The Stanford Model of Professional FulfillmentTM

The premise that promoting professional fulfillment and mitigating burnout requires organization-wide change is foundational to the work of the WellMD & WellPhD Center. Our Stanford Model of Professional FulfillmentTM illustrates that framework, showing that well-being is driven not only by individual Personal Resilience but also through an organization's dedication to fostering a Culture of Wellness and Efficiency of Practice.

Culture of Wellness

This dimension describes the organizational work environment, values and behaviors that promote self-care, personal and professional growth, and compassion that physicians and scientists have for themselves, their colleagues and their patients and beneficiaries of their innovations.

Key success factors of this dimension include: 

  • Leadership support, commitment, and accountability for wellness 
  • Infrastructure and resources to support wellness 
  • Regular measurement of well-being and professional fulfillment
  • Recognition and appreciation
  • Fairness and inclusiveness
  • Transparency and values alignment 

 


 

 

Efficiency of Practice

This dimension depends on workplace systems, processes, and practices that promote safety, quality, effectiveness, positive patient and colleague interactions, and work-life balance.

Key success factors include:

  • Identification and redesign of inefficient work
  • Involvement of physicians in redesign of clinical processes and flows
  • Teamwork models of practice
  • Design of workspace for interpersonal proximity for improved communication 
  • Use of efficient communication methods to minimize e-mail time burden 
  • Designing roles to practice at top of licensure
  • Streamlining EHR and other IT interfaces
  • Realistic staffing and scheduling that recognizes predictable absences

Personal Resilience

While the organization is responsible for the majority of factors related to well-being, the individual still plays a critical role. Personal Resilience refers to the individual skills, behaviors, and attitudes that contribute to physical, emotional, and professional well-being.

Key success factors include: 

  • Self-care assessment and support systems 
  • Safety net systems for crisis interventions 
  • Worksite evidence-based health promotion 
  • Encouragement of peer support
  • Financial management counseling 
  • Life-needs support mechanisms (e.g. child and elder care, after-hours meals, and more)

Permissions

The Stanford Model of Professional FulfillmentTM is a conceptual and visual model intended to assist in assessing and improving physician wellness. Many organizations use the model for a variety of purposes. 

If you wish to use the model without modification, please fill out the form below and click Submit.

If you wish to use the model with modification, you must obtain prior written permission from the Stanford WellMD & WellPhD Center. Please contact us if you wish to do so.