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Physician Wellness Quarterly Update

Also in this issue: Upcoming Events, Wellness Program Spotlights, & Wellness MVP

6-7 min read  | Spring 2026

In light of the tragic event that took place on May 18 at the Islamic Center of San Diego, we recognize that members of our community may be experiencing grief, fear, anxiety, or emotional distress. During difficult times, seeking support and connection is important. Below are mental health resources available for anyone in need of care, guidance, or someone to talk to. 

The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science has organized an in-person vigil on Wednesday evening, May 20,  in response to Monday's devastating tragedy at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Dean Cheryl Anderson invites the Health Sciences community to come together, support one another and reaffirm our shared commitment to unity and peace. 

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

Location: The "Silent Tree," located outside of Geisel Library

Employee Assistance Program: Confidential, free service to help you and your dependents for concerns affecting personal well-being. Call 1-866-808-6205 (24/7)

988 Lifeline: Call or text 988, 24/7 if you or someone you know is in crisis. 

HEAR Program: Join an emotional support session or connect with a counselor. Email: hear@ucsd.edu

Physician Peer Support: Connect with a trained physician peer supporter for someone to talk to. 

Spiritual Care: Call 619-290-1560 or dial “0” to reach the hospital operator and request the on-call chaplain. 

UC San Diego Health offers expedited behavioral health services for UC San Diego Health physicians, house-staff and APPs. If you need support:

Call 619-543-2221 and identify yourself as a UC San Diego Health physician, house-staff or APP. 

You'll be prioritized for an intake appointment within 7 business days. 

Have questions or concerns? Email Dr. Steve Koh or Nicole Wilson  

Your mental health is an important part of your overall well‑being. UC San Diego Health encourages team members to take time for regular mental health self‑check‑ins, just as we do for our physical health.

Through the Healer Education Assessment and Referral (HEAR) Program, team members can access a free, voluntary, and confidential Mental Health Check‑In questionnaire, reviewed by a licensed therapist. Learn more about the questionnaire and how it works — and consider taking a few minutes to check in with yourself.

For questions about the HEAR Program Mental Health Check-in, please contact hear@health.ucsd.edu and visit hear.ucsd.edu

Survey will launch June 2026
This survey is an annual opportunity for you to anonymously share feedback about your experience working at UCSD.

Email invitation to be delivered in June
Expect to receive email invitations to the annual physician wellness survey in June.

Results discussions Fall–Winter 2026
All departments will discuss their survey results during faculty meetings. These discussions will create space for you to connected directly with administrative and clinical leaders.

💻 Administrative Burden

Completed projects:
- AI Scribe (Nabla)
- Flow Team in three departments
- Surgical charge streamlined 
- 2026 UCSD mandatory trainings, released May 20, ~45 minutes shorter total.

Active work:
-  simplifying prior authorizations
- building a "How To" resource guide

🛡️ Safety

Active Work:
- Green Banner signage
- Zero-tolerance messaging
- Updated de-escalation training planned across ambulatory and inpatient settings
- Targeted safety improvements in L&D and the ED 
- Enhanced security at East Campus

🤝 Respect & Collegiality

Completed projects:
- "I've Got You" Collegiality Week
- GME leadership development training
- Executive leadership compassion training

Active Work:
- Collaboration on We Listen complaint communications 

🔥 Hot Spot Support

The teams reporting the highest burnout are receiving support from the Physician Wellness Office.

🔄 Catch Up Quick: The Physician Wellness Office assembled a portfolio of projects for each priority area, engaging partners systemwide to affect positive change. We will continue to follow up in each quarterly newsletter and town hall to update you on progress. 

You Asked, UCSD Leaders Acted

During rounding, physicians requested additional computers in the Hillcrest Attending lounge to create more workspace for charting while at work. Within a few months, two additional computers have been installed to better support physician workflow and work-life needs.

Thank you to our partners in Hospital Medicine, Hospital Operations, IS, and Facilities for their responsiveness and support in making these improvements.

