Featured Articles, Podcasts, and Videos about PHPs

Articles/Chapters

When will physicians feel safe seeking mental health care?
by Tanya Albert Henry
February 24, 2025

This article explores the ongoing efforts to create a safer environment for physicians to prioritize their well-being and highlights additional steps needed to ensure they can access the mental health support they deserve without stigma or fear.

Impaired Physicians – Health Problems Aren't Just for Patients
by Zachary Deutch, MD, FASA, and Michael G. Fitzsimons, MD
January 2025

The “Ask the Expert” column published in the American Society of Anesthesiologists January 2025, edition of the Monitor, reports on the topic of Impaired Physicians – Health Problems Aren’t Just for Patients.  It is very refreshing that Dr. Fitzsimmons the current Chair of the ASA Advisory Group on Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Co-Chair of the ASA Working Group on Physician Mental Health and Suicide Prevention has a very reparative mindset.  My view is that each physician needs to be evaluated, treated and advised individually and not one size fits all.
Michael Baron, MD, MPH, DFASAM, FAPA
Medical Director: Tennessee Medical Foundation – Physician’s Health Program
President: Federation of State Physician Health Program

Chapter entitled: 'Supporting Patients Working in Safety-Sensitive Occupations'
by Paul H. Earley, MD, DFASAM, Michael J. Baron, MD, MPH, DFASAM, FAPA, and Alexandria G. Polles, MD, FASAM

The ASAM Criteria 4th Edition
2024
A comprehensive set of guidelines that use a holistic, person-centered approach to developing treatment plans for patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions. The revised standards have been crafted using a rigorous methodology for scientific evidence review and consensus development. The result is an update that is easier to understand and apply for improved patient care.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) has graciously responded to FSPHP’s request and has provided each FSPHP State Voting Member with a complimentary print copy of this publication and a 20% discount to all other FSPHP members.

Chapter entitled: 'Addiction Among Physicians and Physician Health Programs'* 
by Paul H. Earley, MD, DFASAM and Chris Bundy, MD, MPH, FASAM
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) provided free access to this chapter to FSPHP State Voting Members.
*Members will be required to log-into to access this page and then provide the appropriate code to access this chapter.  State Voting Members can email [email protected] for more information and to receive the access code.

ASAM’s Principles of Addiction Medicine 7th edition
2024
Prepared for physicians in internal medicine, psychiatry, and nearly every medical specialty, the 7th edition is the most comprehensive publication in addiction medicine. It offers detailed information to help physicians navigate addiction treatment for all patients, not just those seeking treatment for SUDs. Published by the American Society of Addiction Medicine and edited by Shannon C. Miller, MD, Richard N. Rosenthal, MD, Sharon Levy, MD, Andrew J. Saxon, MD, Jeanette M. Tetrault, MD, and Sarah E. Wakeman, MD.

The Role & Success of Physician and Healthcare Professional Programs
by Linda Bresnahan, MS
September 2024
This article provides a review of the PHP model, the structure, and key functions that contribute to unprecedented outcomes for mental health including substance use disorder for healthcare professionals. 

Physician Wellness Programs and Physician Health Programs - A Powerful Partnership
by Chris Bundy, MD, MPH
September 2024
This article focuses on how Physician Health Programs and Physician Wellness Programs can work together successfully.

How to Overcome Early Career Physician Setbacks & Thrive in Recovery
by Courtney Barrows McKeown, MD
January 2024
A compelling story, that provides a first-hand account of the challenges of an early career physician, and how they were overcome.

Chapter entitled: Fitness for Duty 
for the Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences, third edition
by Ciaran Michael Considinea, PhD, A.J. Reid Finlayson, MD, MMHC, and Michael Baron, MD, MPH, DFASAM, FAPA
2023
Written for neurologists who specialize in Fitness for Duty evaluations of health professionals, the chapter describes the key considerations for these FFD evaluations for safety-sensitive workers, which include physicians and other licensed health professionals.

The Whole Physician: Physicians with Substance Use Disorder: Help Is Available
November 2023
An article highlighting the PHP support that is available for physicians with substance use disorder, allowing them to return to health and their profession.

RIs Physician Health Program: Serving practitioners for more than four decades
November 2023
Rhode Island Medical Society's Physician Health Program (RIPHP) Director Kathleen Boyd, MSW, LICSW, and Herbert “Dr. Rak” Rakatansky, MD and the work they have done and continue to do for the RIPHP are featured in this article in the Rhode Island Medical Journal. 

Physician Burnout and Career Fatigue Part III
Burnout and Mental Health Stigma on Physician Licensing, Credentialing, and Privileging
September 2023
An article in the American Bar Assocation newsletter by Sun W. Vega, Daniel Blaney-Koen and Tyler Cowart

Out of the shadows: Physicians share their mental health struggles
March 28, 2023

One physician in this article shares that with the help of her department, she connected with the state physician health program, the organization that provides confidential assessments and resources for providers. Seeking help did not affect her medical license, and she returned to practice after the PHP cleared her.  Doctors face high rates of mental health challenges, but they often hide their stories due to shame and fear of professional fallout. Four physicians reveal their journeys in the hopes of reducing stigma and inspiring others to seek care.

Physician Health Programs: Changing the Culture of Medicine
Second quarter 2022

One of the easiest, most effective ways to support physicians with mental health issues, including addiction, is utilizing PHP services. PHPs are organizations that provide confidential support and advocacy for physicians and other healthcare professionals who suffer from potentially impairing health conditions including addiction, psychiatric illness, nonpsychiatric medical conditions, cognitive disorders, and workplace-related stress and burnout.

https://www.mplassociation.org/Web/Publications/Inside_Medical_Liability/Issues/2022/Q2/articles/Physician_Health_Programs-Changing_the_Culture_of_Medicine.aspx

FSPHP Responds to Article on Treatment of Health Professionals with Opioid Use Disorder
October 4, 2022

The Federation of State Physician Health Programs, INC (FSPHP) President, Dr. Scott Hambleton, President-elect, Dr. Michael Baron, and former FSPHP President Dr. Chris Bundy respond to a recent article published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine on the treatment of health professionals with opioid use disorder (OUD).

The initial article, “Helping the Helpers — making access to buprenorphine a new standard of care for physicians in state monitoring programs,” was published in the July 2022 issue of the Journal. Its authors make the case that the Federation of State Medical Board’s (FSMB) recommendations concerning the use of buprenorphine for physicians in state-affiliated monitoring programs fall short of effectively permitting an evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder.  Drs. Hambleton, Bundy, and Baron call attention to the article’s omission of relevant references including the FSPHP Position Statement, FSPHP Safety Considerations for Medication Treatment for Monitored Health Professional, and the  FSMB Policy on Physician Illness and Impairment – A Model to Optimize Patient Safety and Physician Health.

In summary, the response states that “Treatment of safety-sensitive workers with OUD is challenging, and neither a prohibition against the use of buprenorphine nor a mandate for its use is appropriate. Physician Health Programs must effectively manage the complex issues related to licensure and fitness for duty for safety-sensitive workers. Physician Health Programs save careers and lives. Addressing the education gap regarding PHP services can help to reduce stigma and incentivize early treatment and may serve as a model for helping all patients with addiction.

Read the original article in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
Read the FSPHP Letter to the Editor.
Read the original author’s response to the FSPHP letter.

How Doctors with Addiction Heal and Return to Practice
August 12, 2022

Journalist, Andrea Goto, reached out to FSPHP several months ago with the most admirable goal to show physicians a way to recover by example, and to meaningfully and accurately describe PHPS, and FSPHP. This Medscape article includes a useful succinct overview of the issue and helps physicians understand the resources of PHPS, and a path toward a return to practice, with hyperlinks, and references.   

