Member Wellness

Your Wellness

The Vancouver Division recognizes the importance of the health and wellness for our community. Below are Member Wellness resources and programs we hope you’ll find useful.

And, of course, if you’d like more information, please contact the Membership team at membership@vancouverdivision.com

Dr. Daniel Dodek
Vancouver Division Lead for Physician Wellness

"My goal, as Vancouver Division Lead for Physician Health, is for family doctors in Vancouver and all communities, to feel appreciated, valued, experience joy in their work and take care of their health."

The Division would like to acknowledge physician lead, Dr. Daniel Dodek for his ongoing commitment to bring wellness to the forefront of our communications and support. Dr. Dan writes a weekly physician wellness column to offer discussion and presentation of support centred around health and wellness. His ‘Dr. Dan Wellness Tips’ continue to provide comfort, reflection, and humour, through sharing an honest and relatable voice, which has become so important during this past year.

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tips

Additionally, find below a number of resources to help you on your wellness journey.

Bright Spot with Dr. Dan

Colorectal Cancer Can't Hide From Screening

"Because I've known many of these patients for years, these are not anonymous statistics. They are individuals whose stories I know, whose families I've met, whose trust I've earned. That continuity of care brings deep meaning and joy to my work." Inspired by a quality improvement initiative previously profiled by the HDC, Dr. Dodek and his team successfully encouraged 65 more patients to complete life-saving testing.

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tip

RESPECT

“The amazing Arethra Franklin documentary was released this summer titled “RESPECT”. This led me to think about how patients treat our staff and how patients interact and communicate with physicians. Respect is a fundamental value that is required in the health care setting that contributes to a psychological safe work space. The Vancouver Division has produced a poster that Family Doctors can use throughout the medical office reminding patients of appropriate behaviour. Arethra Franklin said it best: “I think it would be a far better world if people were kinder and more respectful to each other.”

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tip

What is it like to be you today?

“I have a 240 second challenge for you: deep listening. According to Dr. Marissa King in the book Social Chemistry this exercise can help you become more open, flexible and less biased. Start by asking a friend or colleague, “what is it like to be you today?” Now the hard part – listen uninterrupted for 2 minutes. No affirmations, no questions. Warning: this may be seriously uncomfortable. But in 240 seconds you might just learn a lot.”

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tip

Endurance

“Endurance can be defined by the power of coping with an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving up. I am so amazed at my colleagues in the hospitals and community who continue to endure throughout the pandemic. One of my professional challenges is that the finish line keeps getting pushed farther away. Sports psychologists stress focus on today’s match and not the end game ensures best performance. For me, this may mean looking forward to a run with my daughter, a home cooked meal or a phone call with a friend at the end of the day.”

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tip

Hugs

“I am normally not a hugger; just ask my wife. However, hugging increases a sense of connection, belonging and wellbeing. Studies have shown hugging actually stimulates our immune system and releases oxytocin. Normally I move in for a good pat on the shoulder, the half hug, back slap or new for me: fist bump. But in the appropriate situation with family and loved ones, a hug time of 3 seconds is the optimal effective dose to create that bond, feel good response according to studies.”

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tip

Flexibility

“I am working on my ability to become more flexible in life. This has been a challenge for me when faced with regular uncertainty during the pandemic. In the book Atomic Habits by Adam Clear, he states “the more you let a single belief define you, the less capable you are of adapting when life challenges you.” I am learning that sometimes being flexible will create new great opportunities and experiences for me. I find this actually quite liberating and energizing.”

Random Acts of Kindness

A Dr. Dan Wellness Tip

According to Amit Kumar in the article “Kindness Can Have Unexpectedly Positive Consequences”, people who perform random acts of kindness do not always realize how much impact they are having on another individual. Simple things like a “just because” thank you note, giving cupcakes away and buying hot chocolate for others improves the mood of the giver and receiver. In Kumar’s studies, the people giving out hot chocolate rated the act as “inconsequential” but the receivers rated this act very meaningful and significant. Dr. Kumar has shown that kindness can also be contagious with the “pay it forward” effect.

Read the Article

Life Lessons

From Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser

“People are our superpower” Healthcare is about teamwork and utilizing everyone’s strengths to help patients and ourselves to achieve the best possible outcome. “Rest is a weapon” The culture of medicine used to carry this badge of honour on how little sleep a doctor can function on. This is so wrong. A rested physician will perform better and provide better care.

Read the Article

Finding Hope at Work

A Dr. Dan Wellness Tip

Find your tribe. In my experience, this can be a challenge in the community or hospital setting, however I have found that just one colleague is enough to feel more connection and support. Add variety to your professional work. The key is to not add MORE work, but replace a small portion of professional work with activities that you find meaningful and intellectually stimulating. In Family Medicine, it might mean sessional work in elder care, addictions medicine or teaching.

Read the Article

Grief in Practice

Honouring Loss in Medicine

Dr. Sarah Burm from the University of Dalhousie researches grief in healthcare workers. She has taught me that grief should be looked at as an asset in a healthcare worker. Physicians need to have the space and time to express grief since studies reveal grief sparks compassion, and a sense of gratitude in doctors. This might include taking a moment in your day to reflect on the deceased patient, talking to a colleague, journaling or have some other ritual that is dedicated to the death of a patient. Grief is a powerful emotion which allows me to process, reflect and enhance meaning in work as a Family Doctor.

Read the Article

Dr. Dan's Wellness Resources

CMA Wellness Hub

This Hub provides reliable wellness tools and resources to empower physicians, medical learners, leaders and educators to create change in the culture of medicine.

Visit the CMA Wellness Hub

Get Attached to a Family Doctor

The Physician Health Program (PHP) believes that all physicians should establish a long-term, trusting relationship with a primary care provider (PCP). Complete the form through this link to be matched with a PCP.

Get Attached Here

Physician Health Program

Physician Health Program is a responsive, high quality care provider and community services navigator for physicians, trainees and their families. The PHP helpine for confidential, personalized assistance with issues such as mental health, relationship stress, career and life transitions, substance use and concern for colleague is open 24/7.

Visit the Physician Health Program

Peer Support Initiative Program

Physicians can benefit from sharing their challenging experiences with peers who may have experienced similar situations and can truly understand. Support from colleagues can have a positive impact on wellbeing and workplace experiences.

The Peer Support Initiative offers confidential, non-clinical, support to physician colleagues by physician Peer Supporters in a 1:1 setting.

Doc-to-Doc Member Tips

Doc-to-Doc is a place to showcase the amazing and diverse leadership in the Vancouver Family Medicine community which each their own unique expertise and interests.

Browse through our other featured tips, or leave one of your own!

Interested in Other Member Wellness Supports?

The Vancouver Division recognizes the importance of the health and wellness for our community. Follow the link to Member Wellness resources and programs we hope you’ll find useful.

Member Wellness

Your Wellness

Dr. Daniel Dodek Vancouver Division Lead for Physician Wellness

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tips

Bright Spot with Dr. Dan

Colorectal Cancer Can't Hide From Screening

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tip

RESPECT

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tip

What is it like to be you today?

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tip

Endurance

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tip

Hugs

Dr. Dan's Wellness Tip

Flexibility

Random Acts of Kindness

A Dr. Dan Wellness Tip

Life Lessons

From Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser

Finding Hope at Work

A Dr. Dan Wellness Tip

Grief in Practice

Honouring Loss in Medicine

Dr. Dan's Wellness Resources

Peer Support Initiative Program

Doc-to-Doc Member Tips

Interested in Other Member Wellness Supports?

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Dr. Daniel Dodek
Vancouver Division Lead for Physician Wellness