SurgeonMasters believes that connection is essential for wellness and that wellness leads to career fulfillment, joy, and sustainability in healthcare. We also believe burnout is a vital sign that change is needed. But what needs to change, and how does it look? The way forward for each of us is different.
Social Connection Is Vital
Research shows that social connection is a robust, independent predictor of both mental and physical health. Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad and colleagues argue that it should be considered a vital sign—on par with heart rate and blood pressure. Social isolation, on the other hand, is linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease, inflammation, depression, impaired immunity, and premature death.
Beyond science, the experience is deeply human. As psychologists Baumeister and Leary famously wrote, the “need to belong is a powerful, fundamental, and extremely pervasive motivation.” This need doesn’t disappear when we become surgeons or physicians. If anything, it becomes more important in high-stress, high-responsibility careers.
The Coaching Mindset: How We Connect Matters
We believe that wellness is multi-dimensional, including physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness. Connecting with others is one of the most effective ways to support all these dimensions. In a community of physicians, we share a common understanding—we don’t have to explain our lifestyle or experiences as much. The people around us have walked similar paths, even if their journeys differ from our own.
That’s why we encourage everyone in our community to bring the coaching mindset to their interactions. Here’s how we do that:
- Practice the Coaching Mindset – Stay open, curious, and client-centered—whether you’re supporting or being supported.
- Keep Everything Confidential – What’s shared in the group, stays in the group. Safety matters.
- Be Present and Respectful – Everyone is on their own path. Listen actively. Hold space.
- Avoid Giving Advice – We’re not here to fix or direct. Instead, we trust each other to find the answers that fit best.
- Share Your Experience – Speak from your perspective. Let others learn from your journey. Their journey will look different than yours.
Connection as a Pathway to Wellness
From our 1-on-1 coaching sessions to special events and education programs, the SurgeonMasters Community is designed to be engaging, empowering, and—yes—fun! We gather to learn. We celebrate growth. We encourage one another.
Whether you’re navigating a challenge or looking to improve performance, connection can help you find your way. Connection might be the way to well-being, to clarity, and to what’s next for you.
Sources:
- Holt-Lunstad J. Social connection as a critical factor for mental and physical health: evidence, trends, challenges, and future implications. World Psychiatry. 2024 Oct;23(3):312-332. doi: 10.1002/wps.21224. PMID: 39279411; PMCID: PMC11403199.
- Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497–529. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497
- Smith, J. M., Boe, E. A., & Will, R. (2021). Physician wellness in orthopedic surgery: challenges and solutions. Orthopedic Clinics, 52(1), 41-52. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0030589820301255?via%3Dihub