The Wright Center Commits to ‘Change Maker Campaign’

Recognizing the risks posed by burnout among health care professionals and persistent physician attrition, The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education recently joined the National Academy of Medicine’s “Change Maker Campaign for Health Workforce Well-Being.”

The academy launched the campaign in October. About 270 organizations, including The Wright Center enterprise, have joined the campaign, committing to institutionalizing well-being as a long-term value.

Other well-recognized campaign members include the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Geisinger, Penn Medicine, and the Veterans Health Administration.

The National Academy of Medicine introduced the campaign to further the goals of its “National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being,” an initiative begun in 2022 and aimed at driving “collective action to strengthen health workforce well-being and restore the health of the nation.”

“The capacity and well-being of the U.S. health workforce has been under threat for years by an epidemic of burnout, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this systems issue,” according to the academy. “Now more nurses, physicians, and state and local public health department employees than ever are considering leaving their professions.”

Addressing the issue is a “shared responsibility,” according to the plan’s promoters at the National Academy of Medicine.

The Wright Center – which provides graduate medical education training opportunities for more than 245 resident and fellow physicians annually – has, in recent years, amplified its efforts to prepare doctors and other clinicians to be resilient, long-term professionals. 

To support the well-being of its workforce, for example, The Wright Center has embraced initiatives such as mental health first aid training and the statewide “CEOs Against Stigma” campaign, both of which help to broaden awareness about depression and mental illness in the workplace. The Wright Center also is pursuing certification in the Sanctuary Model, a proven strategy for enhancing the workplace environment through the direct address of the effects of trauma.

Similarly, The Wright Center has introduced employee wellness programs such as recurring meditation sessions,  reflection and decompression sessions using artistic expression as a medium,  and monthly visits by a therapy dog. These and other activities give clinicians and support staffers a chance to momentarily break from their workday routines and de-stress.

Reflecting its strong commitment to employee wellness, The Wright Center was a recent finalist for the Workplace Excellence Award in the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s annual SAGE Award recognition program.

To learn more about The Wright Center, and view a current list of career opportunities, visit TheWrightCenter.org.