Ep 65. The Fight to Protect Healthcare Workers: Licensing, Stigma, and the Law That's Saving Lives with J. Corey Feist

When emergency room physician Dr. Lorna Breen died by suicide in April 2020 after working the front lines of COVID-19, her family including brother-in-law, J. Corey Feist faced an impossible choice, grieve in silence or speak out. He spoke out. What followed was thousands of healthcare workers saying: this is happening to me too. That flood of voices became the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation and ultimately the first federal law in America dedicated to protecting healthcare worker mental health, delivering over $110 million in funding and safeguarding more than 3 million clinicians from invasive licensing questions that once kept them from seeking care.In this conversation, Corey and Dr. Shabbir, get personal about the hidden cost of perfectionism in medicine, the systemic barriers that force healers to choose between their mental health and their careers, and what every person, clinician or not, can do right now to be part of the solution.Episode Takeaways:How licensing, credentialing, and insurance questions have long forced healthcare workers to hide mental health struggles, and the free solution that can fix it in as little as 48 hoursWhy Dr. Lorna Breen's story is not unique, and what thousands of similar stories reveal about a broken system, not broken individualsThe dangerous intersection of perfectionism and medicine, and why this culture is costing livesWhy the Dr. Lorna Breen Act's five-year extension means nothing without funding, and how you can contact Congress in under two minutesWhat patients, leaders, and colleagues can do today to make healthcare workers feel seen, supported, and safe enough to ask for helpAbout the guest:J. Corey Feist, JD, MBA is a healthcare executive, co-founder and CEO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation, and one of the most powerful voices in the fight for healthcare worker mental health in America. The Foundation is named after his sister-in-law, Dr. Lorna Breen — an emergency room physician on the front lines of COVID-19 who died by suicide in April 2020. What began as a personal loss became a national movement. Corey's advocacy led directly to the passage of the first federal law focused on healthcare worker wellbeing — the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act — which has delivered over $110 million in funding to hospitals and healthcare systems nationwide and was recently extended by Congress for five more years. Today, the Foundation's programs reach over 2 million health workers, and as of early 2026, 70 state licensure boards and over 3,000 care facilities have removed invasive mental health questions from their licensing and credentialing applications — making it safer for more than 3 million health workers to seek mental health care without fear of professional repercussions. In 2023, Corey and his wife Jennifer were awarded the Surgeon General's Medallion for Health — the highest civilian honor the U.S. Surgeon General can bestow. He holds a JD from Penn State Dickinson School of Law and an MBA from the UVA Darden School of Business.Connect with J. Corey Feist, JD, MBA:Website: https://drlornabreen.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlornabreenheroesfoundation/✅ Take 2 minutes to Message Your Representatives: https://drlornabreen.org/medical-boards/About the HostDr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician and TEDx Speaker with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.Connect with Dr. Shabbir📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/📹 Watch Dr. Shabbir's TEDx TalkPerfectionism Has A Solution - It is Not What You Think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIzzM4Vg3s&t=3s  🌍 Want to Book Dr. Shabbir to Speak at your event or organization?Reach out at: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking ✅Want to work 1:1 With Dr. Shabbir?Schedule Your Complimentary Strategy Session: https://calendly.com/dramnashabbir/strategy  ❌ DisclaimerThis podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.⚠️ Trigger WarningThis conversation explores trauma and strong mental health themes including suicide. Please call or text 988 for support.❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.