Physician leverages professional coaching to promote provider well-being

Dr. Kristin O’Dell used the UW–Madison Professional Coach program to overcome physician burnout and foster a culture of wellness in health care.

For many health care professionals, finding balance in caring for their patients and caring for themselves often feels impossible. The constant demands of the clinical environment, administrative work and patient care can reduce provider well-being to a superficial afterthought.

Dr. Kristin O’Dell faced her own journey through professional burnout as a hospitalist and department chair at UPH-Meriter in Madison, Wisconsin, where she steered her team through the intense, uncertain days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It was then that she discovered the transformative impact of coaching. 

“I learned to protect what matters, set and hold boundaries and create rhythms that make space for medicine and a life that deeply aligns with my values,” O’Dell said. This profound personal shift inspired her to help other health care professionals find that same balance, ultimately leading her to the UW–Madison Certified Professional Coach program (UWCPC).

She explained that “UW’s program illustrated invaluable skills that have the power to transform a conversation — applicable across settings — to navigate personal and professional challenges.”

Research-based coaching education

The UWCPC is the only Big Ten university in the Midwest to offer a Level 2 program accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Grounded in the ICF core competencies, the program utilizes a live online, cohort-based model to prepare professionals to integrate coaching into private practices, leadership roles and diverse professional settings.

Having spent years working within Madison’s medical community, O’Dell already knew exactly where to look for top-tier training.

“The reputation, alignment with UW–Madison and comprehensive ICF-accredited program drew me to the UWCPC,” she said. “The program had been on my radar for years through my affiliation with both the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health.”

She also discovered takeaways during the program that extended beyond the classroom. “A new path forward emerged, allowing me to let go of limiting beliefs and embrace a perspective of curiosity,” she said. “This led to a shift in priorities to include wellness, longevity and joy.”

Beyond the core curriculum, the collaborative cohort environment provided an enduring network of peers. “The relationships formed during the program continue to be an inspiring resource,” she added. “I am privileged to be part of this tremendous community of coaching leaders.”

Transforming health care culture

Today, O’Dell applies her UWCPC training across her personal and professional life.

Personally, she implements these coaching skills daily to stay grounded in curiosity and remain fully present with her family. Professionally, she utilizes her training as a physician coach with MD Can Help, partnering with health care clients to navigate the exact hurdles she once faced: burnout, efficiency and boundary setting.

O’Dell believes that coaching is an essential tool for the modern professional and that its benefits are firmly rooted in science.

“Coaching is supported by randomized trials as a physician well-being intervention,” she explained. “This includes reduction in burnout and emotional exhaustion alongside improvements in self-compassion, professional fulfillment and resilience. The impact cascades beyond the clinical setting, to the way we show up for ourselves, our patients and at home.”

Looking toward the future, she plans to advocate for systemic change by introducing coaching earlier in the professional development process.

“I wholeheartedly believe in coaching as part of the well-being journey for the health care community and see value in bringing a coaching culture to places to create lasting change,” she said. “My future focus is on coaching as prevention for all professional health students.”

Learn more about our professional coaching education programs. Whether you are exploring professional coaching for the first time, seeking coach training from an ICF-accredited organization or are an established coach looking to refresh your skills, UW–Madison has a program to support your goals. For questions, contact Program Developer Samantha Dye at samantha.dye@wisc.edu.