Wellness Committee

Mission: To further the Board's consumer protection mission by encouraging and guiding licensees to promote a sound balance in their personal and professional lives so that healthy physicians offer quality care to their patients.

At the July 2007, meeting of the Medical Board, Dr. Shelton Duruisseau, one of the board members, presented an issue paper addressing physician wellness. His paper was entitled, "Physician Wellness as Constrained by Burnout."

Dr. Duruisseau's paper outlined the purpose, background, conclusion, and recommendations to enhance physician wellness. The focus of the review centered on the benefits that might be derived from the implementation of a program to assist with licensees' well-being. Since the mission of the board is to protect health care consumers, it must be recognized that this best can be achieved by having healthy physicians care for their patients. Dr. Duruisseau recommended the board establish a Wellness Committee, comprised of three board members and three to five public members. Each appointee should represent strategic partners to further consider the board's role in addressing programs to improve licensees' well-being.

The Board took action, and, on July 27, 2007, the Wellness Committee was established.

To learn more about the Wellness Committee, please follow these links:

• Dr. Duruisseau's paper on Physician Wellness
• Members of the Committee
• Minutes
1. September 26, 2007 meeting
2. January 16, 2008 meeting
3. July 24, 2008 meeting
4. November 6, 2008 meeting
5. January 29, 2009 meeting
6. May 7, 2009 meeting
7. July 23, 2009 meeting
8. October 29, 2009 meeting
9. January 28, 2010 meeting
• Role and responsibilities
• Articles in the Board's Newsletter
1. November 2007 edition, please see cover article, page 1
2. January 2008 edition, please see page 7
3. April 2008 edition, please see cover article, page 1
4. April 2009 edition, please see page 7
• Article in OBG Management, Dowden Health Media, Dec 2008, Vol. 20, No. 12 The Unbearable Unhappiness of the ObGyn: A crisis looms
• A summary of published peer-reviewed studies which support the connection between physician wellness and patient safety

While the Medical Board of California may provide links to web sites, wellness activities, and/or articles, these links are provided solely for convenience and as a resource for our licensees. These other sites do not reflect the official policy of the Board and the link should not be contstrued as an endorsement of the site. We encourage you to check back for future updates.

We also welcome your suggestions on appropriate items or additional programs for the Wellness Committee to consider. For further information, or to offer suggestions, please contact Kevin A. Schunke, Committee Manager, at kevin.schunke@mbc.ca.gov or call (916) 263-2368.