Wellbeing, Community, and the Future of Biomedical Science

Insights from today's 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲: 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻-𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽, hosted by the National Academy of Medicine and the American Junior Investigator Association.

There’s no doubt we’re at a critical moment in sustaining the biomedical workforce. Many ideas are being shared—some familiar, some fresh—about how to attract and retain physician-scientists.

While no one is surprised to hear the words 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭, and 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘴 repeated throughout the day, what has struck me is how often I’ve also heard the words 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, and 𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵.

This resonates deeply. Through my work with MOMENTUM at Pitt and my MotherMind leadership development and group coaching program, I have seen firsthand how supporting scientists beyond the lab and clinic—toward wellbeing, professional fulfillment, and belonging—can powerfully influence retention and success.

👉 If you’re also thinking about how we sustain and support the next generation of physician (and non-physician) scientists, I’d love to connect and continue the conversation.