Well-Being at Michigan Medicine

Credentialing: Supporting Clinicians, Protecting Patients

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Credentialing plays a critical role in patient safety — but it can also affect whether clinicians feel safe seeking mental health care. In this episode, leaders from Michigan Medicine and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation discuss evolving credentialing practices, reducing stigma and supporting clinician well-being while protecting patients. The conversation highlights how thoughtful policy changes can help create a healthier, more compassionate health care system.

Learn more:

Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation

Episode Transcript

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support. Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication.

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How Quality Improvement Supports Clinician Well-Being

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

How do quality improvement and clinician well-being intersect? Michigan Medicine’s Dr. Michael Englesbe, a transplant surgeon, joins Dr. Elizabeth Harry to discuss scaling change from the bedside, reducing burnout by removing unnecessary work, and lessons from Michigan’s opioid prescribing success.

A candid conversation on leadership, standardization, humility and why empowering frontline teams is essential to better care and a healthier workforce.

Episode Transcript

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A Chat with Better Together: A Scalable Solution to Physician Burnout

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:05:09 GMT

Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcomes guests Drs. Adrienne Mann and Tyra Fainstad, co-founders of Better Together, an evidence-based group coaching program transforming physician well-being.

They share their personal journeys from burnout to coaching, explain how metacognitive group coaching builds community and resilience, and present compelling data showing significant reductions in burnout, imposter syndrome, and moral injury.

The episode explores how scalable, confidential coaching can reshape medical culture and restore meaning in medicine.

Learn more about Better Together Physician Coaching here

Episode Transcript

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Purpose as a Foundation for Well-Being in Health Care

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:00:00 GMT

*Content warning: While well-being and purpose is the main topic, the following conversation does contain material related to the loss of a child and mental health that some might find distressing. Listener discretion is advised.

Dr. Vic Strecher of U-M Public Health joins host Dr. Elizabeth Harry to explore why purpose is a powerful driver of well-being, resilience and professional fulfillment. Strecher shares personal reflections, groundbreaking research and practical strategies—including the SPACE framework (sleep, presence, activity, creativity and eating)—to help clinicians and organizations reconnect with their “why.” From preventing burnout to managing energy and attention, this conversation highlights how aligning personal and organizational purpose can transform health care work and support lasting well-being.

Episode Transcript

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Behind the Gold: The People Powering Joy in Medicine

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:00:00 GMT

In this special Well-Being at Michigan Medicine podcast with Dr. Elizabeth Harry, leaders across emotional support, clinical efficiency and faculty development reflect on Michigan Medicine’s achievement of gold status in the AMA’s Joy in Medicine Award. Drs. Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt, Whitney Begeman, Greta Branford, and George Mashour share how programs like COMPASS peer support, confidential counseling, AI-driven documentation tools and robust leadership development strengthen well-being across the institution. Their insights highlight systemwide commitment, innovation and continued investment in reducing burnout, fostering resilience and empowering faculty and clinicians to thrive.

Episode Transcript

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Beyond Security: Creating Safe, Caring Spaces

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 10:00:00 GMT

In this episode celebrating Healthcare Security and Safety Week 2025, host Dr. Elizabeth Harry talks with Brian Uridge, Director of Safety and Security at Michigan Medicine. Uridge shares his journey from community policing to health care security and explains how relationship-based safety practices strengthen well-being across the organization.

From de-escalation training to canine therapy and mobile duress technology, Uridge reveals how his team blends compassion, trust and innovation to make Michigan Medicine safer for all. This inspiring conversation highlights how connection and presence are just as vital to security as any piece of equipment.

Episode Transcript

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Sacred Moments: Human connection in health care and well-being

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:18:59 GMT

In this episode, Dr. Sanjay Saint, Chief of Medicine at the VA Ann Arbor and the George Dock Professor of Internal Medicine at U-M, features as guest. Saint’s Sacred Moments Initiative highlights emotionally profound connections between patients and caregivers. These moments — where time slows and humanity shines — combat burnout and remind clinicians why they entered healthcare.

Inspired by both research and personal stories, like a dying veteran thanking a student or a small act of kindness on a pickleball court, Saint emphasizes creating environments and cultures that invite presence and healing. Through reflection rounds, storytelling, and even architectural redesign, the initiative seeks to normalize, preserve, and celebrate these transformative human experiences in medical care.

Transcript

Learn more:

Sacred Moments Initiative
Research paper: Sacred Moment Experiences Among Internal Medicine Physicians
Research paper: Making Room for Meaningful Moments in Medicine—Prioritizing Continuity and Relationships

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Environmental sustainability and its effects on well-being

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:16:57 GMT

Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcomes Chip Amoe, U-M Health’s Chief Sustainability Officer, who shares how his Michigan roots and passion for revitalizing communities inspired his career in health care sustainability.

