Q&A: Need for parental wellness programs ‘very intuitive’ for physician parents

Key takeaways:

• A parental wellness program supported new physician parents navigating their transition back to work.
• The program also aims to improve well-being.
• Similar programs can be implemented at other institutions.

CHICAGO — A parental wellness program resonated widely with physicians navigating parenthood and improved well-being, according to two speakers at the Women in Medicine Summit.

During their talk, “A roadmap for implementing a parental wellness program at your institution,” Laura E. Dichtel, MD, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, endocrinologist in the neuroendocrine unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and director of the Mass General Brigham Parental Wellness Program, and Josephine Li, MD, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, endocrinologist in the diabetes unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and assistant director of the Mass General Brigham Parental Wellness Program, shared how the parental wellness program at their institution has improved wellness and productivity among physician parents.

Healio spoke with Dichtel and Li about how their own experiences as physician parents inspired them to create a parental wellness program at Massachusetts General Hospital and how other physicians can implement similar programs at their own institutions.

Healio: What are the key takeaways from your talk?

Dichtel and Li: We wanted to highlight the parental wellness program that we developed and expanded at our institution to support new physician parents as they navigate early parenthood and the transition back to work. The mission of our program is to support faculty who are navigating parenthood, including initiatives that promote well-being, build community, support a healthy work-life integration, and foster both personal wellness and professional productivity.

Our goal in this talk was to provide a roadmap for workshop attendees to implement a similar program at their institutions by sharing the “nuts and bolts” of the program, how it improved physician well-being and the lessons learned through our experience.

Healio: What inspired you to create the Mass General Brigham Parental Wellness Program? Do you have any words of wisdom for other women in medicine?

Dichtel and Li: We created this program based on the challenges we’ve faced in our own parenting journeys as physician parents. As we formalized our program, we found that our mission resonated widely and need was very intuitive to others. We encourage other women in medicine to find inspiration for change in their own experiences.

Healio: Why is a meeting like the Women in Medicine Summit so important for the field?

Dichtel and Li: The Women in Medicine Summit is an important forum that allows leaders to discuss the unique challenges women face in medicine, share potential solutions and interventions, and advance equity for women. It is critical to have this community and space to advance the discussion on these important issues related to gender equity in medicine.

References:

• Dichtel LE, et al. A roadmap for implementing a parental wellness program at your institution. Presented at: Women in Medicine Summit; Sept. 13-14, 2024; Chicago.
• Faculty parental wellness program. https://www.massgeneral.org/faculty-development/resources/parental-wellness-program. Accessed on Sep. 17, 2024.

For more information:

Laura E. Dichtel, MD, can be reached at ldichtel@mgh.harvard.edu.

Josephine Li, MD, can be reached at jli71@mgh.harvard.edu.