Spurred by the demands and circumstances of delivering care during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas Medical Association Foundation established its Caring for Physician Healers: Mental Health and Wellness Resources During COVID-19 Fund with support from the Pfizer Foundation.
With help from grants, these county medical society-led activities aim to help strengthen the capacity of physician healers during a time when so many Texans need and depend on their expertise and compassion.
Contact your county medical society for specific details on the activities and resources offered below.
Bell County Medical Society: Women in Medicine Physician Health and Wellness
In this leader training program, Dawn Sears, MD, will use her experience and prior work with the Baylor Scott & White Meaning in Medicine program to lead a gender-specific group interaction to reduce burnout and improved retention and engagement for women physicians.
Dallas County Medical Society: Emotional PPE Project
Dallas County Medical Society has partnered with the national Emotional PPE Project on a robust, nationally built-out program created in May 2020 to address the mental health crisis among health care workers that COVID-19 has exacerbated. The project has volunteer mental health counselors mobilized nationwide with capacity to serve any health care worker, free of charge, anywhere in the country (www.emotionalppe.org).
Ector County Medical Society: Yoga – a practice to build self-regulation and higher consciousness
This 90-minute, biweekly yoga session with experienced instructors is offered to address physicians’ well-being and the stress during the pandemic. The classes will be conducted via Zoom meetings to teach stress management techniques, breathing exercises, and balance poses.
Lubbock County Medical Society: Physicians Connecting and Contributing
This program consists of weekly meetings of small groups of four physicians each. A certified life coach will cover a different topic during each session including finances, relationships (family, colleagues, staff, and workplace), compulsions, self-care, mentoring/leadership, and compassion.
McLennan County Medical Society: LifeBridge
This program offers up to four no-cost counseling or coaching sessions per year with licensed therapists for physicians experiencing burnout, chronic stress, depression, addiction, and distress.
Smith County Medical Society: Physician Wellness Program
This program will introduce health and wellness topics via an annual video conference, and provide monthly instruction on meditation, exercise, and yoga practices; online educational resources; and a confidential counseling and coaching program to member physicians.
Travis County Medical Society: Physician Wellness Program
The Physician Wellness Program is designed to be a safe harbor for physicians to address normal life difficulties in a confidential and professional environment. The program provides a confidential counseling/intervention service to physicians in need, and opportunities for physicians to share experiences in small groups and participate in educational events, including the nationally recognized Finding Meaning in Medicine monthly video conference.