President's MessagePresident's Message: Scott Hambleton, MD, DFASAM, Spring 2024Spring 2024 President's Message: Scott Hambleton, MD, DFASAM, Fall 2023
Fall 2023 President's Message: Scott Hambleton, MD, DFASAM, Spring/Summer 2023Spring/Summer 2023 President's Message: Scott Hambleton, MD, DFASAM, Winter 2022Winter 2022 President's Message: Christopher Bundy, MD, MPH, FASAM, Spring 2022Spring 2022 President's Message: Christopher Bundy, MD, MPH, FASAM, Fall/Winter 2021Fall 2021 President's Message: Christopher Bundy, MD, MPH, FASAM, Spring 2021Spring 2021 President's Message: Christopher Bundy, MD, MPH, FASAM, Fall/Winter 2020Fall 2020 President's Message: Paul H. Earley, MD, DFASAM, Spring 2020April 2020 President's Message: Paul H. Earley, MD, DFASAM, Fall 2019October 2019 President's Message: Paul H. Earley, MD, DFASAM, Spring 2019April 2019 President's Message: Paul H. Earley, MD, DFASAM, Winter 2018December 2018 President's Message: P. Bradley Hall, MD, Spring 2018April 2018
Burnout and the FSPHP: A Paradox for Success P. Bradley Hall, MD, DABAM, DFASAM The term burnout itself is a paradox of sorts—almost a “pejorative blessing.” Initially indicating a condition of the individual physician, burnout garnered a preponderance of attention from the house of medicine at the individual level all the way to national organizations representing or serving those individuals experiencing burnout. As result, it is now recognized more accurately as a cause for concern that goes...Read more
September 2017
FSPHP Strong: “Onward and Forward” P. Bradley Hall, MD As I reflect on our most recent annual meeting and where we have been as an organization, where we are, and where we are headed, all I can say is “WOW.” Per routine, the highlight of the year for me was the annual education conference and business meeting this past April. Attendance continues to grow, as does the relevant content of physician health programs, physician health, and beyond. I could feel the energy and passion radiating...Read more
April 2017
FSPHP Strong through “UNITY” P. Bradley Hall, MD I quote from the end of my previous President’s Message in the fall 2016 newsletter: During my tenure as president, I hope to facilitate the FSPHP’s ability to fulfill its mission ‘to support physician health programs in improving the health of medical professionals, thereby contributing to quality patient care.’ As president the most gratifying thing I can do is focus on the FSPHP organizational maturation and associated goals in hopes of...Read more
November 2016
I attended my first Federation Annual Meeting in 2006 and never before had I been so openly and warmly welcomed by a group with such experience, expertise, and passion toward the work they do. I was new in developing a physician health program (PHP) in West Virginia. Over the next two years I was the recipient of incredible guidance of many “lions in the field” of physician health, the FSPHP guidelines and many other state PHP documents which were openly shared without expectation beyond the...Read more
March 2015
Twenty-Five Years: A Remarkable Journey! As far back as 1958, formal efforts were made to address issues pertaining to physician illness and impairment. Historically, the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) identified addiction among physicians as a disciplinary problem rather than a health problem, consistent with the belief that addiction was a moral failure, rather than the disease we know it is today. Ultimately, the FSMB called for the development of a model program to assist...Read more
August 2014
Why Focus on Physician Wellness? “In no relationship is the physician more derelict than in his duty to himself.” —Sir William Osler Most physicians who enter medicine are intellectually curious, enthusiastic, and industrious workers. We choose to lead a life of service with all the attendant rewards. We are afforded the privilege of taking care of patients, making a meaningful difference in the lives of others by curing illnesses or, at the very least, diminishing pain and suffering. We are...Read more
March 2014
“It is the age of foolishness, it is the age of wisdom… it is the winter of despair; it is the spring of hope” — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities It has been my great privilege to serve as your FSPHP President for the last two years. Together, we have accomplished a number of great things, and have set more in motion. I’d like to highlight one of FSPHP’s primary areas of work over the last year. Specifically, your Federation has been in dialogue with the American Board of Medical...Read more
August 2013
“Everything will be all right in the end. So if it is not all right, it is not yet the end.” —Sonny in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel The 2013 FSPHP conference experience was not what any of us expected, and one we will not soon forget. How often does one hear the phrases “don’t forget to turn in your CME forms” and “the hotel will be on lockdown today” from the lectern of your average medical conference? My own trip to Boston began with a glimpse of Air Force One sitting on the airport tarmac...Read more
March 2013
Working in the field of physician and general professional health is an honor, as well as tremendously rewarding and challenging. This has been my experience in North Carolina, and at the national level. Since being given the privilege of serving as your Federation President, I’ve become more acutely aware of the opportunities and challenges we face nationally. The opportunity to work with some incredibly dedicated and talented people in the Federation has also been greatly energizing. Earlier...Read more
April 2012
I will be ending my presidency this April after three-and-a-half years of service. During this time, it is my pleasure to share our accomplishments. We contributed to the Federation of State Medical Boards’ (FSMB) Policy on Physician Impairment, which not only reflects our guidelines, but also our overall approach to physician health problems (the exception being continued use of the word “impairment” in the title). We also played a substantial role in the development of physician health...Read more
April 2011
We live in a time when state physician health programs (PHPs) are being challenged and have experienced turnover. On the other side of the equation, we can be grateful and proud of our gains in the past two decades. In 1992, when I first became the medical director of the New York Physician Health Program, there were no principles or clinical guidelines to follow except those of good addiction or other psychiatric treatment. Very little in the medical literature specifically addressed physician...Read more
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