The WNE College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has been recognized as a National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Change Maker Organization, highlighting its dedication to advancing health workforce well-being and addressing the challenges faced by healthcare professionals today.
Through the efforts of Professor Janet Kennedy, M.D., WNE has reinforced its commitment to supporting the well-being of health professionals. Dr. Kennedy has led initiatives focused on integrating wellness into the curriculum, providing students with evidence-based strategies to manage stress, prevent burnout, and build resilience. Her work includes teaching mindfulness and stress management techniques, as well as research on clinician well-being, ensuring that students are equipped with the right tools needed to navigate the demanding nature of healthcare careers.
“The well-being of healthcare professionals is essential to ensuring quality patient care and a sustainable healthcare system,” said Kennedy, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Education. “Prioritizing self-care and well-being should begin during students’ training. By instilling these values early, we are preparing future healthcare professionals to not only care for their patients but also to safeguard their own health and resilience throughout their careers.”
As part of their course work, Dr. Kennedy’s students learn about their own wellness and how to incorporate it into their personal lives and future careers. The curriculum covers the eight dimensions of wellness—social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, and occupational—while exploring research and landmark literature in each domain. Students develop self-awareness through self-assessments and wellness practices, with a focus on preventing burnout and reducing stress. Weekly activities provide hands-on opportunities to apply skills and techniques, engage in critical thinking, and reflect on key literature. By the end of the course, each student creates a personalized guideline to maintain and enhance their wellness throughout their professional journey. The improvements in overall student wellness due to taking Dr. Kennedy’s course were recently published in the April issue of Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning.
"Being recognized as a NAM Change Maker is a significant validation of the innovative work happening within the Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences,” said John Pezzuto, Ph.D., Dean. “This recognition reinforces our commitment to advancing healthcare through impactful research, education, and community engagement. It serves as an inspiration to our students, faculty, and staff, and will undoubtedly attract further collaboration and support, ultimately strengthening our ability to prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders."
NAM launched the Clinician Well-Being Collaborative in 2017 to reverse trends in health worker burnout. In October 2022, NAM released the National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being to drive collective action to strengthen health workforce well-being and restore the health of the nation, as more nurses, physicians, and public health employees than ever are poised to leave their professions. The NAM Change Maker Campaign advances these efforts, fostering a nationwide movement to enhance the well-being of healthcare workers.
