*Content warning: While well-being and purpose is the main topic, the following conversation does contain material related to the loss of a child and mental health that some might find distressing. Listener discretion is advised.

Dr. Vic Strecher of U-M Public Health joins host Dr. Elizabeth Harry to explore why purpose is a powerful driver of well-being, resilience and professional fulfillment. Strecher shares personal reflections, groundbreaking research and practical strategies—including the SPACE framework (sleep, presence, activity, creativity and eating)—to help clinicians and organizations reconnect with their “why.” From preventing burnout to managing energy and attention, this conversation highlights how aligning personal and organizational purpose can transform health care work and support lasting well-being.

Episode Transcript

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support. Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special Well-Being at Michigan Medicine podcast with Dr. Elizabeth Harry, leaders across emotional support, clinical efficiency and faculty development reflect on Michigan Medicine’s achievement of gold status in the AMA’s Joy in Medicine Award. Drs. Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt, Whitney Begeman, Greta Branford, and George Mashour share how programs like COMPASS peer support, confidential counseling, AI-driven documentation tools and robust leadership development strengthen well-being across the institution. Their insights highlight systemwide commitment, innovation and continued investment in reducing burnout, fostering resilience and empowering faculty and clinicians to thrive.

Episode Transcript

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support. Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode celebrating Healthcare Security and Safety Week 2025, host Dr. Elizabeth Harry talks with Brian Uridge, Director of Safety and Security at Michigan Medicine. Uridge shares his journey from community policing to health care security and explains how relationship-based safety practices strengthen well-being across the organization.

From de-escalation training to canine therapy and mobile duress technology, Uridge reveals how his team blends compassion, trust and innovation to make Michigan Medicine safer for all. This inspiring conversation highlights how connection and presence are just as vital to security as any piece of equipment.

Episode Transcript

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support. Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Sanjay Saint, Chief of Medicine at the VA Ann Arbor and the George Dock Professor of Internal Medicine at U-M, features as guest. Saint’s Sacred Moments Initiative highlights emotionally profound connections between patients and caregivers. These moments — where time slows and humanity shines — combat burnout and remind clinicians why they entered healthcare.

Inspired by both research and personal stories, like a dying veteran thanking a student or a small act of kindness on a pickleball court, Saint emphasizes creating environments and cultures that invite presence and healing. Through reflection rounds, storytelling, and even architectural redesign, the initiative seeks to normalize, preserve, and celebrate these transformative human experiences in medical care.

Transcript

Learn more:

• Sacred Moments Initiative
• Research paper: Sacred Moment Experiences Among Internal Medicine Physicians
• Research paper: Making Room for Meaningful Moments in Medicine—Prioritizing Continuity and Relationships

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support. Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcomes Chip Amoe, U-M Health’s Chief Sustainability Officer, who shares how his Michigan roots and passion for revitalizing communities inspired his career in health care sustainability.

He highlights the vital link between climate change and health, emphasizing the need for hospitals to lead sustainability efforts.

Through thoughtful building design, like the LEED-Platinum certified D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion, and a focus on reducing waste, emissions, and harmful chemicals, U-M Health is improving well-being for patients, staff, and communities. Amoe encourages individuals to be ambassadors for sustainable practices both at work and home.

Learn more:

• U-M Health Environmental Sustainability & Carbon Neutrality
• D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion

Transcript

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to Well-Being at Michigan Medicine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Harry speaks with leaders from U-M (Dr. Kelcey Stratton), Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience (Dr. Whitney Begeman) and MHealthy (Karen Schmidt) about key mental health and well-being challenges in 2025. They explore how post-pandemic trauma, burnout, social isolation and workplace stress continue to impact health care professionals.

The trio of guests share insights on practical tools like micro-breaks, peer support through the COMPASS program and nature-based practices from the NatureRx initiative. They emphasize the power of small, sustainable habits—like five-minute daily check-ins and better sleep hygiene—to boost resilience. Whether you're a caregiver, leader, or staff member, this conversation offers meaningful strategies for thriving in body, mind and spirit.

Episode guests:

• Kelcey Stratton, Ph.D.
• Whitney Begeman, Psy.D., L.P.
• Karen Schmidt, M.P.H.

Resources:

• Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience (OCWR)
• MHealthy
• Well-being Collective

Transcript

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to Well-Being at Michigan Medicine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcomes Keith Gran and Devin Lippert from the Office of Patient Experience (OPE). Gran is Michigan Medicine’s chief patient experience, with over 30 years in academic health care leadership. Lippert is OPE’s administrative director with over 25 years in the field.

Both bring deep professional and personal insights into improving care through empathy, data and collaboration. They share how their team supports patient and caregiver well-being, highlights impactful programs like peer mentorship and medical improv, and discusses strategies to create a consistent, compassionate experience across Michigan Medicine—emphasizing that every human interaction is an opportunity to improve health care.

Episode Transcript

Episode guests:

• Keith Gran, C.P.A., M.B.A.
• Devin Lippert, M.B.A.

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to Well-Being at Michigan Medicine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcomes Dr. Ethan Kross of U-M’s Department of Psychology and Ross Business School and author of several books about emotion and self-control. Harry and Kross discuss the importance of emotional regulation and self-control, focusing on their impact on mental health and well-being.

Kross explains that emotions are natural responses to meaningful events and serve adaptive functions, but when experienced too intensely or for too long, they can interfere with work, relationships, and health. He emphasizes the importance of managing emotions to maintain focus, resolve conflicts, and protect physical well-being.

Kross shares that different tools work for different people and situations, highlighting the value of flexibility in emotional responses. For example, sensory tools like music can shift emotions, while perspective-shifting techniques like "distanced self-talk" can help reframe emotional experiences. He also mentions "mental time travel," where thinking about the future or past can put present struggles into perspective.

The conversation touches on the challenges of emotion regulation in high-stress fields like academic medicine, where professionals may need to detach emotionally during work but risk emotional disconnection in personal life. Kross advocates for exposing people to these emotional management tools, as they can provide hope and reassurance that emotional regulation is achievable, ultimately improving one's ability to cope with life's challenges.

Episode guest:

Ethan Kross, Ph.D.

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Episode Transcript

Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to Well-Being at Michigan Medicine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.