Dear Community
In 2015, I introduced wellness events at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting. At the time, the goal was simple: raise awareness about physician wellness. But the concept was new, and many people weren’t sure what to make of it. Honestly, my message may not have landed the way I intended.
What I didn’t expect was the powerful, unintended benefit that emerged: people began connecting outside the conference with attendees they might never have met otherwise. They found community through shared experiences — and that connection turned out to be more meaningful than I ever imagined.
Today, I’m a strong advocate for connection and community, because having support from someone who truly “gets it” makes a significant difference.
Many of us have been indoctrinated (pun intended) to believe we shouldn’t need much outside input — that intelligence and hard work alone should carry us. And while that’s partly true, there is tremendous value in peer support. When we connect with others who understand the physician’s life, we don’t need to explain ourselves. We don’t have to justify our experiences or soften the truth.
We can be honest, direct, and real.
Support that aligns with our values can help us grow our careers in ways that matter to us — not just in ways that are rewarded by a system that often overlooks our humanity.
Physicians need something different. We need time to think. We need trusted partners to bounce ideas off of. We need tools to help us build sustainable, fulfilling lives — even when the system isn’t designed to support that.
Connection and community aren’t about quick fixes or checking boxes. They’re about sustainable growth, meaningful relationships, and genuine support.
If you’ve ever felt like the system doesn’t “get it” — you’re not alone. But you don’t have to wait for the system to change to start creating meaningful change in your own life.
Community is one of the most powerful ways I’ve found to reconnect with purpose, values, and a sense of control. I envision a community where physicians support one another, share strategies, and build sustainability in a profession that often demands everything of us. Let’s start creating that — together.
Find the latest resources from the community below.
