Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

AMA makes physician health a priority

Cecil B. Wilson, MD
Physician
October 21, 2010
Share
Tweet
Share

A guest column by the American Medical Association, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

As physicians, we prioritize the health of others often at the expense of our own health. Our patients’ health is our priority and why we chose the profession of medicine. The International Conference on Physician Health, held earlier this month in Chicago, gave physicians the opportunity to make their health a priority and provided them with tools to make healthy decisions for themselves long after the conference concluded.

The conference was sponsored by the American Medical Association, British Medical Association and Canadian Medical Association to highlight health risks for physicians and promote a culture of wellness, while reducing the stigma associated with poor health in physicians. It served as a forum for health care professionals and researchers to present recent findings, innovative treatments and educational programs in various areas of physician health.

This year’s conference agenda focused on addressing four areas: physician burnout and peer support, physician health linked to quality and patient safety, workplace wellness and physical and mental health and well-being. For those unable to attend the conference, full abstracts of the studies and research presented in each of these areas are available on the AMA web site.

When asked what my top tip is for maintaining good health among physicians, it’s the same tip I would give my patients: get moving. Physical activity contributes greatly to overall physical and mental well-being. I recently wrote a blog about the walking routine I’ve maintained for years. This four-to-six mile route not only helps keep me in good physical health, but allows me to focus my thoughts and prepare for the day ahead.

Physicians tend to have long work hours that can lead to lack of sleep, unhealthy eating habits and undue stress. Keeping tabs on mental health is just as important as maintaining good physical health. Take some time to assess where you are mentally at the end of a work shift or the end of the week. Is it just normal fatigue or something more?

With multiple competing demands on our time, it can be difficult to make time for ourselves, but it’s imperative physicians make their health a priority. By finding an appropriate work-life balance and learning effective ways to deal with stress, physicians can be at their best and give their best to patients. Research shows that when a physician adopts a healthier lifestyle—be it increased physical activity, eating better, losing weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol intake—they are more likely to ask patients the right questions related to those behaviors when they are doing a history and physical exam. Improved physician health also helps to enhance patient care. A healthy, mentally alert physician can better care for patients.

Take some time today to do something healthful for yourself – take a walk, remedy a stressful situation, eat a healthy lunch – you’ll be a better physician, spouse, family member and friend because of it.

Cecil B. Wilson is President of the American Medical Association.

Submit a guest post and be heard.

Prev

How Percy Harvin struggles with chronic migraines

October 21, 2010 Kevin 3
…
Next

Using the internet for health information is not the exception

October 21, 2010 Kevin 10
…

Tagged as: Specialist

Post navigation

< Previous Post
How Percy Harvin struggles with chronic migraines
Next Post >
Using the internet for health information is not the exception

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Cecil B. Wilson, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    AMA working to improve e-prescribing incentives and help physicians adopt health IT

    Cecil B. Wilson, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    AMA: Revisions, clarity needed before physicians form Medicare ACOs

    Cecil B. Wilson, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    AMA: Individual responsibility for health insurance helps America’s patients, pocketbooks

    Cecil B. Wilson, MD

More in Physician

  • Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California

    Kayvan Haddadan, MD
  • Why physicians need a place to fall apart

    Annia Raja, PhD
  • The joy of teaching medicine through life’s toughest challenges

    John F. McGeehan, MD
  • Why health care can’t survive on no-fail missions alone

    Wendy Schofer, MD
  • The unspoken contract between doctors and patients explained

    Matthew G. Checketts, DO
  • The truth in medicine: Why connection matters most

    Ryan Nadelson, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • What street medicine taught me about healing

      Alina Kang | Education
    • Are we repeating the statin playbook with lipoprotein(a)?

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • The silent cost of choosing personalization over privacy in health care

      Dr. Giriraj Tosh Purohit | Tech
    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Finance
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
  • Recent Posts

    • A systemic plan for health worker well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • Why physicians need a place to fall apart

      Annia Raja, PhD | Physician
    • The joy of teaching medicine through life’s toughest challenges

      John F. McGeehan, MD | Physician
    • Why health care can’t survive on no-fail missions alone

      Wendy Schofer, MD | Physician
    • An addiction physician’s warning about America’s next public health crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • What street medicine taught me about healing

      Alina Kang | Education
    • Are we repeating the statin playbook with lipoprotein(a)?

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • The silent cost of choosing personalization over privacy in health care

      Dr. Giriraj Tosh Purohit | Tech
    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Finance
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
  • Recent Posts

    • A systemic plan for health worker well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • Why physicians need a place to fall apart

      Annia Raja, PhD | Physician
    • The joy of teaching medicine through life’s toughest challenges

      John F. McGeehan, MD | Physician
    • Why health care can’t survive on no-fail missions alone

      Wendy Schofer, MD | Physician
    • An addiction physician’s warning about America’s next public health crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...