Why shifting from wellness to well-being matters for physicians and patients

Physical therapist and physician advocate Kim Downey, mental health counselor Nikolai Blinow, and family physician and physician coach Tonya Caylor discuss their article "Focusing on well-being versus wellness: What it means for physicians (and their patients)." Together, Kim, Nikolai, and Tonya examine why the language of "wellness" often feels performative and unattainable, while "well-being" reflects a dynamic, values-based, and relational practice that supports both physicians and patients. They highlight how well-being fosters flexibility, belonging, and system-level change, while empowering individual clinicians to reconnect with purpose and presence. Listeners will gain insights into how embracing well-being can transform physician culture, reduce burnout, and model healthier approaches to care. Mentioned on the show: Well-Being Toolkit of On-Demand Resources: https://caws.dukehealth.org/toolkit-on-demand/ Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended