179: Pros and Cons of a Physician Career in Rural Practice with Mary Wolf

“Feeling like they can’t do enough for their patients, or that they’re falling short with their patients, (that) they’re disappointing their patients. And as you know, physicians can be very perfectionistic, want to fix things, and I often work with them on what are realistic expectations when you are in a rural setting.”

-Mary Wolf, MS, LPC-MH, BCC

Master Certified Coach Mary Wolf, president of Veritee Partners LLC, talks with cohost of the podcast Master Certified Coach Jill Farmer about the benefits and drawbacks of practicing medicine in rural settings. Oftentimes with fewer resources in smaller communities, there can be significant physician burnout in rural areas especially since the onset of COVID-19. How might physicians struggle to set boundaries in these communities where they often know their patients personally outside of the work office setting? Mary Wolf is able to offer valuable advice for physicians on how to set these boundaries between work and home so that they can practice medicine in a sustainable way. 

Mary Wolf, MS, LPC-MH, BCC 

 

Mary Wolf is the president of Veritee Partners LLC, a coaching and consulting business designed to promote wellbeing and success for physicians, executives, dentists, and the companies they serve.  Veritee Partners offers assessments and consultation for healthcare systems to build wellbeing programs and cultures.   

 

Mary was the Program Director for the Avera Medical Group LIGHT Program, an award-winning wellbeing program for physicians and advanced practice providers. She led multi-strategy wellbeing services and provides executive coaching for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, residents, and executives. 

 

Before creating LIGHT, Mary was the director of multiple behavioral health programs at Avera including employee assistance program-EAP, addiction recovery, outpatient mental health, and day hospital.   

Mary earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Resource Development and is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health. Mary is a Board Certified Coach and holds certifications in executive, life, and spirituality coaching.    

 

Mary’s extensive work with the Coalition for Physician Wellbeing includes being published as a chapter author for their two books:  

 

• Transforming the Heart of Practice: 

An organizational and personal approach to physician wellbeing   

• Physician Well-being During Sustained Crisis: 

Defusing Burnout, Building Resilience, Restoring Hope

 

 

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