Physician Resilience and the Little Way

Abstract

Many triggers for shame that lead to physician burnout occur during patient care or the medical learning environment. Many resilience programs are available to medical students and physicians, yet incorporate non-faith principles. The Little Way as developed by St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus would be a most effective way to incorporate spirituality into our daily duties. This article will explain the need for physician resilience and virtue ethics within our profession. Then, the article will describe the Little Way and apply its principles to healthcare to implement a faith-based approach to physician resilience.