Learn about Doximity, Nabla, CoPilot, and Zoom AI functions:
quick links, contacts, and updates. 

This is a paid add-on that works directly inside Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and OneDrive to support administrative work.

No need to start from scratch!
Here are AI prompt examples for your daily work. 

Join this community to explore AI ideas, examples, and peer learning. 

All physicians and team members of the UCSD Health community are invited to the 2026 Wellness Innovation Showcase. This year’s program highlights UCSD leaders who are advancing new approaches to workplace well‑being, along with a poster session featuring ongoing wellness initiatives across the organization.

The event will also include a special session with UCSD’s Innovation Leaders: Alex Khalessi, MD; Karandeep Singh, MD; and Marlene Millen, MD, who will share insights on how AI is shaping wellness and clinical practice within UCSD Health.

Hosted by UCSD Health, Physician Wellness

June 5 | 10:00a-2:00p, @ Altman Clinical & Translational Research Institute (ACTRI)

The 2026 Improvement Excellence Awards & Showcase celebrates the teams and individuals driving meaningful change across our organization. From improving patient access and experience to advancing health equity and quality of care, this event highlights the work that makes a difference.

June 18 | @ ACTRI Auditorium 

Immersive, half-day program for researchers, clinicians, educators and trainees for a dynamic exploration of compassion as both a scientific discipline and a clinical imperative. Through research presentations, didactic sessions, and interactive programming, attendees have the opportunity to engage with growing body of evidence around compassion while exploring its practical applications in clinical care, medical education, and systems design.

August 1, 2026 | See Website for Location and Start Time Details

Join the UCSD Physician Wellness team for the 2026 Curebound Cancer Challenge! 

Participate by running, riding, or walking while fundraising to support cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and cures. All fundraising dollars go directly to cancer research efforts.

Faculty and staff of all activity levels are welcome.

Graduate Medical Education (GME) Wellness

GME Wellness supports residents and fellows with resources that strengthen connection, resilience, and community including, Physician Peer Support,  Wellness Grants for trainee-driven projects,  and a partnership with the HEAR Program provides one-on-one check-ins, debriefs, and Schwartz Rounds.

For more information contact: gmewellness@health.ucsd.edu

This year, the program also celebrated its first Thank-A-Resident/Fellow Week in February, recognizing and appreciating trainees across the community.

Dr. Julie Çelebi shares her vision for GME Wellness: 

"My vision for the future of GME wellness at UCSD is to build a strong, connected network of wellness leaders through our Well Being Champions program—faculty who are embedded within training programs and deeply attuned to the needs of our residents and fellows. Together, we can create a more supportive, compassionate environment where our trainees truly thrive."

Wellness Leader Academy 

For more information: Contact Nikki Ashtiani, nashtiani@health.ucsd.edu

Wellness Leader Academy Director Ami Doshi, MD

Dr. Ami Doshi shares what has been most meaningful in her role:

“Directing the Wellness Leader Academy is a joy and a privilege. It is incredibly meaningful to facilitate a space where we can move past the silos of our daily roles to build a sustainable community grounded in compassion. The most profound dimension of this work is witnessing how authentic connection acts as a catalyst for systemic change,  empowering compassionate leaders who create a culture where well-being is woven into the very fabric of how we work together.”

Chief of Staff to the CEO of UC San Diego Health

Will serves as Executive Advisor to the Physician Wellness Program and plays a pivotal role in advancing work-life improvements for our physicians. Through his strong partnerships with operational leaders and shared services departments, he has helped operationalize many of the meaningful changes implemented across UCSD over the past several years.

What do you value most about your work with Physician Wellness?

"What I value most about my work in Physician Wellness is the opportunity to support our physicians in a way that not only improves their daily experience, but ultimately benefits the patients they care for. I’m grateful to be in a position where I can truly listen to their needs and help create solutions that make their work more sustainable and fulfilling. My hope is that this effort allows them to reconnect with the joy that brought them to medicine in the first place, while focusing fully on their patients and the communities that we serve." 

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.

Cultivating an Extraordinary Culture of Physician Wellness

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

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