Motivation and Meaning in Medicine (M3) project
Supported by a grant from the Yium Family Foundation since Spring 2020, I have worked with my longtime colleague, Dr. Mukta Panda, to understand the ways in which a sample of highly resilient healthcare professionals from all levels within a hospital environment are able to maintain their resilience even within difficult working situations. The initial focus of this project was on ways in which these individuals were able to maintain a sense of meaning and motivation while supporting and/or engaging in the practice of medicine (hence the "M3" label). This research has ultimately shown us that resilience is not solely or cleanly linked to individual differences; there are real and meaningful ways in which work and the work environment can be designed to facilitate resilient function.
We are currently at the dissemination phase of this project, with multiple manuscripts currently in preparation. You can get a preview of the types of information that will be emphasized in some of these papers (and some other notable findings) from the presentations outlined below, which were developed at least in part from the work on this project:
CJLCunningham TNACP 2023 self-care strategies during work.pdfStrategies for protecting your health and well-being during work periods
Cunningham, C. J. L. (2023, October). Your self-care can’t wait (and it doesn’t have to): Strategies for protecting your health and well-being during work periods. Special presentation to attendees of the 2023 Tennessee American College of Physicians (TNACP) Annual Scientific Meeting. Franklin, TN.
CunninghamPanda, ACPH 2023 relationships and resilience.pdfRelationships and resilience
Cunningham, C. J. L., & Panda, M. (2023, October). The critical role of relationships in building and sustaining physician and other healthcare professional resilience. Paper presented at the 2023 American Conference on Physician Health (ACPH). Palm Desert, CA.
CunninghamPandaACPH2023poster, final.pdfIdentity management and resilience
Cunningham, C. J. L., & Panda, M. (2023, October). The impact of identity management on physician and healthcare professional resilience. Poster presented at the 2023 American Conference on Physician Health (ACPH). Palm Desert, CA.
CJLCunningham SIOP 2023 organizational factors affecting resilience.pdfPerson-environment contingency perspective on resilience
Presented in Moon, N. A., Bean, C. D., Calderwood, C. C., Chatman, J. A., Chen, Y., Choi, V., Converse, P. D., & Cunningham, C. J. L. (2023, April). Novel approaches to overcoming adversity: Multilevel research on workplace resilience. Symposium presented at the 38th Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Boston, MA.
Presentation to professional aspects of nursing course, Feb 2023.pdfEvidence-based methods for building and sustaining resilience
Cunningham, C. J. L. (2023, February). Surviving & thriving as a healthcare team member: Evidence-based methods for building and sustaining resilience. Special presentation delivered to Nurse Anesthesia program students at the UTC School of Nursing. Chattanooga, TN.
Cunningham+Panda, developing informed nurse leaders to optimize well-being, 8-19-22.pdfDeveloping informed leadership to optimize well-being in healthcare
Cunningham, C. J. L., & Panda, M. (2022, August). Recognize, reflect, and respond: Developing informed leadership to optimize well-being in healthcare. Workshop delivered to the Chattanooga chapter of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. Collegedale, TN.
Surviving & thriving as a healthcare team member
Cunningham, C. J. L., & Panda, M. (2022, June). Surviving & thriving as a healthcare team member: Preliminary findings from the meaning and motivation in medicine study – a UTCOMC, EHS, and UTC partnership. Healthcare Principles in Practice continuing education session presented at Erlanger Hospital. Chattanooga, TN. Video recording available at https://youtu.be/iSpnsiJrouU
Cunningham et al. WSH 2021 overview of healthcare workers study.pdfThe importance of meaning and motivation in medicine
Cunningham, C. J. L., Werth, K. A., Panda, M. (2021, November). Understanding the importance of meaning and motivation in medicine: Preliminary findings from a mixed-method study of resilient healthcare workers. Poster presented at the 14th International Conference on Work, Stress, & Health [virtual event].
WerthetalWSH2021 shortened measuresMeasures for longitudinal resilience research
Werth, K. A., Cunningham, C. J. L. & Panda, M. (2021, November). Developing and testing short and savvy measures of resilience, health, and well-being for longitudinal research with healthcare workers. Poster presented at the 14th International Conference on Work, Stress, & Health [virtual event].