Changing the Culture: How One Ohio Community is Normalizing Physician Mental Health

Changing the Culture: How One Ohio Community is Normalizing Physician Mental Health

July 1, 2026 · 35 min · Episode 221

About this episode

Dr. McGregor and Dr. Varley discuss the Akron Physician Wellness Initiative and its impact on physician mental health.

Explore the Wellness-Centered Leadership Playbook: https://bit.ly/3P6Xlab Follow STEPS Forward on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/steps-forward-linkedin When pediatrician and CMO Rob McGregor, MD surveyed his physicians and found that nearly half were at risk of or already experiencing burnout, he did something unusual: he cold-called a psychiatrist he’d never met. Joseph Varley, MD answered that call, which led to the formation of the Akron Physician Wellness Initiative (APWI), a free, confidential, no insurance mental health service built specifically for physicians. In this episode, Dr. McGregor and co-founder Dr. Varley join host Kevin Hopkins, MD, to share how they turned a bold idea into a thriving program.

People in this episode

Host: Kevin Hopkins, MD

Guests: Rob McGregor, MD, Joseph Varley, MD

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Organizations: Akron Physician Wellness Initiative, STEPS Forward

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