key: cord-0815887-h073g5nt
authors: Warsame, Rahma; Price, Katharine A.R.
title: Seeking Joy in Medicine During Uncertain Times – COVID-19 and Social Unrest
date: 2021-05-09
journal: Mayo Clin Proc
DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.05.002
sha: 8d46c4728a920a9a70ec408f6c1f57c5257fef39
doc_id: 815887
cord_uid: h073g5nt

nan

To the Editor: It all started with Fika, the Swedish coffee break that is more about socializing than drinking coffee. Between bites of petit fours, five women physicians attending the fall 2019 Karolinska Instituet-Mayo Clinic meeting in Stockholm discussed innovation in medicine and physician joy. Inspired by the common yearning for increased autonomy, flexibility, and time for personal reflection, we pledged to continue our conversations and work stateside. Little did we know, our world was about to change.

Upon return, we began a study to trial remote working to increase flexibility and autonomy for physicians during non-clinical time. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In an instant, our project was irrelevant, as we all began working from home seemingly overnight.

Unwilling to allow our momentum to wane, we pondered, "How can we use this historic event to learn something about ourselves, our colleagues, and our profession?"

We reimagined our project to conduct focus groups to explore how physicians were feeling during the tumultous change from COVID-19. Just as the focus groups were launching, George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police, and the world watched as our nation exploded in unrest and calls for action to address systemic racism. Again, our project seemed inadequate.

So we pivoted, broadening discussions to explore physician joy and well-being during times of extreme uncertainty. Between July-August 2020, five focus groups were held over Zoom with 20 participants (16 women, 4 men) from Mayo Clinic Arizona (8) and Mayo Clinic Minnesota (12), spanning all career stages.

These sessions, each facilitated by two of us, allowed colleagues from different departments and J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f geographic sites, to come together to share perspectives and experiences. During each session we explored the definition of joy, changes due to COVID-19 and social justice movements, work-life integration and reflected on priorities.

Similar themes emerged from every focus group. Joy is cultivated by purpose and meaning in work.

Connectivity to patients and colleagues is a cornerstone of that joy. Hard work and challenges do not prevent joy. More time at home fosters reflection and prioritization of values. Caring for patients and our community brings a sense of comfort. Teleworking breaks perceived barriers, allowing a window into our personal lives and humanity.

Physician Suicide-A Personal and Community Tragedy

Physician burnout: contributors, consequences and solutions

We learned a simple and critical lesson: providing the space to authentically show up created joy. To be present in a shared experience with others, to listen and to process complex emotions through discussion felt joyful. Even though nothing material had changed in daily life, all participants benefitted.We, the five women who started this journey, perhaps benefitted most of all, as we had the joy to bear witness to these rich conversations and witness the creation of joy for others.We stumbled into creating a space in which those with differing perspectives but common aspirations and values can be seen and heard. In a profession at risk for suicide and burnout perhaps the deliberate creation of such spaces is the key to perpetuating the lessons learned from these uncertain times. [1] [2] Rahma Warsame, MD Katharine A. R. Price, MD Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota