PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA MERLO GREENE, PHD
Q&A
with Lisa
Merlo
In a medical field rife with time pressures, competing interests
and so much stress that burnout can seem inevitable, working
in an environment that encourages self-care and supports team
functioning can make a world of difference for the well-being of
today’s health care practitioners.
It’s a tenuous reality that led Lisa Merlo Greene, PhD, director
of wellness programs for the UF College of Medicine, to create
the first Celebrating Wellness week, held Feb. 11-17.
Doctor Gator asked Merlo Greene about the necessity and
benefits of wellness programming for those in all stages of their
me dical training or careers.
Why is wellness programming so
vital for today’s medical practitioners?
These days, health care providers are expected to
know more than ever before, to work effectively within
interdisciplinary teams, to see more patients in less
time, to complete huge amounts of paperwork and to
maintain excellent customer service at all times. Similarly,
those pursuing careers in science are competing for
decreasing grant funding while being expected to make
new discoveries and disseminate their findings through
presentation and publication in the most prestigious
outlets. As a result, rates of burnout continue to increase,
which can negatively affect patient care, scientific
productivity and personal well-being. Institutional wellness
programming is a necessary first step to lay the foundation
for a culture of wellness that supports the faculty, staff and
trainees in their professional development and encourages
them to function at their best.
How can a culture of wellness be created
within an academic health care network?
Professional fulfillment is most likely to result when doing
meaningful work in an environment that supports you to
give your best effort without burning out. This requires a
focus on well-being by the individual, their team and the
institution itself. A culture of wellness can be cultivated
when the team members use productive communication
strategies and express gratitude. Efficiency of practice
is improved by learning strategies that help you work
smarter rather than harder. And personal resilience can
be improved through self-care strategies like eating well,
exercising, getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness
and self-compassion, as well as through seeking help from
others when needed.
What’s the next step for wellness
programming at the UF College of Medicine?
I hope to expand the reach of the programming from the
Celebrating Wellness week by working with departments,
clinics and other units to plan events that will work for
their teams. In addition, I plan to use the results of the
recently completed faculty needs assessment to develop
new programs and initiatives that were identified as most
important in promoting a culture of wellness. I will be
working with the GME Wellness Committee to improve
resources and programming for house staff, and I will
continue working with the Office of Medical Education
and the Office of Student Counseling and Professional
Development to better support our medical, physician
assistant and graduate students as well.
DOCTOR GATOR | 11