-certified in adult and geriatric psychiatry as well as addiction medicine, he holds faculty appointments as a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Clinical Associate Professor at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.   Drawing on his extensive experience as a healthcare leader, medical educator and physician in recovery, Dr. Bundy is dedicated to advancing education, advocacy and support for physician health and care team wellbeing. His contributions have been recognized with the President’s Unsung Hero Award from the Washington State Medical Association and the Presidential Recognition Award from FSPHP.  Dr. Chris Bundy is a leader who cares greatly.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites.

What if we could bridge the divide between healthcare leaders who understand that team member safety and wellbeing is essential and those who view it as nice-to-have with a small shift in focus? That’s what happens when Carlton Abner, DNP, RN, NBC-HWC, reframes wellbeing goals as protecting capacity – whether capacity to learn or teach, perform or recover, or empathize and connect.  In this episode of Caring Greatly, Dr. Abner shares what it means to protect capacity for students at Kansas City University (KCU), including medical students. He shares how important capacity protection is for a generation of students who want to engage differently in their work, with a strong focus on passion and connection. Dr. Abner’s 30+ years of healthcare and leadership experience began as an ER/trauma nurse with the Army where he led interprofessional teams within various healthcare settings around the world. Today he serves as the Vice Provost for Student Engagement and Wellbeing at KCU. In this role, he works to elevate and strengthen the overall culture of student engagement and comprehensive wellbeing strategies.  Before joining KCU, Dr. Abner was the Dean and Lead Faculty for the Veterans Affairs Innovative Technology Advancement Lab at Cerner in Kansas City, Missouri. He recently retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Kansas Air National Guard, where he was one of only 89 Chief Nursing Executives nationwide, culminating a distinguished 25-year military career. Dr. Carlton Abner is a leader who cares greatly.   The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites.

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Liz and Shannon revisit the mastery model of human-centered leadership in this new context. Shannon shares her views on what’s the same, what has changed, and how leaders can continue to find joy in their work and use that joy to help improve the safety and wellbeing of their teams.    Shannon Connor Phillips, MD, MPH, has a diverse range of healthcare experience. Before retiring in 2024 she served on the Board of Directors at the National Quality Forum and was Chief Health Officer at Joyous, a tech company focused on improving operations and culture through two-way, AI-supported human conversations. Before that Shannon was the President of Intermountain Medical Group. She was also the Chief Patient Experience Officer at Intermountain Health, where she designed and led programs to help improve patient and care team experience, safety and quality. Because of this work, she was named a “CXO to Know” and “Patient Safety Expert to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review. Shannon also worked at Cleveland Clinic, where she served as Physician Lead for the Office of Clinical Transformation and Associate Chief Quality Officer. She also served as Patient Safety Officer at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital. Prior to Cleveland Clinic, Shannon worked at Riley Children's Health and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as a pediatrician.   Dr. Shannon Phillips is a leader who cares greatly.   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Stryker. The provided resources may contain links to external websites or third-party content. We do not endorse, control or assume any responsibility for the accuracy, relevance, legality or quality of the information found on these external sites.