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Physician Wellness Quarterly Update

Also in this issue: Opportunities for Connecting & Professional Development, UCSD Awarded AMA's Joy In Medicine, Wellness MVP, Calls for Proposals, Recognize a Colleague, Mental Health Resources

3-4 min read  | Fall 2025

🔄 Catch Up Quick:

This Summer and Fall, the Physician Wellness Office and UCSD Senior Leadership met with physicians across the system to reflect on the 2025 PW survey results.

Distilled from these discussions, here are the top needs the
PWO will focus on this year:

🖥️ Admin Burden

Scale tools & support to reduce burden of clinical and administrative work.

⚖️ Respect

Advance an “I Got You” culture by fostering respect in daily interactions, repair processes that undermine collegiality, strengthen relationships across teams, and promote shared accountability that supports our collective well-being.

🚨 Safety

Ensure team safety through security enhancements, patient accountability, and team readiness. 

⏭️ Up Next: Form Teams & Begin Implementation

The Physician Wellness Office will assemble a portfolio of projects for each priority area, engaging partners systemwide to affect positive change. We will follow up in each quarterly newsletter and town hall to update readers on progress. 

🏠 Your Department Has A Local Wellness Plan Too

In addition to the systemwide work above, your Department Wellness Director is taking on wellness locally. Connect with them to learn about or support the work!

November 14 | 11:30am-1:00pm @ Moores Cancer Center, Goldberg Auditorium 

Free CME available!

Join in person and enjoy a light lunch. Zoom option available 12-1pm. 

The HEAR Program is proud to facilitate the Schwartz Rounds, which provides a multi-disciplinary forum for healthcare professionals to connect as a community by sharing and discussing emotional and social aspects of caring for patients and families.

November 18 | 12:00pm-12:50pm via ZOOM

This UCSD Health HEAR-sponsored group offers space for people to explore the role of negative thoughts in our life and discuss strategies to challenge negative self-talk. 

Anyone employed under the UCSD Health system is welcome to attend. 

Deadline: February 2, 2026

The International Conference on Physician Health™ 2026 (ICPH) will convene in London, England September 28-30, 2026.

The biennial meeting, cohosted by the British, American, and Canadian Medical Associations, will provide a forum for practitioners and researchers to present innovative methods and support systems, educational programs and recent research findings in the area of physician and medical student health.  

Next Proposal Deadline: February 25, 2026

In partnership with the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion, Physician Wellness is accepting proposals for the Physician Wellness Culture Awards.

Grants of up to $15,000 (Pilot) or $40,000 (Project) are available to support initiatives that promote physician well-being and a culture of wellness.

At least one PI must be a UC San Diego physician. Proposals should be focused, feasible, and aligned with the Sanford Institute’s mission.

This national recognition acknowledges the institution's implementation of best-practice infrastructure across five domains:

✅ Assessment: Measure burnout and share the results with all physicians.

✅ Commitment: Establish an office/committee for wellbeing & estimate the costs of physician burnout with executive leadership.

✅ Leadership: Implement a leader listening campaign.

✅ Teamwork: Assess teamwork (included in UCSD PW survey items)

✅ Support: Establish a peer support program & work to destigmatize credentialing language.

Learn more with the 2025 program guidelines (pgs 9-10) or at the AMA's website. 

Executive Director, Support Services

Jill has led the improvement work in the physician lounges since 2022. Her expertise and commitment to hospitality has cultivated more comfortable and safe spaces for unwinding. We're grateful for her engaged and effective partnership!

"Working at UC San Diego Health means so much to me because it aligns with my personal passion for supporting the well-being of our physicians, staff, patients, and community."

In a randomized clinical trial of 184 physicians, those who wore smartwatches and accessed their physiological data showed lower burnout and higher resilience after six months compared with controls. This suggests that using a smartwatch may be an effective personal strategy to enhance physicians’ well-being.

Recognize a colleague to show them you appreciate them and their efforts.

All recognitions will be posted publicly on the physician wellness website and will be shared with the recipient and their supervisor.

UCSD Health physicians can access private, on-demand behavioral coaching 24/7 in English and Spanish & hundreds of guided meditation and mindfulness exercises-right from your smartphone. 

*Video-based therapy and psychiatry are also available upon request after initial intake with a coach.

Peer Support is actively transforming our UCSDH culture by giving us the opportunity to connect, share challenges, and support each other. 

As a physician, you face unique challenges and you don't have to face them alone. 

UCSD Recreation is partnering with Point Loma Nazarene University to offer free virtual 1-on-1 health coaching for staff and faculty.

Work with a trained Health Coach to reach your goals and build lasting healthy habits.

The UCSD Health HEAR Program provides free and confidential emotional support, education, anonymous stress and depression screening, and referral and support to all UC San Diego Health learners and workers.

Cultivating an Extraordinary Culture of Physician Wellness

For any questions please email: physicianwellnessadm@health.ucsd.edu 

Mental Health Resources | Meet UCSD's Wellness Leaders | Recognize A Colleague | Academic Opportunities | Family Benefits | GME Resources