Dr. Molly Rossingnol, FSPHP Member, and Medical Director of the NH PHP contributes to this impactful article which nicely summarizes the value of PHPs and health professional recovery programs. The article addresses the specific challenges that face the health care workforce. 

“The evidence is there that these programs work,” said Dr. Molly Rossignol, medical director of the N.H. Professionals Health Program, a monitoring and treatment referral nonprofit for health care professionals with a substance-use disorder. “It’s accountability, it takes a lot of work, it’s a huge commitment, but it certainly works.”

Much thanks to Michael McCormick and those who contributed “…McCormick said that by being with peers, health care workers in the program can be more vulnerable in group settings, which can help them recover.”

Physician Health Programs are Essential for Protecting Public Health
December 15, 2021
PERSPECTIVES
Charles Smith, DO, an addictionologist describes in this issue of Addiction Professional how PHPs are “accessible, affordable, and overwhelmingly successful. They’re discreet and easy to manage alongside the demands of a busy medical career.”

‘Why Do I Put My Life on the Line?’ Pandemic Trauma Haunts Health Workers
March 2021
PEW Trusts
Dr. Christopher Bundy, FSPHP President offers PHPs as a resource for those seeking help following the psychologic impact of burnout and exhaustion from the pandemic “Physician Health Programs, are an anonymous, trusted source that medical professionals in every state can call on if they want to talk or get a confidential referral."
He offers the hope that what will come next are changes in dialogue around physician’s vulnerability and wellness, increasing the need to seek help and for there to be changes in the environment so that its sustainable.  . 

Curbside Consultation: Caring for the Physician Affected by Substance Use Disorder
March 2021
Authored by FSPHP Member, Dr. Ruchi Fitzgerald with acknowledgment to Dr. Chris Bundy, FSPHP President for his review, this article is an impactful case scenario of a physician with substance use disorder seeking care and finding recovery with shared decision making involving the expertise of a Physician Health Program, and a family physician. She summarizes the barriers to care, along with the more devasting consequences of a physicians not seeking care and losing their license or other life dysfunction or worse, risk of suicide. Excellent and actionable “follow-up”  tips are provided as well, along with powerful references.  

Adaptations to Substance Use Disorder Monitoring by Physician Health Programs in Response to COVID-19*
February 2021
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
In this article authored by FSPHP Board Member, Dr. Alexis Polles (FL), FSPHP President, Dr. Chris Bundy (WPHP), FSPHP Associate Member, Dr. William Jacobs, and Chair of the FSPHP Research Committee, Dr. Lisa Merlo (FL), describe how PHPs work to adjust their services at a time of need, and how “The future of SUD monitoring for health professionals will almost certainly be characterized by greater flexibility, choice, and shared decision-making between the PHP and physician participant, so long as recovery support, accountability, and patient safety are not compromised.”  
*Full article download available until March 26, 2021.

Success Rates of Monitoring for Healthcare Professionals with a Substance Use Disorder: A Meta-Analysis 
January 2021
Journal of Clinical Medicine
FSPHP is grateful to the authors of this piece for their thorough evaluation of the evidence supporting the PHP model. This investigation highlights the limitations of prior studies demonstrating effectiveness of HCP monitoring programs and serves as an important guide for future research to update and improve upon the evidence-base.  FSPHP is pursuing such research and welcomes funding and collaborative partnerships with investigators interested in physician health.

FSPHP supports the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (S. 4349)
September 11, 2020
Journal of Clinical Medicine
When this legislation is enacted, the FSPHP, along with our member Physician Health Programs (PHPS) across the US can be part of the solution to address the intensifying stress, burnout, mental health, substance misuse and suicide crisis among physicians exacerbated by COVID-19.  The legislation calls for access to grants for resources that will provide the education, research, and training addressing the well-being of the profession. 

