key: cord-0043954-dd9qmzss
authors: Han, Jason J.; Kelly, John J.; Milewski, Rita Karianna
title: Commentary: Burning Bright without Burning Out – Protecting the Spirit of Cardiothoracic Surgery
date: 2020-05-01
journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.04.081
sha: bfa60fd0abe464c076f0c86475c625f087e23fb7
doc_id: 43954
cord_uid: dd9qmzss

nan

Cardiothoracic surgery is a fundamentally demanding specialty whose success has long 8 relied on the resilience, ingenuity and the tireless work ethic of its members. However, while the 9 field will continue to attract and thrive with such individuals, we have also collectively grown 10 more aware of the importance of promoting wellness and mitigating burnout among providers 11 over the past several decades. Recent studies have demonstrated that burnout is associated with 12 increased rates of provider depression, suicidal ideation, and attrition, as well as overall worse 13 patient satisfaction and outcomes [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . These symptoms, moreover, are far more prevalent 14 among healthcare workers than in the general population. Most studies estimate that a majority 15 of providers experience some degree of burnout during training or throughout their careers, 16 which points to a systemic problem in medicine [4, 5] . Lastly, the coronavirus disease (COVID-17 19) pandemic already has and will undoubtedly continue to exacerbate these associations at all 18 levels of the healthcare system, which requires our attention. specialty. Yet, the other half of the equation, which remains to be elaborated upon in future 30 works, includes matters which pertain to the soul and the culture of cardiothoracic surgery. A 31 top-down approach to a paradigm shift is a necessary first step. However, ultimately, a true 32 cultural change occurs at the level of the individual in their discovery of meaning and fulfillment. 33

Wellness must become a subject that we not only teach or define, but also embody and live. 34 35 Ultimately, the authors deserve our congratulations on this timely and important 36 contribution. The personal welfare issues described pertain to the wellbeing of our own members 37 as well as our patients, so we must treat it in earnest, even if the work that remains to be done is 38 significant. Perhaps, if there is one irrefutable takeaway from the COVID-19 pandemic so far, it 39 is that these unprecedented circumstances have the power to spark and drive forward many 40 sweeping structural changes. So, too, in the field of cardiothoracic surgery, we can begin to plan 41 for the formidable road ahead. 

Physician Burnout: Are We Treating the 49

Symptoms Instead of the Disease?

Professionalism, and Patient Satisfaction: A Systematic Review and Meta-52 analysis

Surgical Residency Training

Burnout and Satisfaction with Work-Life Balance 58

Among US Physicians Relative to the General US Population

Cardiothoracic Surgery Wellness: Now 61 and the Formidable Road Ahead