This website came about because in addition to being a pediatric surgeon, I am a writer, educator and mentor. (It was my trainees who asked me to start sharing my essays here.)

I developed this website to share ways for students, residents, practicing physicians, and all other healers to thrive while practicing medicine. Most of my early posts were designed to provide a “tool kit” of specific ways to incorporate exercise, better nutrition, stress reduction, spiritual support, and other wellness habits into busy schedules. That’s still important, but I have grown to realize self-care is necessary, but not sufficient for healers to thrive in today’s world. As medicine has become more “corporate” (with increasing focus on profit) and we are seen more as “employees”… we have become more and more separated from the meaning of our work. We need “Well-Being 3.0″, a completely different way to think about the crisis of healer distress being experienced everywhere in the world – but disproportionately in the United States.

So I am a recently retired pediatric surgeon who currently serves as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine. I’m also a 2021 graduate of Iliff School of Theology, and a newly ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ on a quest to find new ways to heal patients, each other, and the world.

I welcome guest posts and comments, especially from medical students and residents. (Please contact me if you are interested) You can also follow me on Bluesky – @drmlb.

Mary L. Brandt, MD, MDiv