Nutley, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine received a $20 million gift from an anonymous donor to establish a well-being program, dubbed the Healthcare Professionals’ Wellbeing Academy, according to a Nov. 11 news release.
The program aims to combat burnout among medical professionals while preparing future medical workers with the proper resources to maintain mental health.
“As someone who has navigated the intense demands of surgery and medicine, I have seen firsthand the toll burnout takes on even the most dedicated professionals. I have experienced those pressures myself,” Howard Ross, MD, chair of surgery at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and surgeon-in-chief of Hackensack University Medical Center, said in a news release. “Developing skills required to support caregiver well-being is a necessary step forward in medical education and practice. This initiative will quite literally save careers and lives.”
The Healthcare Professionals’ Wellbeing Academy will be developed over six years, beginning with infrastructure and leadership development, while progressively introducing programming for medical students, residents and nurses.
Hackensack said that, over time, it will evaluate expanding the program and share findings and best practices with other institutions. The program’s success will be measured by engagement and participation, burnout and well-being indicators, retention, leadership development, interdisciplinary collaboration and academic output.
