Supporting the well-being of the people who care for patients is a moral imperative. It is foundational to the health of our workforce and the quality and compassion of the care we deliver.

There are moments when we feel compelled to pause, look at the world around us, and ask whether the path humanity is walking is leading us in the right direction. For me, that question has surfaced because we are witnessing the toll that conflict is taking on families, communities, and nations.

Well-being work requires authentic leadership and deep personal commitment. It begins with self-leadership—the recognition that those who seek to support others must first cultivate their own well-being.

Faith is not a cure for mental health problems, but it can be a trusted companion. That distinction matters! Too often, people of faith feel pressure to “pray their way” out of anxiety, depression, or grief, as if struggling were a sign of spiritual failure. Mental health challenges are not moral shortcomings! They are human experiences in which faith – sincerely and deeply practiced – can be a source of grounding, courage, and connection rather than an expectation of instant

Well-being isn’t one effort. It isn’t one event or one pilot, it is about engaging with the team, learning what those closest to the problems think about potential solutions and bringing that kindness and compassion of healing not just to our patients but to the colleagues we work alongside every day.

What an astonishing gift we have been given! The poet, Mary Oliver, calls it “…one wild and precious life”. Our endlessly creative and loving God has entrusted us with this gift, but what we plan to do with it has many possible answers. Too often, we drift through our days on autopilot, moving from task to task barely noticing the world around us. We forget to look up, be intentional, take deep breaths, or marvel at the beauty of creation.

"This initiative demonstrated how many people in our organization are willing to go above and beyond to help ensure the well-being of our clinicians. Just like quality and safety, well-being impacts everything-bottom line, retention, patient satisfaction, and risk."

Rev. Jesse Jackson died on February 17th, 2026. His unforgettable “I Am Somebody” chant on Sesame Street in 1972 has been widely shown since his passing. He invited children to speak words that many adults struggle to believe: “I may be poor, but I am somebody. I may be young, but I am somebody. I may be small, but I am somebody. I may make a mistake, but I am somebody. I must be respected, protected, never rejected. I am God’s child. I am somebody!”

"...wellness is the only thing that stops the snowball effect from becoming an avalanche. I hope to help create a community where every provider, regardless of their career stage, has a place to turn for resources that actually work in the real world. Let’s stop treating well-being like a luxury and start treating it like the lifeline it is. Wellness is not an accessory to our clinical work; is a necessary part of the foundation of it."

Slowing down can be a spiritual act. It requires us to trust that life might get better if we pause long enough to breathe. It invites us to believe that our worth is not measured by our pace. It reminds us that the sacred often reveals itself only when we are still enough to notice and listen. When we slow down, conversations unfold; meals refresh; walks become intentional rather than mechanical. Even problems can become growth opportunities.

"I have become convinced that physician & APP well-being is as complex as the work of quality in healthcare. There are organizational, team, interpersonal and intrapersonal factors that strengthen or detract from the experience of wellbeing or burnout. It truly takes all of us in healthcare working together to educate ourselves, becoming aware of what is necessary to improve conditions, and caring deeply for every member of the care team..."

Epiphany is one of those beautiful words that seems to glow. It carries both a spiritual weight and a deeply human resonance. In the Christian tradition, Epiphany – celebrated on January 6 – marks the revelation of Christ to the gentiles through the visit of the Magi. But beyond the liturgical calendar, epiphany also describes those sudden flashes of understanding that shift our direction, clarify our purpose, or awaken something long dormant within us.

Joy is one of the most profound feelings we can experience, soul-satisfying and accessible to everyone. It is not dependent on wealth or status. Instead, joy often arises in the quiet moments of gratitude, in the laughter shared with a friend, or in the recognition of beauty in the ordinary. When we share joy – like kindness - it can multiply and often has a ripple effect with others in our circles of influence.

This year, there were many memorable moments, both funny and profound, but one of Father Saunders’ messages became an ‘aha moment’ for me: “If we are not truly free, we cannot truly love”. That message took me on a daydreaming adventure. It reframed how I understand both freedom and love in the context of the spiritual growth journey that brought me to the retreat in the first place.

Friends told me that the television series Ted Lasso was well-worth the time spent watching. So, last month, my wife and I binge watched all three seasons. Other than too many ‘f-bombs’, the show was funny, poignant, and even inspiring; we looked forward to each new episode. The scene where our hero, Ted Lasso, tells his antagonist to “Be curious, not judgmental” was one of the highlights.

The spiritual seasons of life echo the physical seasons as time quietly unfolds before us. If we are fortunate, we gather wisdom, grace, and connection to others during the seasons of being on planet earth. In just a few days, I will be 75 years old and (I suppose) will enter the winter of my life. For the most part, the seasons of my life have been good to me. I look forward to experiencing what the winter season has to offer also.

The science of medicine, done well, is a powerful healer; but there is also healing power in kindness. They heal synergistically. Science and compassion, working together, produce a healing effect greater than the sum of their individual parts. If medical students understand this, they become the best doctors. They become the doctors we want for our healthcare and for the healthcare of our family and friends.

Most every morning, as I awaken, I greet my great cloud of witnesses. This is a time of meditation in which I silently call their names, realizing that I have forgotten (or do not even know) the names of many more. We all have clouds of witnesses, people who were on earth and left footprints for us to follow, but have preceded us into the life ever after. They are faithful, spiritual witnesses who accompany us on our journey. Their legacy helps to inform our actions.

Father’s Day is just around the corner. I am related to several fathers (or papas) named Leo and we have a new Pope named Leo. Travel this healthy spiritual journey with me as we weave those threads of information into a tapestry of thoughts.

“The only time that we are allowed to look down upon others is when we are helping them up.” – Pope Francis