The Heart of Health Care: Advancing Staff Excellence in Medicine Conference
On good days, staff and team members can see the impact of their valuable contributions to the world of health care and academic medicine. But on others, competing priorities and deadlines, work tension and burnout can cloud our vision. How can we increase our ability to better fit our jobs into our values and our lives to increase our sense of belonging?
According to the keynote speaker, Helka Casey, LPCC-S, CEAP, licensed professional clinical counselor supervisor, at the inaugural staff conference at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, it comes down to this — scheduling time away from work to reflect and identify your personal impact and purpose in the field of medicine. She says taking this step will lead to more peace and productivity.
“Our jobs help us meet our basic needs, food, shelter and financial, while giving us opportunities to utilize our talents and strengths,” Casey says. “But they also help us find meaning, meaning that makes us more engaged, able to build better workplace relationships and be more open to new learning.”
In late June, College of Medicine and Health Sciences Colleges staff attended The Heart of Health Care: Advancing Staff Excellence in Medicine Conference, co-hosted by The Ohio State University College of Medicine Staff Advisory Committee (COMSAC) and Belonging and Well-Being Council (BWBC). There they were able to connect with the college culture where staff thrive personally and professionally. And connect with resources to expand their impact at work and in their personal lives.
Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS, FACS, dean of the Ohio State College of Medicine, praised everyone for their strength and resilience in weathering the continual advancements and changes in academic medicine. As she closed out the conference, she shared that she is proud to work alongside such passionate and innovative team members. She also shared what she hoped everyone would take with them after the event — knowledge of everyone’s deep appreciation for their efforts and commitment to our mission.
“Whether you are supporting our labs, helping patients behind the scenes, coordinating complex schedules or guiding our students through their journeys, you are essential to the life of this college and the work you do matters,” Dr. Bradford says. “It does not go unnoticed, and I truly appreciate each and every one of you.”
Attendees also attended a resource fair staffed by teams who shared resources and connections to a wide range of wellness, exercise and arts organizations and programs. Cyrus Adeli, a multi-discipline analyst in the Clinical Skills Education and Assessment Center, works in the comprehensive medical simulation facility to create and deliver assessment of skills and procedures for students, residents and other medical trainees. He says the conference provided him with a chance to step away from the simulation bays and his computer to refocus and relax.
“This gives us the opportunity to reconnect with ourselves and examine our personal and professional goals while reconnecting with others,” Adeli says.
