Jane M. Bridges, MD Chair, Practitioner Health and Wellness Committee Good Samaritan Hospital

Dr. Jane Bridges, who will present the CME webinar “Physician Wellness: A Path to Reconnection” on Feb. 10, became personally acquainted with burnout when the hospital where she was employed changed electronic medical records (EMR) systems. “I was fully integrated into another EMR, so changing was not on my to-do list in the later part of my career as a diabetologist,” wrote Dr. Bridges, ISMA’s District 2 trustee, in a 2019 article for kevinmd.com. “As you would expect, the transition was a nightmare and took me to a new low in my life. Crying in my wine became my new norm. I became distraught, felt imprisoned and felt that no one was listening to my frustrations with the EMR that was holding me back as a specialist.” 

Dr. Bridges, an automobile road racer, goes on to share in the article what she learned about overcoming burnout from the sport and concludes: “Be grateful for your challenges, as they make us stronger, wiser and more confident. These challenges are opportunities to explore something deeper within yourself, something that has always been there waiting for you to discover.”

In her upcoming webinar, Dr. Bridges will share more about overcoming the challenges of burnout. It’s a topic that is close to her heart; in addition to writing and speaking about physician wellness, Dr. Bridges supports other physicians by representing District 2 on the ISMA Commission on Physician Assistance. A resident of Vincennes, she also chairs the Practitioner Health and Wellness Committee at Good Samaritan Hospital. Her presentation for ISMA will focus on practical ways that physicians can take control of their wellness, even if their health care system lacks the resources to address some of the causes.

ISMA members may attend Dr. Bridges’ Thursday, Feb. 10, webinar at no charge as a benefit of membership. Nonmembers are welcome to attend for a fee of $75.

Registration is required and closes Feb. 10 at 11:30 a.m. ET.