Education

Advocacy starts with education. Given the unique and often misunderstood health needs, opportunities, and challenges faced by physicians and learners, the Physician Health Program offers a foundational presentation illustrating how our services support Ontario physicians, medical learners, and their families. This presentation applies to all career stages and can be adjusted to the needs of your specific program or audience, such as students, residents, practice groups, and medical leaders.  We are pleased to offer this as a short, didactic presentation (20 minutes with time for Q&A) or as a longer, interactive workshop.

At the end of this presentation, participants will:  

• Understand how the PHP assists physicians, medical learners, leaders and the healthcare system more broadly  
• Have increased confidence about privacy and confidentiality when connecting with the PHP   
• Know when and how to connect with the PHP, for themselves and for their colleagues

Advocacy Starts with Education: Supporting Physician Mental Health and Addressing Burnout  

Given the unique and often misunderstood mental health needs, stressors, and systemic challenges faced by physicians and medical learners, the Physician Health Program offers a foundational presentation designed to support the well-being of Ontario physicians, medical learners and their families.  

This presentation highlights how PHP services address issues such as burnout, compassion fatigue, depression, anxiety, substance use and stress-related concerns—all within a framework that prioritizes confidentiality and systemic support.  

Relevant across all stages of a medical career, this session can be tailored to your specific audience, including medical students, residents, fellows, practising physicians and health-care leaders.

We are pleased to offer this session as either:  

• A didactic presentation with time for Q&A, or  
• A longer, interactive workshop designed to explore mental health, professional challenges, and wellness strategies in greater depth

By the end of this presentation, participants will:  

• Understand how the PHP supports mental health and addresses burnout among physicians, medical learners and the broader health-care system  
• Feel more confident in the privacy and confidentiality protections in place when seeking help from the PHP  
• Know when and how to access PHP services—for themselves or to support a colleague in need

Physicians are not immune to the challenges of substance use disorders (SUD), yet barriers remain to seeking help. This educational session explores key aspects related to supporting physicians with substance problems in their context as a safety-sensitive professionals. The Physician Health Program's approach to assisting physicians to access high-quality treatment and to navigate a safe return to practice will be described. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to recognize, respond to, and support colleagues experiencing substance problems, while maintaining physician confidentiality and supporting patient safety.

By the end of this presentation, participants will:  

• Understand how OMA Physician Health Program supports physicians, medical learners, leaders and the health-care system more broadly
• Have the opportunity to discuss the approach to the management of physicians with SUD  
• Review the PHP approach to supporting a safe return to the workplace 

This presentation, delivered by Ontario Medical Association Physician Health Program staff, will focus on practical strategies to manage challenging patient encounters while prioritizing and preserving physician well-being.   

As part of this session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the prevalence and nature of confrontational or high-conflict interactions that physicians across Ontario are increasingly facing in clinical settings.   

Drawing on data and real-world experiences, the presentation will highlight common triggers and themes in these difficult encounters, offering insight into how they can affect physicians both emotionally and professionally.   

Attendees will also be invited to reflect on their own responses to traumatic or conflictual situations, including stress reactions, emotional exhaustion and patterns of avoidance or over-engagement.   

By examining these typical responses, the session will help normalize the emotional impact of such encounters and promote self-awareness.   

Finally, the presentation will introduce a variety of evidence-informed approaches to enhancing resilience, such as boundary-setting, peer support, reflective practices and self-regulation techniques.   

These tools aim to empower physicians to recover more effectively from difficult interactions, reduce the risk of burnout and continue to deliver compassionate care while safeguarding their own mental health.  

By the end of this presentation, participants will:  

• Recognize the prevalence and impact of confrontational or high-conflict patient encounters faced by physicians across Ontario, including their emotional and professional effects
• Be able to normalize and understand the emotional toll of these challenging interactions, promoting greater self-awareness and personal reflection
• Apply evidence-informed strategies—such as boundary-setting, peer support, and self-regulation—to build resilience, prevent burnout and maintain physician well-being

Length: 3.5 consecutive hours (time of day and weekday flexible)   

Facilitators: PHP staff, including cinical coordinators and associate medical director   

Format:   

• Virtual or in-person   
• Interactive and didactic   
• Includes simulations, large group discussions and small group practice   

Timing: Scheduling of training will vary depending on the organization and PHP availability   

Peer support training inquiries can be directed to the PHP Peer Support Program Lead, Beth Collison, at peersupport@oma.org.