He highlights the vital link between climate change and health, emphasizing the need for hospitals to lead sustainability efforts.

Through thoughtful building design, like the LEED-Platinum certified D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, and a focus on reducing waste, emissions, and harmful chemicals, U-M Health is improving well-being for patients, staff, and communities. Amoe encourages individuals to be ambassadors for sustainable practices both at work and home.

Learn more:

Transcript

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to Well-Being at Michigan Medicine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Mental health and building resilience: Practical tools for well-being in 2025

Tue, 20 May 2025 20:38:55 GMT

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Harry speaks with leaders from U-M (Dr. Kelcey Stratton), Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience (Dr. Whitney Begeman) and MHealthy (Karen Schmidt) about key mental health and well-being challenges in 2025. They explore how post-pandemic trauma, burnout, social isolation and workplace stress continue to impact health care professionals.

The trio of guests share insights on practical tools like micro-breaks, peer support through the COMPASS program and nature-based practices from the NatureRx initiative. They emphasize the power of small, sustainable habits—like five-minute daily check-ins and better sleep hygiene—to boost resilience. Whether you're a caregiver, leader, or staff member, this conversation offers meaningful strategies for thriving in body, mind and spirit.

Episode guests:

Kelcey Stratton, Ph.D.
Whitney Begeman, Psy.D., L.P.
Karen Schmidt, M.P.H.

Resources:

Transcript

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

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Supporting Patient Experience and Caregiver Well-Being

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:43:12 GMT

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcomes Keith Gran and Devin Lippert from the Office of Patient Experience (OPE). Gran is Michigan Medicine’s chief patient experience, with over 30 years in academic health care leadership. Lippert is OPE’s administrative director with over 25 years in the field.

Both bring deep professional and personal insights into improving care through empathy, data and collaboration. They share how their team supports patient and caregiver well-being, highlights impactful programs like peer mentorship and medical improv, and discusses strategies to create a consistent, compassionate experience across Michigan Medicine—emphasizing that every human interaction is an opportunity to improve health care.

Episode Transcript

Episode guests:

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

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Mastering emotions: Tools for better mental health and well-being

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 16:35:58 GMT

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcomes Dr. Ethan Kross of U-M’s Department of Psychology and Ross Business School and author of several books about emotion and self-control. Harry and Kross discuss the importance of emotional regulation and self-control, focusing on their impact on mental health and well-being.

Kross explains that emotions are natural responses to meaningful events and serve adaptive functions, but when experienced too intensely or for too long, they can interfere with work, relationships, and health. He emphasizes the importance of managing emotions to maintain focus, resolve conflicts, and protect physical well-being.

Kross shares that different tools work for different people and situations, highlighting the value of flexibility in emotional responses. For example, sensory tools like music can shift emotions, while perspective-shifting techniques like "distanced self-talk" can help reframe emotional experiences. He also mentions "mental time travel," where thinking about the future or past can put present struggles into perspective.

The conversation touches on the challenges of emotion regulation in high-stress fields like academic medicine, where professionals may need to detach emotionally during work but risk emotional disconnection in personal life. Kross advocates for exposing people to these emotional management tools, as they can provide hope and reassurance that emotional regulation is achievable, ultimately improving one's ability to cope with life's challenges.

Episode guest:

Ethan Kross, Ph.D.

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Episode Transcript

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Innovation to Improve Health Care Delivery and Organizational Well-Being

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Dana Habers, M.P.H., joined the Well-Being at Michigan Medicine podcast to discuss the pivotal role innovation played in improving both health care delivery and organizational well-being. Habers is Michigan Medicine’s chief innovation officer and chief operating officer of pharmacy services.

In the conversation, Habers emphasized that innovation was about "magnificent problem solving," citing the successful rollout of COVID vaccines as a prime example of rapid, large-scale problem-solving within a complex health care system. Habers saw herself as a bridge between strategy and operations, focusing on scalable processes to solve diverse challenges.

In her leadership role, Habers advocated for a culture that prioritized well-being by setting guiding principles for her team. She believed that when leaders modeled behavior and made decisions based on clear principles, it helped align efforts and reduced burnout. Habers also highlighted the importance of using AI to alleviate administrative burdens, allowing staff to focus on more rewarding aspects of patient care. For example, AI tools in pharmacies helped reduce the time spent on prior authorizations, enabling staff to spend more time assisting patients.

Habers acknowledged the complexity of implementing AI in health care, balancing innovation with safety. Her team followed a cautious, rigorous approach, starting with smaller, low-risk projects to build a solid foundation for more advanced AI applications, like ambient clinical documentation tools, which helped providers document patient information more efficiently.

Looking ahead, Habers was focused on creating a culture of belonging and inclusion at Michigan Medicine, alongside continuing innovation efforts. She believed that improving organizational well-being was crucial for both employee retention and patient care. The integration of AI, she argued, had to solve real-world problems while maintaining a strong focus on workforce sustainability. Ultimately, Habers envisioned a future where innovation enhanced both caregiver and patient experiences, benefiting the entire healthcare system.

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Episode Transcript

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Who are we? Meet the Office of Well-Being team

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

This special installment of Well-Being at Michigan Medicine coincides with celebrating Health Workforce Well-Being Day on March 18, 2025. As such, this episode brings together Chief Well-Being Officer Elizabeth Harry, M.D., and Jeffrey Patterson, M.H.S.A., M.P.H., the senior director for well-being operations and strategy.

The duo discusses the evolution of the Office of Well-Being from its past iteration and how it brings a broader focus on creating environments where individuals and teams thrive, emphasizing well-being and addressing upstream factors that lead to burnout.

Additionally, Dr. Harry and Patterson chat about key tenants of their work: operational well-being, culture of well-being and personal resilience. Recently, the team has grown, and new members have brought greater expertise to the organization.

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Episode Transcript

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Operational Improvement Through Problem Solving and Efficiency

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 13:24:15 GMT

In this episode of Well-Being at Michigan Medicine, Chief Well-Being Officer Elizabeth Harry, M.D., welcomes Chief Transformation Officer Amy Cohn, Ph.D., to discuss complex health care issues, operations research, provider well-being and staff scheduling.

A significant part of the conversation touches on operational improvements, including a key example of improving a call system at Michigan Medicine.

Cohn’s team identified that excessive messages from a centralized call center were frustrating providers. Through collaboration with staff, they discovered that while many providers wanted these messages reduced, others found them valuable. The solution was to switch from a push to a pull system, where providers could access important information when they needed it, reducing interruptions while still enhancing communication.

In the interview, Cohn and Harry discuss a holistic approach to problem solving, emphasizing collaboration, respect and ensuring that staff can perform their roles effectively and with a sense of agency.

Profile link: Amy Cohn, Ph.D.
Learn more about the Center for Healthcare Engineering and Patient Safety (CHEPS)

Episode Transcript

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Technology and Well-Being

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:00:11 GMT

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Harry is joined by Michigan Medicine’s Chief Information Officer Dr. Andrew Rosenberg. Harry and Rosenburg discuss how technology has aided and created hurdles to positive well-being in the medical setting. The two talk about the human focus, and ways data and innovation can be helpful in creating better relationships to reduce burnout.

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

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Well-Being in the Education Space

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 11:00:15 GMT

The second episode of Well-Being at Michigan Medicine with Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcomes Dr. Louito Edje as guest. Dr. Edje is the senior associate dean for medical education at the U-M Medical School.

In the conversation, Dr. Edje speaks to the importance of well-being in the education space. From policy positions to leadership development, Dr. Edje and Dr. Harry touch on ways that Michigan Medicine is empowering and aiding its current generation of learners who are set to be the next generation of faculty with positive well-being messaging and tools. The two also speak to how psychological safety and speaking up in important matters bring people together to provide better outcomes for patients.

Learn more about the host of Well-Being at Michigan Medicine, Dr. Elizabeth Harry.

Episode guest:

Louito Edje, M.D., MHPE, FAAFP

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

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Episode 1: The Enterprise Triad

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:57:22 GMT

The inaugural episode of Well-Being at Michigan Medicine has Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcoming the organization’s triad leadership – Dr. Paul Lee of the U-M Medical Group, Julie Ishak, M.S.N., the chief nurse executive, and Dr. Charlie Reuland, the chief operations integration officer overseeing operations at the clinical enterprise.

Some of the topics that the quartet discuss include fostering a culture of people feeling cared at work and how it can make a difference in patients’ lives, recognizing stress and structural issues and how to stave off burnout, and reducing cognitive load.

Learn more about the host of Well-Being at Michigan Medicine, Dr. Elizabeth Harry.

Episode guests:

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

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Introducing: Well-Being at Michigan Medicine

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 21:10:05 GMT

Well-being and how it brings teams together is so important. Michigan Medicine’s Chief Well-Being Officer, Elizabeth Harry, M.D., is bringing this topic, and many others, to audio life. It’s her dedicated mission to empower the expertise of Michigan Medicine’s team members by improving well-being and reducing burnout to advance seamless health care. The purpose of this podcast is to bring vital topics of conversation in the well-being space and expand on them. This isn’t an email. This isn’t a Teams message, or a text message. It’s a conversation, an exploration. Join Dr. Harry and her guests as they aim to improve the culture of shared purpose, trust, accountability, aligned values and psychological safety where everyone can work and grow. Let’s put the ‘we’ in well-being.

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

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