Episode 71 – Eliminate Intrusive Questions in Licensure and Credentialing to Reduce Mental Health Stigma – Corey Feist

J. Corey Feist, JD, MBA is a Co-Founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, an advocacy and action foundation created in memory of his late sister-in-law, who died by suicide early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation’s mission is to reduce burnout among healthcare professionals and safeguard their well-being and job satisfaction. The Foundation leaders envision a world where seeking mental health services is universally viewed as a sign of strength for healthcare professionals. Mr. Feist has more than 20 years of experience as a healthcare executive and recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Virginia Physicians Group, the medical group practice of UVA Health comprised of 1200+ physicians and advanced practice providers. Mr. Feist has authored numerous publications on the need to support the well-being of the healthcare workforce. He has served as an expert in multiple forums including providing formal testimony in the United States Congress.

In this episode, Mr. Feist and I talk about the factors that led to Dr. Breen’s death by suicide in 2020. Chief among these was a fear of losing her medical license if it became known that she had needed mental health support. This legacy is what has led the Foundation to launch a campaign to eliminate intrusive mental health questions from healthcare professional licensure and credentialing processes, a change that will help reduce the stigma that currently exists in healthcare around seeking mental health support. This change is beginning to happen at healthcare institutions and in state licensing boards across the country and represents a simple yet meaningful change to creating safer healthcare workplaces for team members and patients alike.

Links related to Mr. Feist's podcast episode:

• Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation’s licensure and credentialing campaign and toolkit
• U.S. New article: Give Healthcare Workers the Mental Health Support They Deserve
• The Physicians Foundation 2022 Physician Survey