By: Melanie Mayer – Operations Coordinator, ACMS and ACMSF
Physician wellness can’t just be something we talk about. At the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS), we’re making sure doctors have more than one trusted path to care. That’s why we created the Physician Wellness Program (PWP) — a confidential, no-cost way for physicians to connect with vetted therapists and life coaches outside the employer system.
No insurance. No HR. No reporting. Just trusted support.
Why We Built It
Hospitals, practices, and training programs in our region have invested deeply in wellness. Those efforts are important and will always matter. But we also know there are physicians who won’t use services tied to their workplace, no matter how strong those services are. The barrier isn’t quality — it’s trust and confidentiality.
That’s the gap the Physician Wellness Program was designed to close. And it’s a gap that exists everywhere: between the resources offered and the resources actually used.
What We’re Launching
This September, as part of our Self-Care in Healthcare campaign, ACMS is releasing the Physician Wellness Program Toolkit.
Our toolkit makes it simple for hospitals, independent practices, and residency programs to put this resource directly in front of their physicians. We’ve packaged flyers, media, sample messaging, and slides so leaders don’t have to start from scratch or add work to already full plates. The goal is straightforward: take the lift off internal teams and make it easy to share a resource that doctors can trust.
What We’ve Seen
Since launching the PWP program in April 2024, physicians across all career stages — residents, practicing, and retired — have stepped through this new door. They’ve sought support for a wide range of challenges: from work pressures and family stress to their own health. And they’ve connected with a growing network of trusted providers, all vetted by our Physician Advisory Committee.
Most importantly, we’ve heard from physicians themselves about the difference it’s making:
“This program gave me a space to discuss challenges I never realized were weighing on me. The sessions helped me reframe my stress and find practical ways to manage my work-life balance. I only wish I had started sooner.”
What Comes Next
Pittsburgh has always been a city that builds. We don’t just talk about tough problems; we work together to solve them. The Physician Wellness Program Toolkit is an extension of that same spirit. By aligning our medical society, hospitals, independent practices, and training programs, we’re proving that physician wellness is not just a campaign slogan. It’s a shared commitment to care for the people who care for all of us.
And this is just the beginning. Our vision is that every physician in Allegheny County knows this program exists — and every healthcare setting has the tools to share it. Because wherever there are physicians, this program should be there too.
How You Can Help
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Hospitals and Practices: Use the toolkit, share the materials, and encourage your physicians to step through this trusted door.
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Physicians: Know this resource is for you — confidential, accessible, and built by your peers.
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Community Partners: Stand with us. Supporting physician wellness is ultimately about protecting patient care.
Contact Melanie Mayer – [email protected] – to learn more about the Toolkit and to setup a meeting to become part of this important initiative.