Physician Health Resources

The following resources provide personal and workplace health information addressing a variety of subjects applicable and relevant to all stages of your career.
- Articles and tools addressing a range of physician health-related topics
- Relevant external websites and organizations
Physician wellness news and events
Battling physician burnout
March 16, 2021
In the March 16 episode of the Canadian Medical Association's podcast "Sound Mind," Dr. Caroline Gérin-Lajoie talks to Dr. Jillian Horton about her book, 'We Are All Perfectly Fine,' a chronicle of how medical culture has harmed physicians, and her own personal journey to overcome burnout.
Our trusted provider of psychological PPE
January 13, 2021
Dr. Sue Reid, Staff Anesthesiologist, Grey Nuns Hospital and Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, shares her personal experience with PFSP. She highlights the critical role PFSP has played in her own life and shares the voice of other physicians in Alberta.
The impact of an adverse event in early practice
December 30, 2020
Dr. Marc Cherniwchan (Assessment Physician, Case Coordination Program, AMA PFSP) writes about his experience with a $750,000 lawsuit regarding an adverse event that had occurred during his very first year in practice.
Video: AMA President on physician mental health and PFSP
December 11, 2020
Stress, anxiety, burnout and depression are commonplace among physicians – even before facing a global pandemic. Mental health issues can have devastating consequences on the individual, their family and the profession. AMA President Dr. Paul Boucher discusses physician mental health and accessing peer-to-peer support through PFSP from a province-wide network of highly trained therapists with experience working with physicians and their families.
A Physician's Story of Addiction, Depression, Hope and Recovery with Dr. Adam Hill
November 27, 2020
View a recording of the webinar, "A Physician's Story of Addiction, Depression, Hope and Recovery with Dr. Adam Hill." Member login required. On October 2, 2020, the AMA's Physician and Family Support program and partners hosted a physician wellness webinar to hear one physician’s story of addiction, depression, hope and recovery. Dr. Adam Hill shared his personal journey and reflections on factors that cause distress in the medical workforce, including the obstacles and barriers preventing mental health treatment and the effect of stigma and stereotyping of mental health and addiction. Through his personal account he helps to reduce the stigma of physician addiction and instill hope about recovery.
Physician Wellness: Feeling Distress, Understanding Loss and Finding Meaning
June 16, 2020
On June 16, the AMA, PFSP collaborated with Well Doc Alberta to host a physician wellness webinar, as an opportunity for physicians to consider and better understand their distress during these times. Along with knowledge expert Fleur Yumol, the webinar co-facilitators guide viewers through short pauses for self-reflection. This webinar is designed for physicians to enhance literacy and self-reflection about their wellness during times of rapid change, however, family members are encouraged to join.
Articles and tools
Addiction
- Am I alcohol dependant? Try this self-assessment tool.
- Hail Physician: Dare to Care, Part I
Dr. Dianne Maier - What is substance use disorder (SUD) and how can the AMA's PFSP help Alberta physicians? Watch the video.
- Webinar recording (member login required)
A Physician's Story of Addiction, Depression, Hope and Recovery with Dr. Adam Hill
Adverse events, complaints and medical-legal litigation
- CanMEDS Session Department of Surgery, "And Then Everything Changed: When Adverse Events Happen at the Onset of Practice"
- Dealing with Adverse Events, Complaints, and Medical Legal Litigation
PFSP info-sheet - Transcend adversity
Dr. Nancy Love
Burnout
- Sound Mind podcast: Battling physician burnout
In the March 16 episode of the Canadian Medical Association's podcast Sound Mind, Dr. Caroline Gérin-Lajoie talks to Dr. Jillian Horton about her book, 'We Are All Perfectly Fine,' a chronicle of how medical culture has harmed physicians, and her own personal journey to overcome burnout. - Am I at risk for burnout? Try the BMA Doctors for Doctors Burnout Questionnaire.
