Caring for your patients starts with caring for yourself. KAFP is dedicated to helping you RISE above physician burnout.
Enjoy the following RISE Member Spotlights also featured on KAFP’s facebook – search #RISE.
#RISE ** Meet Dr. Lindsey Westberg who practices in Manhattan, Ks.
“I have made it a priority to leave work related tasks at work, and so when I am at home I can focus full time on my family and having fun! This has made a huge impact on work-life balance for me.”
#RISE ** To get this year started, we are featuring Dr. Gretchen Irwin who serves as KAFP Board Treasurer in addition to her role as Program Director at Wesley Family Medicine Residency in Wichita, KS.
“Finding time to fit everything in has always been a challenge but my wellness skills have definitely been tested with the addition of a wonderful new son in my life! Having a 5 month old is the best thing ever for lots of reasons—one big change is my son caused me to examine my priorities and really focus on spending my time and energy on what’s most important to me. Eliminating things that just bring stress with no enjoyment has been so important to being well. I love my job and am 100% there when I’m doing it, but I also love being a wife and mom and my attention is 100% on that when I’m home. I start the day by saying thank you for all of my blessings and making a schedule for what I’ll accomplish that day. Scheduling my time helps me feel organized and lets me know that I’m getting everything done that I need to do. And it lets me do a reality check on what I’m expecting of myself for the day. At the end of the day, I say thank you again and celebrate the fact that I’ve either been super productive and successful or I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy some unexpected twists and surprises in my day. Either way, I know I’m lucky to have people in my life that I love more than anything and a job that is fun, challenging and makes me happy.”
#RISE ** Double does of Member Spotlight’s this month! Meet Dr. J Medicine Woman (aka Dr. Jacqi Lambert) from Manhattan, Kansas. “I stay well by bicycling with the Manhattan Bike Club and by surrounding myself with generous, fun, hardworking, positive peeps!”
#RISE ** This month’s RISE spotlight features Michelle Corkins, Deputy EVP of KAFP. “I’m a firm believer in the power of kindness. Every single day I set out to pump more kindness out into our world. Compliment a stranger, hold the door open for someone else, use the name of waitress/mechanic/salesperson in our interaction, say ‘thank you’ a gazillion times a day…… little stuff like that. I may be having a crummy day, but being kind to someone else is an instant mood boost! I like to say ‘kindness is contagious,’ and it’s the truth.
In 2012 I started a new family tradition called Random Acts of Kindness; my family spends Christmas Eve out in our community doing random acts of kindness for others! It’s our way of bringing balance into the holiday craze that can easily take over.
I stay well, find my balance, and feel my purpose by flooding the world with kindness.”
#RISE Member Spotlight** Meet Dr. Jessica Paxson who is currently a resident at Wesley. “When I hear wellness, two major things come to mind- family and fitness. In a world where I get to control very little (residency), exercise is something I have 100% control over. It can be anything from lifting weights to taking a quick walk but I strive to do something at least a few times a week. I exercise not only for the physical benefits, but for stress relief, alone time, and family time. I also want to show my daughter the importance of a healthy, balanced life and set an example that women can do some pretty amazing things!”
#RISE ** Meet Mariah Miller, medical student at KUMC-Wichita (Class of 2019.) “I practice wellness by getting together with my friends and going on adventures whether that be something like yoga, the movies or just a Target run! Spending time with them is refreshing and a nice change from the pace of the med school student life. They are a fun and loud group that always keeps me on my toes and challenge me to keep striving to do better in school and life in general!”
