Colin West
@colinwestmdphd.bsky.social
Professor of Medicine, Medical Education, and Biostatistics at Mayo Clinic. Medical Director, Employee Well-Being. Medical education and evidence-based medicine. Dad jokes, NIN, and Oxford commas. Posts mine.
8/ Next week I’ll summarize the 3rd paper in this series, on mid-career physicians /fin
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
8/ Next week I’ll summarize the 3rd paper in this series, on mid-career physicians /fin
7/ There is much more in this paper, well worth reading and bookmarking for both its primary content and its reference list
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The Early Career Phase: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Career Life Cycle
This article is the second chapter in a series of 5 articles considering the different stages of physicians’ career life cycle. The present article fo…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
7/ There is much more in this paper, well worth reading and bookmarking for both its primary content and its reference list
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
6/ For women physicians, fertility concerns are a common factor during the early career stage as well
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Childbearing, Infertility, and Career Trajectories Among Women in Medicine
This survey study investigates delays in childbearing and rates of infertility among women physicians.
jamanetwork.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
6/ For women physicians, fertility concerns are a common factor during the early career stage as well
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
5/ Professional coaching can be helpful, and has been associated with multiple benefits for physician well-being in numerous studies. One example:
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Physician Coaching by Professionally Trained Peers for Burnout and Well-Being
This randomized clinical trial explores the effect of individualized coaching by professionally trained peers on physician burnout and well-being.
jamanetwork.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
5/ Professional coaching can be helpful, and has been associated with multiple benefits for physician well-being in numerous studies. One example:
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
4/ Cognitive load may peak early as important career skills are developed, and is also strongly associated with burnout
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Physician Task Load and the Risk of Burnout Among US Physicians in a National Survey
Cognitive task load can affect providers’ ability to perform their job well and may contribute to burnout.The researchers evaluated whether task load,…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
4/ Cognitive load may peak early as important career skills are developed, and is also strongly associated with burnout
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
3/ Imposter phenomenon may be particularly prevalent in the early career stage, and is associated with burnout
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Imposter Phenomenon in US Physicians Relative to the US Working Population
To determine the prevalence of imposter phenomenon (IP) experiences among physicians and evaluate their relationship to personal and professional char…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
3/ Imposter phenomenon may be particularly prevalent in the early career stage, and is associated with burnout
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
2/ The early and middle career stages have been identified in prior studies as a particular high-stress period
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/s002...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/s002...
Physician Satisfaction and Burnout at Different Career Stages
To explore the work lives, professional satisfaction, and burnout of US physicians
by career stage and differences across sexes, specialties, and practice setting.
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
2/ The early and middle career stages have been identified in prior studies as a particular high-stress period
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/s002...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/s002...
Reposted by Colin West
8/ There is much more in this paper, wellworth reading and bookmarking for both its primary content and its reference list
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
The Early Career Phase: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Career Life Cycle
This article is the second chapter in a series of 5 articles considering the different
stages of physicians’ career life cycle. The present article focuses on exploring
the early career phase. The ear...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
8/ There is much more in this paper, wellworth reading and bookmarking for both its primary content and its reference list
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
Reposted by Colin West
7/ Organizationally-sponsored coaching and peer group interventions are evidence-based approaches to promote well-being, including COMPASS groups
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
Colleagues Meeting to Promote and Sustain Satisfaction (COMPASS) Groups for Physician Well-Being
To evaluate physician small groups to promote physician well-being in a scenario with
provided discussion topics but without trained facilitators, and for which protected
time was not provided but mea...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
7/ Organizationally-sponsored coaching and peer group interventions are evidence-based approaches to promote well-being, including COMPASS groups
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
9/ Next week I will link to a number of references illustrating many of the points brought forward by this second issue in the thematic series on well-being across the physician life cycle /fin
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
9/ Next week I will link to a number of references illustrating many of the points brought forward by this second issue in the thematic series on well-being across the physician life cycle /fin
8/ There is much more in this paper, wellworth reading and bookmarking for both its primary content and its reference list
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
The Early Career Phase: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Career Life Cycle
This article is the second chapter in a series of 5 articles considering the different
stages of physicians’ career life cycle. The present article focuses on exploring
the early career phase. The ear...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
8/ There is much more in this paper, wellworth reading and bookmarking for both its primary content and its reference list
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
7/ Organizationally-sponsored coaching and peer group interventions are evidence-based approaches to promote well-being, including COMPASS groups
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
Colleagues Meeting to Promote and Sustain Satisfaction (COMPASS) Groups for Physician Well-Being
To evaluate physician small groups to promote physician well-being in a scenario with
provided discussion topics but without trained facilitators, and for which protected
time was not provided but mea...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
7/ Organizationally-sponsored coaching and peer group interventions are evidence-based approaches to promote well-being, including COMPASS groups
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
6/ As for the other papers in this series, there is a rich table outlining these challenges and potential organizational solutions to address them. I will continue to emphasize that sustaining and strengthening resilience is relevant but CANNOT be the primary solution to physician well-being
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
6/ As for the other papers in this series, there is a rich table outlining these challenges and potential organizational solutions to address them. I will continue to emphasize that sustaining and strengthening resilience is relevant but CANNOT be the primary solution to physician well-being
5/ Early career is also a critical time to establish personal and professional priorities and boundaries. The “survival mode” of training must give way to a more integrated and sustainable approach to honoring one’s care values
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
5/ Early career is also a critical time to establish personal and professional priorities and boundaries. The “survival mode” of training must give way to a more integrated and sustainable approach to honoring one’s care values
4/ For those in academia, faculty appointments and the foundations of career advancement are initiated. For those in private practice, the business of medicine offers a steep learning curve
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
4/ For those in academia, faculty appointments and the foundations of career advancement are initiated. For those in private practice, the business of medicine offers a steep learning curve
3/ Lifelong financial planning is essential but often overlooked, especially as physicians start families and manage heavy loan repayment burdens
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
3/ Lifelong financial planning is essential but often overlooked, especially as physicians start families and manage heavy loan repayment burdens
2/ The early career phase marks the physician’s transition to independent clinical practice, a massive milestone. Concurrently, professional identity and professional community are more firmly established
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
2/ The early career phase marks the physician’s transition to independent clinical practice, a massive milestone. Concurrently, professional identity and professional community are more firmly established
7/ Next week I’ll summarize the 2nd paper in this series, on early career physicians /fin
November 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
7/ Next week I’ll summarize the 2nd paper in this series, on early career physicians /fin
6/ Again, the source paper in the series in Mayo Clinic Proceedings on well-being across the stages of a medical career is a terrific read
Residency and Fellowship: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Care...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
Residency and Fellowship: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Care...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
Residency and Fellowship: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Career Life Cycle
Being a physician offers tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the lives
of patients through meaningful work. A career in medicine is also demanding and challenging.
Some challenges to well-b...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org
November 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
6/ Again, the source paper in the series in Mayo Clinic Proceedings on well-being across the stages of a medical career is a terrific read
Residency and Fellowship: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Care...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
Residency and Fellowship: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Care...
www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S002...
5/ Destigmatizing mental health help-seeking as we support learners is essential – we can role model these behaviors and help learners understand that they can experience the full range of human experiences just like all other humans (shocking, I know)
journals.lww.com/academicmedi...
journals.lww.com/academicmedi...
journals.lww.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
5/ Destigmatizing mental health help-seeking as we support learners is essential – we can role model these behaviors and help learners understand that they can experience the full range of human experiences just like all other humans (shocking, I know)
journals.lww.com/academicmedi...
journals.lww.com/academicmedi...
4/ Dr. Will Bynum at Duke has directed attention to shame in medical education, including among residents in training
Sentinel Emotional Events: The Nature, Triggers, and... : @acadmedjournal.bsky.social journals.lww.com/academicmedi...
Sentinel Emotional Events: The Nature, Triggers, and... : @acadmedjournal.bsky.social journals.lww.com/academicmedi...
journals.lww.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
4/ Dr. Will Bynum at Duke has directed attention to shame in medical education, including among residents in training
Sentinel Emotional Events: The Nature, Triggers, and... : @acadmedjournal.bsky.social journals.lww.com/academicmedi...
Sentinel Emotional Events: The Nature, Triggers, and... : @acadmedjournal.bsky.social journals.lww.com/academicmedi...
3/ In surgery, from @kbilimoria.bsky.social et al.:
Discrimination, Abuse, Harassment, and Burnout in Surgical Residency Training | New England Journal of Medicine www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Discrimination, Abuse, Harassment, and Burnout in Surgical Residency Training | New England Journal of Medicine www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Discrimination, Abuse, Harassment, and Burnout in Surgical Residency Training | NEJM
Physicians, particularly trainees and those in surgical subspecialties, are at risk
for burnout. Mistreatment (i.e., discrimination, verbal or physical abuse, and sexual
harassment) may contribute ...
www.nejm.org
November 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
3/ In surgery, from @kbilimoria.bsky.social et al.:
Discrimination, Abuse, Harassment, and Burnout in Surgical Residency Training | New England Journal of Medicine www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Discrimination, Abuse, Harassment, and Burnout in Surgical Residency Training | New England Journal of Medicine www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....