- Mini Z burnout survey: Find out how your workplace stress levels measure up against others in your field
American Medical Association - One in four Canadian physicians report burnout: New CMA survey provides key indicators on physician health
- Physician Wellness: Preventing Resident and Fellow Burnout
American Medical Association - Preventing Physician Burnout
American Medical Association - ProQOL
The ProQOL is the most commonly used measure of the negative and positive effects of helping others who experience suffering and trauma. The ProQOL has sub-scales for compassion satisfaction, burnout and compassion fatigue. - Rates of burnout, depression reported by doctors, residents concerning: report
Sheryl Ubelacker | The Canadian Press - Self-compassion quiz by Kristin Neff, Ph.D
26 Likert scale questions that measure your self-compassion.
LGBTQ2S+
- Alberta Health Services
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Gender Expression (SOGIE) Safer Places Toolkit - Canadian Mental Health Association
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer Identified People and Mental Health
PFSP events
- June 16 Webinar: Physician Wellness: Feeling Distress, Understanding Loss and Finding Meaning
- Resources from the Resident Wellness Conference 2019 sessions, including station references, materials, and links to additional tools
Physicians caring for physicians
- The magic white coat: How doctors deal with their own illnesses
Dr. Terrie Brandon - Physician health issue
Vital Signs, March 2017
Relationships with patients
- Living better through empathy
Dr. Jared Bly
Stress and fatigue management
- Managing Compassion Fatigue is an Organizational Responsibility
Dr. Sharron L. Spicer, Vital Signs, April 2018
Suicide prevention
- When a colleague dies: growing through tragedy
Presentation by Dr. Michael F. Myers - Health care Professional Burnout, Depression and Suicide Prevention
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - A Physician Public Health Imperative: Respond to Physician Mental Illness and Suicide
PFSP Perspectives, Alberta Doctors' Digest, January-February 2008 - Dr. Dianne Maier - Preventing Physician Distress and Suicide: Recognize and respond to physician distress and suicidal behavior
American Medical Association - The Complexity of Physician Suicide
The BMJ, September 10, 2018 - Dr. Michael Myers - Out of the shadows: Shining light on physician suicide
PFSP Perspectives, Alberta Doctors' Digest. September-October 2016 - Dr. Sara Taylor
Physicians in the workplace
- Understanding and processing our grief when a colleague dies
Dr. Jane Loehr (Calgary Family Physician, PFSP Assessment Physician) and Fleur Yumol (MSc., MSW, RSW, Unify Consulting Managing Director) - Fifteen Years into My Brilliant, but Unbalanced Career — Now what?
Dr. Vincent Hanlon - Relationships: What Works for Physicians?
Dr. Monica Hill - Keeping the igloo warm
Dr. Marc Cheriwchan
Physician wellness websites and organizations
Canadian Association for Physicians with Disabilities
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Social networking and support for Canadian physicians with disabilities
Canadian Medical Association Physician Health and Wellness
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View the CMA’s Statement on Physician Health and Wellness, its physician health policy, key issues in physician health and wellness and more.
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CMA Physician Wellness Hub
Original CMA content and curated information from other trusted sources for physicians, residents and medical students seeking guidance and wellness self-help. Also included is material for those leading wellness initiatives in institutions or medical departments.
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Canadian Medical Protective Association
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Connecting Canadian member physicians with risk-management training, legal defense and liability protection.
MD Financial Management
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A financial services firm dedicated exclusively to the financial well-being of Canada’s physicians and their families.
Provincial physician health programs
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View what all Canadian provinces and territories medical associations offer their physician members.
Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta
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Resident Physician Wellness Month: Resident physician-related events and initiatives celebrated annually in May.
Resident Doctors of Canada
- Resources for Residents, including intimidation and harassment prevention, Crisis resources and debriefing after negative outcomes.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Well Doc Alberta
- A physician wellness initiative led by Dr. Jane Lemaire that offers training modules to address issues such as nutrition, coping strategies, bio-feedback for stress and resilience. WellDoc Alberta recently released seven Bulletins, five podcasts and three webinars to help physicians cope with the pandemic. All are available on its helpful resources page:
Bulletins
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Nourishing Our Bodies During the Pandemic
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Civility and Respect: How We Can Be at Our Best During the Pandemic and Beyond
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Sleep Strategies: Helping Physicians Through COVID-19
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Grieving the Loss of Normalcy During the Pandemic
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Mindfulness for Physicians During the COVID-19
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Helping Each Other Through the Pandemic: Providing Informal Physician-to-Physician Peer Support
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Physician Wellness During COVID-19: The Basics
Podcasts
- Sleep
- Wellness on the Front Lines of a Pandemic
- Staying Connected: Emotional Connection Amidst Physical Distancing
- Empathy & Compassion: Offering What We Can During COVID-19
- Self-Awareness: More Important Than Ever
Webinars
- The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Test of System-Level Physician Wellness
- Physician Wellness: Feeling Distress, Understanding Loss, and Finding Meaning
- Parenting as a Physician during COVID-19: Unique Challenges and Strategies