Nicole Bentze, D.O., dean of the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Sarasota Regional Campus, recently completed a yearlong certificate program from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) called “Leading Physician Well-being” (LPW).

Dr. Bentze was one of 120 physicians selected from a national pool to participate in this program, which was created to provide leadership development, training in physician well-being advocacy and performance improvement project skill-building.  In collaboration with the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, she developed a project called “Enhancing Medical Student Well-being using Art Guided Meditation” and presented it to peers in November.

AAFP LPW Scholars completing this certificate are felt to be well-positioned to fill leadership roles within health care systems where they can create value around physician well-being, which honors the doctor-patient relationship.  This leads to a more productive and engaged physician workforce and a better-served, and therefore healthier, patient population. 

The AAFP Leading Physician Well-being Program is a grant-funded program of the American Academy of Family Physician through the United Health Foundation. Additional information can be obtained by visiting the AAFP website or contacting Heather Woods.

Joedrecka Brown Speights, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health and co-chair of the College of Medicine Wellness Committee, is a member of the LPW faculty.