Page 26 - Layout 1

BCMS – TOGETHER
WE STAND

The BCMS Physician Coaching and Wellness

Program – Year-In-Review

By Nora Vasquez MD, CEO & Founder of Thriving Leaders in Medicine Coaching Program

H appy New Year! As we begin 2023, I’d like to reflect on the

past year to see how much we’ve accomplished in our mission
to advance physician wellness so that we can both celebrate
and put forth new intentions. Last year, the Bexar County Medical So-
ciety launched an innovative wellness initiative with the support from
a Texas Medical Association Foundation grant. As an advanced certified
physician coach and internist, I developed and led the Physician Coach-
ing and Wellness Program. The mission of this coaching program was
to empower physicians with evidenced-based coaching strategies to mit-
igate burnout and enhance physician well-being. We did this by creating
a physician-led, safe and virtual space for doctors to meet and learn how
to recognize and mitigate the effects of burnout while also providing
meaningful support for the BCMS community. After leading over 14 Physicians found these coaching and wellness sessions valuable in
CME Coaching and Wellness webinars, each month it is apparent that creating a growth mindset. Some shared their reflections recognizing
we heal and thrive in community. that, “Perfectionism is unattainable. Focus on growth and progress. Learn
The coaching sessions provided a unique opportunity to discuss the from your experiences. Self-affirmation is important to maintain healthy
real-life concerns that physicians encounter daily. The physicians ac- progress.” Another participant added, “This was a good reminder that
knowledged the evolving challenges of practicing medicine especially we are in charge of our experience at work. We can choose to make changes
over the last two years. The necessary protocols put in place because and see this in a different light.”
of the COVID pandemic isolated many of us from family, friends and While the challenges in medicine continue, I am encouraged by the
colleagues. The chronic stress and trauma of bearing witness to our pa- overwhelming positive feedback that was shared by the hundreds of
tients’ suffering further added to the distress. The BCMS Physician physicians we served. As we look forward to expanding this resource,
Coaching and Wellness program provided an important way for the I encourage you to reach out and participate in the Physician Coaching
community of healthcare professionals to talk about these challenges and Wellness webinars in 2023. You can find more information by sign-
while normalizing and supporting their human experience. In fact, ing up for our calendar of events at the BCMS website found at
during this past year we were able to help restore a sense of meaning www.bcms.org.
and enjoyment in the daily medical practice of many participating As an active member of the Bexar County Medical Society, I am
physicians. honored to have led this initiative and look forward to expanding the
Many of the topics discussed addressed critical issues related to program as we continue to advance physician wellness this year and
leadership, work and home life integration, as well as insights on beyond!
how to better manage the daily stressors of practicing medicine.
Many of the physicians who participated enjoyed discussing a variety Nora Vasquez, MD is a Certified Physician Coach and a
of topics, including: Board-Certified Internal Medicine Physician with over a decade
• How To Overcome Burnout & Thrive of experience. She developed the Physician Wellness Webinar Se-
• Time Management for Busy Healthcare Professionals ries for BCMS physician members to empower physicians with evidenced-
• Processing Grief: Emotional Healing for Healthcare Professionals based coaching strategies to mitigate burnout and enhance physician
• How To Overcome Perfectionism Pitfalls well-being. You can learn more about Dr. Nora Vasquez at www.re-
• How To Overcome Imposter Syndrome newyourmindmd.com. Dr. Vasquez is a member of the Bexar County
• Efficient Charting Tips Medical Society and Texas Medical Association.

26 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • January 2023