Rising again after burnout: the palliative medicine specialist

“I’ve always been fascinated by the human condition in all its complexity. From a young age I wanted to be in a profession which exposed me to people and to what it means to be human,” says Michael Blaber, palliative medicine specialist at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. “We all have certain physical, social, psychological, and spiritual requirements which need to be met and understood in the context of healthcare, so I find that fascinating.”

Blaber says that part of his role involves identifying what is helpful for patients and their loved ones. “It’s about zeroing in on their priorities, so that we know how we can make a difficult time just that bit better for people. That is very rewarding.”

He adds, “I’ve also got a background in healthcare ethics and that certainly comes to the fore in terms of decision making towards the end of life and to ensuring we’ve got a robust ethical framework.”

While his role is rewarding, Blaber says there is a burden in being in close proximity to a lot of distress. “There is a learning curve when it comes to managing one’s emotions and making peace with what’s in our control and what is not.”

In 2016 he experienced a period of burnout. At the time, he says, there was a lot of stigma around mental health problems and it wasn’t easy to be open about what he was going through. “It was complicated. There was a tension between wanting to pursue excellence for each patient and the reality of working in an imperfect system where sometimes it all feels a bit messy. It was about understanding what was in my control.”

After a period away from work, psychotherapy, and the support of colleagues, Blaber regained his confidence. “It also helped that I’m a pastor at a local church, so the love and support of my church community as well as that of my wife helped me to get through it.”

Blaber then started a wellbeing scheme with his friend and colleague Ross Bryson, called Professionals Together, which was aimed at people who were transitioning from student to doctor and required extra support. “It provided support and coaching on looking after yourself and others, and created a nurturing environment where we could process some of our experiences and share a curry.”

That scheme has evolved and now contributes to a regional wellbeing programme called Thriving in Medicine, aimed at foundation doctors.

“I’ve been involved in a number of different projects which are broadly about humanising the work environment and providing pastoral support—not just for those in difficulty, but also for those who are okay but might need some help to maintain sustainable professional rhythms,” Blaber says.

If he could tell his younger self anything it would be that “imposter phenomenon is common in all professions, and that most people go through these challenges but it’s going to be okay. There are colleagues who want you to succeed, so enjoy the journey.”