Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Melamed
Session Description:
Physician wellness and the stigma surrounding mental health are ever-rising concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic shone a spotlight on the increasing number of physicians and allied health workers leaving their professions or retiring early due to burnout and untreated mental health concerns. The stigma of having a mental health condition and the fear of professional consequences prevent health care professionals from seeking professional support. We need to change this culture
Learning Objectives:
1. Define self-care, burnout
2. Discuss stigma
3. Provide tools to assist physicians and allied health workers in teaching self-care and boundaries
References:
1. Lifebridge Tool kit: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO DEVELOP MEDICAL SOCIETY PHYSICIAN WELLNESS PROGRAMS
2. Shanafelt T et al . Changes in Burnout and Satisfaction With Work-Life Balance in Physicians and the General US Working Population Between 2011 and 2014. Mayo Clinic Proceedings
3. Medscape – Physician Burnout and Depression Report 2024
4. Vega et al . Physician Burnout and Career Fatigue.American Bar Association. September 27, 2023
BIO
Dr. Jennifer Melamed is a family physician licensed to practice in British Columbia and Alberta.
She qualified as a Certified Medicolegal Evaluator in January 2022 and was recognized as a Fellow of the International Academy of Independent Medical Evaluators in 2023. Dr. Melamed received recognition as a Family Physician Specialist after attaining a Certificate of Added Competence in Addiction Medicine from the College of Family Practice in 2019. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (FASAM) and a member of the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM). Dr. Melamed is Co-founder and co-owner of Precision Medical Monitoring Limited and monitors individuals with a prior history of substance use disorders who return to work in safety-sensitive occupations.