In 2020, the ACS established a Surgeon Well-Being Workgroup to take on the consultation and initiation of new well-being programs in the College.
As the group laid the foundation for the ACS’s efforts, it was recognized that other surgical societies and organizations were doing similar work, and so, the entire House of Surgery was invited to be included. In spring 2023, the ACS asked more than 75 surgical societies and organizations to join the Surgeon Well-Being Coalition. Representatives from 40+ organizations met in October during Clinical Congress 2023 in Boston in order to officially establish this new Coalition.
During that meeting, the group decided that the Surgeon Well-Being Coalition will formulate, design, and enact wellness practices to benefit all surgeons, patients, and families at individual, group, and system levels. The coalition will advocate for healthy, sustainable systems and practices that bring well-being into the daily lives of surgeons as well as provide resources for crisis management by:
- Sharing materials and best practices, supporting research, learning about well-being initiatives, and leveraging infrastructure and support to benefit the well-being of all surgeons
- Bringing together all stakeholders, including practice, hospital, and university administrators, to work together to address systemic change needed to support surgeon well-being
- Solving roadblocks present for surgeons who feel they can no longer practice safely without professional assistance, especially access and barriers to Physician Health Programs
- Defining and sharing appropriate and effective metrics of well-being to include in the ACS’s verification and accreditation programs
There are many exciting initiatives that already are underway as a result of this initial meeting, such as collating a living resource book of current and future well-being resources from each member organization.
Other high-priority goals defined by the group to be initiated in the coming year include:
- Standardizing a definition of well-being as it applies to surgeons, and developing surgeon-specific metrics to follow well-being over time
- Developing robust prevention strategies to help surgeons maintain their well-being
- Advocating for surgeon support at all levels and for all surgeons after adverse outcomes or other major personal injuries
The coalition is open to all surgical organizations and societies.
More information—including an interest form, resource book, and upcoming meeting details—is available at the Surgeon Well-Being Coalition section.