#RISE ** This month’s RISE Member Spotlight features Dr. Kelsie Kelly, program director at KU Family Medicine residency in KC How do I practice wellness? Maintain joy in practice? I am very lucky to work in a department where I enjoy all my colleagues, we make practicing medicine and educating a collegial activity where laughter routinely echoes from the provider room. This collegial atmosphere really inspires me to strive to be the best physician I can be for the learners all around me and the patients I care for. But there are also hard days as I learn this new Program Director gig and I #RISE by doing 3 things regularly. First, I enjoy running. My goal is three 4-5 mile runs/week so that when the Rock the Parkway half marathon rolls around in March I can do this with my cohort of faculty who enjoy the same activity. I also have recently started asking my kids “what are you thankful for today?” and then I have to answer the question too. This makes me stick my head up out of the sand and stay mindful of my fortune. (Shout out to our Becky Ellsworth for this idea). Lastly, I get to end the day reading a book with my 2 young kiddos and 2 big hugs.
#RISE ** This month’s RISE Member Spotlight features Dr. Danelle Perry who practices in Manhattan, KS. Learning organizational skills has made me much less frustrated with my daily work. I chart prep like there’s no tomorrow! That way most of the work is done and I can focus on the patients agenda, not mine. I also take time to refocus with yoga and meditation. The book “10% Happier” has done just that for me!
#RISE ** This month’s RISE spotlight features Carolyn Gaughan, CAE, Executive Vice President of KAFP “I love my work with the Academy… and I also have a life outside the job. My work life balance includes juggling time to spend with family and friends, regularly worship at church, play the piano and sing, walk every day, garden, and occasionally, paint. I love to talk, travel, get pedicures, do any kind of craft projects involving paper, and I have been known to enjoy a glass of wine. At the end of the day I almost always read for at least 10 minutes to unwind. At one point I was MUCH heavier and so I am careful about eating and food intake but I do love to cook and eat, too. My grandpa used to say: ‘Everything in good measure;’ in other words, don’t go overboard with anything. Another meaningful quote to me is Psalm 118:24: ‘This is the day that the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!’ I think both provide good advice to help us #RISE every day and be our most authentic, genuine and best selves. Keeping a reasonable work life balance is energizing!”
#RISE ** This month’s RISE Member Spotlight features KAFP’s newly installed President Dr. Jeremy Presley of Dodge City. “I work daily to maintain the joy in practice by keeping the joy in my family. Being blessed with a family that supports me as a physician allows me to be the best physician possible for my patients. Keeping focus on my family is what invigorates me as I know my care allows the same for my patients and their loved ones.”
How do you maintain joy in your practice?
#RISE ** June’s member spotlight features Dr. John Feehan of Olathe. He practices wellness through music. He also practices yoga, listens to the outdoors, takes deep breaths, and smiles. Thanks for making us smile this past year serving as our President!
How do you practice wellness?
#RISE ** Double Dose of Member Spotlights this month! This one comes from Dr. Tessa Rohrberg in Winfield.
“I have learned that I have to schedule self care. Being a busy physician, wife and mother, it is hard to remember to take time for me and I can tell when I am beginning to burn out. My self care includes going to book club, spending some time praying and journaling, scheduling time for exercise or playtime with my family, and making time for pampering. These give me a chance to take a breath and recharge. I have to remind myself in order to take good care of others, I first have to take care of myself!”
I recently cut back my clinic time to find better balance. I see patients throughout the morning, paperwork/admin over lunch, and then spend the afternoon doing my mom/wife job or focusing on self-care. This has given me the opportunity to get dinner on the table, a 5k under my belt, and time to delve back into my love of reading.
This month’s member spotlight features Dr. W. Ryan Neuhofel of Lawrence. “To help me stay well, I try to take a brisk walk over lunch everyday. This cold weather is really testing my resolve!” We’re glad the forecast has a warm up for you Dr. Neuhofel! #RISE
This month’s member spotlight features Dr. Courtney Huhn from Leavenworth. “I practice wellness by spending time with my husband, TJ and our daughters, Madeline and Hannah. They give me energy. They help me to see that I am more than a physician and that it is necessary to nourish all elements of my being in order to grow and remain true to myself.”
Check back each week to see a new blast from the past.
Share your memories on social media with #KAFP70Years. Your photos might make a guest appearance on KAFP’s #ThrowbackThursday timeline!