Our original paper in STAT News was borne of close observation, scores of informal conversations, and thoughtful background research, but it was a thought experiment - a carefully considered hypothesis to gauge others’ similarity of experience.
The response to that article was overwhelming and consistent but it was gut-level validation. Scientists, like healthcare professionals, want empirical data to back up even their strongest visceral responses.
We are gathering that data, in various categories and with various collaborators, in the U.S. and abroad.
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Reframing distress to include moral injury resonates with health workers’ experience and reframes the approach to solutions.
Talbot SG, Dean W. Physicians aren't 'burning out.' they're suffering from moral injury. STAT. Published July 26, 2018.
Dean WK, Talbot SG. Autonomy, mastery, respect, and fulfillment are key to avoiding moral injury in physicians.The BMJ Opinion. Published January 24, 2020.
Dean W., et al. Moral Injury and the Global Health Workforce Crisis — Insights from an International Partnership. New England Journal of Medicine. 2024;391:782-785. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp2402833
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Mitigation starts with knowing who is at risk of moral injury, what factors contribute to the experience, and how it’s related to other challenges.
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The most exciting work is building evidence for morally centered care that benefits administrators, clinicians, and patients.
Our partners in this work
National Framework for Addressing Burnout and Moral Injury
Our team was selected by the Health Resources and Services Administration in 2022 to provide technical assistance to 44 recipients of a total of $100M in funding it address clinician distress. As part of HRSA’s funding to our coalition (the “Workplace Change Collaborative”, we also were tasked to develop a national framework on burnout and moral injury.
Our partners in this work
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