Supporting Parental Wellness in Healthcare Professionals to Promote Well-Being and Sustainable Careers in Medicine

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this webinar hosted by the Women Interprofessional Network of the American Diabetes Association, Dr. Laura Dietl and Dr. Josephine Lee presented the Massachusetts General Brigham Physician Faculty and APP Parental Wellness Program, designed to support healthcare professionals during the transition to parenthood. Recognizing the significant challenges faced by new parents in medicine—including work-life integration difficulties, lack of mentorship, institutional barriers like inconsistent leave policies, and lactation challenges—the program offers peer support through one-on-one “parental wellness advocates” who provide guidance from pregnancy through the child’s first year. Expanded over time from an endocrine division pilot to a system-wide program inclusive of advanced practice providers, it centralizes resources like leave policy guidance, childcare support, and lactation assistance.<br /><br />Key features include peer mentoring groups, lactation support programs (free emergency lactation supplies, compensation adjustments for pumping time), and formalized physician lactation guidelines addressing workload and compensation disparities. The program has demonstrated positive impacts on wellness, reduced burnout, academic progress, retention, and institutional loyalty. The presenters emphasized the importance of leadership advocacy and culture change to foster supportive environments. They encouraged institutions to start small—building communities and leveraging existing networks—and highlighted that formal peer coaching is a high-yield initial step. The program is adaptable across roles and institutions, exemplified by Boston Children’s Hospital adopting a similar model.

Keywords

Parental Wellness Program

Healthcare Professionals

Work-Life Integration

Mentorship

Leave Policies

Lactation Support

Peer Mentoring

Burnout Reduction

Leadership Advocacy