Doctors’ Exemplary Treatment Success Occurs Absent High Use of Buprenorphine
by Gary Enos
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Weekly
May 11, 2020
“Physicians experience some of the most noteworthy recovery success rates among professional groups, largely because of the presence of physician health programs (PHPs) that offer a treatment-focused alternative to discipline while still protecting public safety.”

Personal Privacy Versus Public Safety: Addiction Among Health Professionals
by Paul H. Earley, MD, DFASAM
From The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report, March 2020, Substance Use in Health Professionals

Physicians and Other Healthcare Professionals with Addiction
The American Society of Addiction Medicine Physician Health Policy Statement Released Feb 2020, Physicians and Other Health Professionals with Addiction.
February 6, 2020

Healthcare Professionals’ Mental Health Needs: Where Can They Go?
by Kay Miller Temple, MD
Article in The Rural Monitor.  This is the second in a two-part series on rural physician and provider behavioral health.
January 29, 2020

Professional Duties Require Physicians to Recognize and Address Physician Illness and Impairment, but It Is Often Difficult to Recognize a Colleague's Condition and Find an Appropriate Way of Reporting and Resolving It
by Mollie Frost
September 2019

Programs and Resources to Alleviate Concerns with Mental Health Disclosures on Physician Licensing Applications
by Catherine M. Welcher, Carrie L. Radabaugh, Alejandro Aparicio, Humayun J. Chaudhry, Mark L. Staz, Lynne M. Kirk, and Linda Bresnahan
July 2019

Beyond “Heal Thyself”: Physicians as Patients—An Uneasy Role
by Jeffrey H. Samet, MD, MA, MPH; Jane Liebschutz, MD, MPH
June 18, 2019

Physician Suicide 
by Joy Albuquerque MD MSc, Sarah Tulk MD MSc
May 6, 2019

Top Doctor Opioid Addict – Recovers and Returns to Medicine   
by Kayla Webley Adler
February 25, 2019

Interaction Between PHPs and Training Programs: Disruptive Behavior in Residents  
by Donald A. Misch, MD
June 30, 2018

Investing in Physicians' Well-Being is Just Good Business  
by Tanya Albert Henry
December 27, 2017

Physician Health Programs and the Social Contract  
by Philip J. Candilis, MD
January 2016

Ulliance Re-awarded the Health Professional Recovery Program RFP
November 7, 2017

2016 Performance Enhancement Review Guidelines
November 8, 2016 

Physician Health and Professional Secrecy
by Philip J. Candilis, MD, DFAPA
December 24, 2015 

An Outsider Looks at PHP Care Management  
by Robert L. DuPont, MD
October 27, 2015 

Physician Health Programmes and Malpractice Claims: Reducing Risk through Monitoring
by Elizabeth Brooks, Michael H. Gendel, Doris C. Gundersen, Sarah R. Early, Richard Schirrmacher, Alan Lembitz and Jay H. Shore
April 22, 2013

Podcasts & Videos

The Importance of Physician Well-being and Mental Health Resources for DoctorsI
April 2025
Chris Bundy, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs, highlights the critical role of PHPs in saving the lives and careers of healthcare professionals in this episode of the American Medical Association's podcast, #AMAUpdate.  In this interview, Dr. Bundy discusses the importance of physician well-being, physician health programs, and mental health resources for doctors. He also outlines PHP’s advocacy efforts to remove language from medical credentialing applications that stigmatizes mental health and discourages physicians from seeking care.

Saving Lives - The Role of Physician Health Programs in Suicide Prevention
April 2025
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and FSPHP video highlighting their collaborative efforts in supporting physicians, addressing mental health challenges, and driving critical suicide prevention initiatives—ultimately saving lives and fostering hope. 

Protecting Health, Privacy & Patient Safety - The Role of Physician Health Programs and State Medical Boards
March 2025
Physician well-being is essential to a thriving healthcare system, yet many medical professionals hesitate to seek help due to fear of regulatory consequences. With rising rates of burnout, substance use disorders, and physician suicide, it is critical that regulatory bodies create pathways that encourage early intervention without compromising patient safety.

