Wellness Champions Retreat #4 October 30, 2018

Wellness Champion Mission Statement Mission:  Psychological, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being are critical for a competent, caring, and resilient health care professional. Saint Louis University School of Medicine will foster a culture of well-being and self-care through its Wellness Champion Program. Vision: The Wellness Champion Program will facilitate wellness activities in Graduate Medical and Graduate Research Education through the personal and collaborative activities of the Wellness Champions and will support the development of wellness initiatives within programs at the School of Medicine.  

• The Resilient Physician: Effective Emotional Management for Doctors and Their Medical Organizations, Wayne M Sotile & Mary O. Sotile • The Medical Marriage: Sustaining Healthy Relationships for Physicians and Their Families, Wayne M. Sotile & Mary O. Sotile • Staying Human During Residency Training, 4th ed., Allan D. Peterkin, MD • Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges 1st edi, 2012, Steven M. Southwick • The BASICS – Strategies for coping with stress and building resilience for physicians – free PDF - http://php.oma.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/TheBasics-full-version.pdf Dr. Michael Kaufmann, OMA Physician Health Program Founder and Emeritus PHP Medical Director

Agenda Mindfulness Exercise Discussion Reflection with Father Murphy Resilience factor #3&4: moral compass, religion, and spirituality

Opening: Mindfulness Exercise

Group Discussion Challenge: What was one wellness activity you have done since retreat #2? Open discussion

Reflection with Father Murphy Handout provided

Resilience Factors Realistic optimism Facing fear Moral Compass, Ethics, & Altruism Spirituality/Religion Social Support Role models Exercise Cognitive & Emotional training Cognitive & Emotional Flexibility Find your purpose the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity. Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Challenges. 2016. Drs. Southwick and Charney

Moral Compass, Ethics, Altruism & Resilience Altruism = selflessness, concern for the welfare of others, and giving to others with no expectation of benefit to self. Can be a pillar of one’s moral compass. Is associated with increased resilience. Courage= “”endurance of the soul” Stockdale, 1995, p 16 Moral Courage = “standing up for values…the willingness to take a tough stand for the right in face of danger…the courage to do the right thing…the quality of mind and spirit that enables one to face up to the ethical challenges firmly and confidently without flinching or retreating” Kidder 2006, p 72 3 components: Commit to a core set of moral values and principles Recognize that standing up for these principles we may face danger Do what we know is right, even if it means loss, disapproval or shame Enchiridion by Epictetus

Strengthening Moral Courage 1. Self – assessment: What are my core values and beliefs? Which are most important to me? Am I living by these principles? Where do I fall short? 2. Discuss with principled people whose ethics you admire. Honestly evaluate the risks/dangers of defending my core values. 3. Practice. Uphold moral values in daily situations. Avoid avoidance! Giraffe Project

What is a real life example? Share with your neighbor a real clinical example when you or a colleague did use your moral compass, and one in which you wish you had done more. How did this affect you? How has it changed your practice?

Religion and Spirituality American culture, 92% believe in God or a universal spirit, 81% believe in heaven, 70% believe in heaven or hell (Gallop Poll, Newport, 2007) Religion = “a path to God, the Source of Being” Spirituality = “that essential human endowment in which direct experience of God can take place” (Ann Graber, psychologist, in The Journey Home) Faith, Guilt, Forgiveness important constructs. How do these manifest in our daily practice of medicine? Ex: post-adverse events, guilt, self forgiveness

Religion & Spirituality: Practical practice Set aside time for prayer or meditation daily Make a regular habit of reading scriptures, sacred texts or other writings pertaining to your chosen faith or practice Designate a physical location for your practice. Maybe this is in your car. Practice a physically active form of spirituality such as walking prayer, yoga, martial arts or liturgical dance Practice a creative form of spirituality: playing music, drawing/painting, writing Become part of a group that worships or practices together.

Thank you!