Physicians Serving Physicians

Your support makes a direct difference for physicians

Physicians Serving Physicians is made possible by generous donations from supporters like you! To continue this vital wellness work on behalf of physicians, residents, medical students, and their families, we invite you to make a tax-deductible donation. 

We help physicians thrive

Physicians Serving Physicians was established in 1981 by a group of physicians in recovery to help other physicians with substance use disorders and their families. Physicians Wellness Collaborative, an offering of Physicians Serving Physicians, expands upon over 35 years of successful peer support to address common challenges physicians face throughout their medical careers. 

As fellow physicians, we know all too well the cumulative stresses of this profession. The support you need as a physician, medical student or resident is just a phone call away. It’s safe, confidential, and at no cost to you. Reach out to us to get in touch with a trusted professional or a fellow physician for peer support at www.pwc-mn.org. 

Physician-centered wellness programs

Physicians Wellness Collaborative (PWC) offers the following services at no charge to physicians, residents, and medical students:

• Counseling – We provide confidential counseling sessions at no cost for Minnesota physicians, advanced practice providers, residents, medical students, and their immediate families.
• Peer Support – We facilitate peer-to-peer connections (individual and group) for physicians to talk with other physicians.  
• Education – We provide education about substance use disorders for individuals, family members, colleagues, co-workers, medical and hospital staff leaders, and concerned others.
• Referral – We assist colleagues with substance use disorders with resources and referrals as appropriate.
• Monthly Meeting – We host a monthly self-help meeting for mutual support, planning, and discussion of issues that are unique to physicians in recovery.  Documentation of attendance at recovery meetings is often required by HPSP.

Our record fueled by your contributions 

Physicians Serving Physicians continued to provide substance use disorder support through monthly support meetings and the Physicians Wellness Collaborative grew our well-being services through individual and group sessions for physicians, residents, medical students, and – new in 2021 –Advanced Practice Providers and their families in Minnesota. 

In 2021, nearly 300 physicians benefitted from the services of Physicians Serving Physicians and the Physicians Wellness Collaborative: 

• Over 30 physicians from across the state regularly attend and engage in monthly PSP meetings where they find support and community from fellow physicians living with substance use disorders.
• Over 100 physicians, residents, and medical students sought individual consultation and support through our 24/7 counseling or peer support services.
• Over 140 residents and fellows completed proactive wellness appointments as part of our partnership with residency programs aimed at changing the culture of medical education by normalizing help-seeking behaviors such as individual mental health appointments and peer support.

Also, in 2021, we were proud to advocate with several stakeholders to remove a longstanding barrier in Minnesota’s licensure renewal process, and beginning in January 2022, physicians are no longer required to report mental health conditions that are being appropriately treated when they apply for or renew their medical licenses. This requirement deterred many physicians from seeking treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.