This session explores the concept of a "safe haven" within medical board regulatory systems—an approach that allows healthcare professionals to seek care for mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and other impairing conditions without immediate disciplinary action. During this session, attendees will hear from a physician who overcame addiction and now advocates for physician support systems. Her personal journey will provide a powerful perspective on the importance of safe haven policies and Physician Health Programs (PHPs) in breaking down barriers to care.

Supporting Physician Recovery with PHPs
Drug Diversion Insights with Terri Vidals
May 14, 2024
Featuring Michael Baron, MD, MPH, DFASAM, FAPA, Medical Director, Tennessee Medical Foundation - Physician's Health Program; Chris Bundy, MD, MPH, Executive Medical Director, Washington Physicians Health Program; and Linda Bresnahan, Executive Director, FSPHP, this episode tackles the crucial issue of physician recovery and the role of Physician Health Programs (PHPs) in their journey back to safe practice.
Podcast
Video

Unprecedented:  A Candid Conversation about Physician Health Programs 
October 2023
American Conference on Physician Health; Palm Desert, California
Carrie Cunningham, MD, MPH, a surgeon, and Chris Bundy, MD, MPH, a psychiatrist and nationally recognized expert in physician health, shatter stigma and shame by publicly revealing their personal stories of loss and redemption so that others may find hope and healing.  Discover how physician health programs helped them, the unprecedented outcomes they achieve, the complex challenges that they face, and how you can partner with PHPs to save careers and lives.  

History of FSPHP and the Critical Role of PHPs
May 2023
This interview features a conversation with Linda Bresnahan, MS, Executive Director of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs- (FSPHP) and Gaurava Agarwal, MD, Chief Wellness Executive at Northwestern Medicine and Expert Consultant on the Frontline Connect Initiative. During their conversation, Linda speaks about the history of FSPHP and the critical role that state PHPs play in increasing access to voluntary mental health care for frontline clinicians, including serving as safe, confidential resources for the profession.  The discussion also focuses on key benefits and outcomes of PHPs, how PHPs and hospitals, health systems, and clinicians can work together, as well as their extensive process of outreach, education, and referral to evaluation and treatment, and monitoring of those providers who may be in recovery for a mental health or substance use disorder.  Linda highlights recent changes and enhancements as PHPs increase the services they offer to clinicians.

AAS Presidential Address—Removing the Mask
February 2023
2023 Association for Academic Surgery Presidential Session—How Can We Help? Dr. Bundy shares more understanding of the role of PHPs with Joe Shapiro, MD, DABAM; Michael Maddus MD; Colin West MD, PhD; Carrie Cunningham MD, MPH; and Sunil Geevarghese MD, MSCI, FACS. The entire session is available here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=42yoYwZqRu8.

Wearing Masks I (1995)
University of Maryland Medical System, Professional Assistance Committee
The objective of these programs is to help get those with substance use disorder into safe and confidential treatment. Each year sees the death of colleagues due to accidental overdose of powerful anesthesia-based drugs.

Wearing Masks II (10 years later, 2005)
University of Maryland Medical System, Professional Assistance Committee
Wearing Masks II: The Potential for Drug Addiction in Anesthesia, Revised with New Information, courtesy of All Anesthesia. This is a continuation in the overall program to educate about substance addiction in anesthesia. Wearing Masks I has been used for more than 10 years with anesthesia groups. The concentration now is in the workplace to help co-workers understand how substance addiction works, from the inside of an impaired practitioner’s mind and how to recognize the signs and patterns of addiction.

Confessions of a Recovering Addict
In this powerful episode, Dr. Bob shares his personal story with Brian. Dr. Bob has struggled with alcohol and drug addictions since his early youth all the way through medical school and well into his practice.

Physician Suicide  
A CMAJ Podcast