CME | Happy Doctor, Happy Patient: How to Maintain Joy in Clinical Practice

The CME on the Go series of the Inside Family Medicine podcast lets you earn up to 0.5 CME credits per episode — join the hosts as they dive into In this episode of "Happy Doctor, Happy Patient: How to Maintain Joy in Clinical Practice," the hosts discuss the challenges and strategies for maintaining joy and well-being in the demanding field of family medicine. They share personal experiences, insights on burnout, and practical tips for fostering happiness and resilience in clinical practice.

The co-hosts explore the complexities of maintaining joy and well-being in the demanding field of family medicine. They share personal stories and insights on burnout, discussing the differences between burnout and depression, and exploring the impact of chronic workplace stress on mental health. The episode also highlights practical strategies for fostering happiness and resilience, emphasizing the importance of autonomy, breadth of practice, and strong relationships with colleagues and patients.

Your hosts for this episode are Lauren Brown-Berchtold, MD, FAAFP, program director for the San Joaquin General Family Medicine Residency in French Camp, Calif.; Jason Marker, MD, MPA, FAAFP, associate director of the Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency program in South Bend, Ind.; and Tamaan Osbourne-Roberts, MD, MBA, FAAFP, chief medical officer and vice president of health strategy at the public sector health plan Colorado Access.

Whether you're navigating patient queries or seeking to enhance your clinical knowledge, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for family physicians. Tune in now and earn CME credit!

Credit Claiming:

After listening to the podcast episode, claim 0.5 AAFP credit by following the provided link.

https://www.aafp.org/assessment/take/17828/e

Learning Objectives:  

1. Explain how increasing joy and well-being in physicians benefits both practitioners and patients.

2. Identify key sources of stress and burnout in primary care and their impact on practice effectiveness.

3. Apply evidence-based strategies to boost joy and resilience, enhancing overall clinical practice and patient care.

4. Identify signs of compassion fatigue and moral distress to maintain a healthy and effective practice.

References 

Kherbache, A., Mertens, E., & Denier, Y. (2022). Moral distress in medicine: An ethical analysis. Journal of Health Psychology, 27(8), 1971-1990. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053211014586

Brigham, T., Barden, C., Dopp, A. L., Hengerer, A., Kaplan, J., Malone, B., Martin, C., McHugh, M., & Nora, L. M. (2018). A journey to construct an all-encompassing conceptual model of factors affecting clinician well-being and resilience. National Academy of Medicine. Retrieved from https://nam.edu/journey-construct-encompassing-conceptual-model-factors-affecting-clinician-well-resilience/[1](https://nam.edu/journey-construct-encompassing-conceptual-model-factors-affecting-clinician-well-resilience/)

Case Western Reserve University. (2010, November 17). Coaching with compassion can 'light up' human thoughts. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101117184501.htm[2](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101117184501.htm)

Disclosure: It is the policy of the AAFP that all individuals in a position to control content disclose any relationships with commercial interests upon nomination/invitation of participation. Disclosure documents are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest and, if identified, conflicts are resolved prior to confirmation of participation. Only those participants who had no conflict of interest or who agreed to an identified resolution process prior to their participation were involved in this CME activity. 

All individuals in a position to control content for this session have indicated they have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 

Disclaimer:  Copyright 2025. AAFP. The views presented in this broadcast are the speaker's own and do not represent those of AAFP.  The information presented is for general, educational, or entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal, health, financial, or other advice.  AAFP makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and is not responsible for results that may arise from its use.  Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and respective governing bodies for applicable laws. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by AAFP unless specifically stated otherwise. AAFP and the AAFP logo are registered trademarks of American Academy of Family Physicians.