In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Harry speaks with leaders from U-M (Dr. Kelcey Stratton), Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience (Dr. Whitney Begeman) and MHealthy (Karen Schmidt) about key mental health and well-being challenges in 2025. They explore how post-pandemic trauma, burnout, social isolation and workplace stress continue to impact health care professionals.

The trio of guests share insights on practical tools like micro-breaks, peer support through the COMPASS program and nature-based practices from the NatureRx initiative. They emphasize the power of small, sustainable habits—like five-minute daily check-ins and better sleep hygiene—to boost resilience. Whether you're a caregiver, leader, or staff member, this conversation offers meaningful strategies for thriving in body, mind and spirit.

Episode guests:

• Kelcey Stratton, Ph.D.
• Whitney Begeman, Psy.D., L.P.
• Karen Schmidt, M.P.H.

Resources:

• Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience (OCWR)
• MHealthy
• Well-being Collective

Transcript

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to Well-Being at Michigan Medicine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcomes Keith Gran and Devin Lippert from the Office of Patient Experience (OPE). Gran is Michigan Medicine’s chief patient experience, with over 30 years in academic health care leadership. Lippert is OPE’s administrative director with over 25 years in the field.

Both bring deep professional and personal insights into improving care through empathy, data and collaboration. They share how their team supports patient and caregiver well-being, highlights impactful programs like peer mentorship and medical improv, and discusses strategies to create a consistent, compassionate experience across Michigan Medicine—emphasizing that every human interaction is an opportunity to improve health care.

Episode Transcript

Episode guests:

• Keith Gran, C.P.A., M.B.A.
• Devin Lippert, M.B.A.

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to Well-Being at Michigan Medicine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Harry welcomes Dr. Ethan Kross of U-M’s Department of Psychology and Ross Business School and author of several books about emotion and self-control. Harry and Kross discuss the importance of emotional regulation and self-control, focusing on their impact on mental health and well-being.

Kross explains that emotions are natural responses to meaningful events and serve adaptive functions, but when experienced too intensely or for too long, they can interfere with work, relationships, and health. He emphasizes the importance of managing emotions to maintain focus, resolve conflicts, and protect physical well-being.

Kross shares that different tools work for different people and situations, highlighting the value of flexibility in emotional responses. For example, sensory tools like music can shift emotions, while perspective-shifting techniques like "distanced self-talk" can help reframe emotional experiences. He also mentions "mental time travel," where thinking about the future or past can put present struggles into perspective.

The conversation touches on the challenges of emotion regulation in high-stress fields like academic medicine, where professionals may need to detach emotionally during work but risk emotional disconnection in personal life. Kross advocates for exposing people to these emotional management tools, as they can provide hope and reassurance that emotional regulation is achievable, ultimately improving one's ability to cope with life's challenges.

Episode guest:

Ethan Kross, Ph.D.

Learn more about how the Office of Well-Being aids it team members and brings a culture of belonging, resilience and support.

Episode Transcript

Well-Being at Michigan Medicine is a part of the Michigan Medicine Podcast Network, and is produced by the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. You can subscribe to Well-Being at Michigan Medicine on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.