MEMBER VOICES: My journey through AAFP's well-being program

When I first enrolled in AAFP’s Leading Physician Well-being Certificate Program, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I knew I was passionate about physician wellness, and I was looking for a way to make a more meaningful impact. What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply transformative the experience would be — not only for how I see leadership, but also for how I understand myself.

The LPW certificate program is a 10-month series where family docs develop their knowledge and skills in leadership development, performance improvement, and physician well-being. The next cohort will meet a number of times in person as well as virtually from September 2025 through May 2026. The application to apply is due June 1.

What I learned and how I plan to use it

One of the biggest takeaways for me has been that leadership isn’t reserved just for those with a title or a corner office. Anyone can be a leader, regardless of job title or setting. But the most essential form of leadership begins with yourself. The LPW program emphasized that if we want to lead others effectively, we must first learn how to lead ourselves with intention, integrity, and care.

A key part of that self-leadership journey was discovering what personally and professionally fulfills me. Through exercises in self-compassion, wellness reflection, and values alignment, I began to better understand my own well-being and how critical it is to prioritize it. The program didn’t just encourage self-care; it provided practical tools to make it actionable.

We learned to recognize our own leadership strengths by taking the DiSC assessment. This powerful personality test opened my eyes to my natural workplace tendencies and strengths. It was insightful to learn not only how I function, but how my colleagues do too. This allowed me to reframe “leadership” as a collaborative, team-driven process rooted in mutual respect and understanding.

I both felt empowered by and particularly enjoyed learning more about SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals. We applied SMART goals and process improvement methodologies to design both a personal health enhancement initiative and a system-wide project tailored to my practice. These frameworks allowed me to move beyond theory and into real, measurable change. Now that I have these tools in my toolkit, I see endless opportunities to apply them — in my life, my work, and my broader community.

Why you should consider applying for LPW

This program is a rare combination of reflection, learning, and action. It teaches you to approach personal and professional well-being through the lens of process improvement — a powerful shift that empowers you to tackle problems in ways that are actionable, measurable, and sustainable. It also connects you to a national network of like-minded, passionate, and compassionate peers. The relationships I built with my home group, faculty, and fellow scholars are deeply meaningful and will undoubtedly last far beyond the 10-month duration of the program.

Participating in LPW will transform the way you see and try to solve problems. It can even change your career trajectory to be better aligned with your deeper sense of purpose, which is especially significant in today’s health care climate.

Be part of the systemic change with LPW

In a system overwhelmed by physician burnout, moral injury, and compassion fatigue, we need tools and spaces that prioritize our humanity. The LPW program exists because there is a growing, urgent need for physician-led well-being initiatives that inspire systemic change. As long as that need exists, programs like this must continue to grow and evolve.

I’m incredibly grateful for the insight, support, and community I found through LPW. It reminded me that we’re not alone in this work — and that healing our system begins with healing ourselves.

If you are at all interested in the LPW certificate program, I highly encourage you to apply! Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Jessica Nu Glick, DO, is employed as a direct primary care physician at First Primary Care in Houston, Texas. She has special interests in obesity medicine, process improvement initiatives, and promoting physician well-being. Have further questions about the LPW program? Email her at jessicaglickdo@gmail.com.