Hosted by U-M BME, the event featured esteemed speakers from inside U-M and colleagues from other institutions while offering a variety of activities designed to nurture mental and emotional health.
The recent “Thriving in Academia: Flourishing in a Culture of Burnout” workshop provided a much-needed platform for academic professionals to discuss and develop strategies for well-being in demanding STEM environments. Hosted by U-M BME, the event featured esteemed speakers from inside U-M and colleagues from other institutions while offering a variety of activities designed to nurture mental and emotional health. This session, held on August 13 in Ann Arbor, was the second of the year’s two BME Summer Workshops @ Michigan.
“The workshop proved to be an invaluable forum for addressing the challenges of burnout and promoting strategies for flourishing in academia,” said Mary-Ann Mycek, William and Valerie Hall Department Chair and Professor, Biomedical Engineering. “The hope is that this uniquely structured session has set a precedent for future discussions on enhancing well-being within the academic community and will lead to additional opportunities to improve mental health and wellness among faculty, staff and students at all institutions.”
The day began with a breakfast, followed by an overview plenary session, titled “Towards Holistic Well-Being: Raising Awareness, Addressing the Challenges, and Building Resilience,” presented by Angie Farrehi, Ph.D., Director of the U-M College of Engineering C.A.R.E. Center. The session set a positive tone and established the key themes of the workshop.
“I was so excited to attend this event. I conduct research on undergraduate mental health in engineering, so being able to hear stories of the way others are able to prioritize mental health and wellness is extremely helpful,” said Sarah Wilson, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Kentucky, who was visiting for the workshop.
Participants engaged in a brief guided mindfulness session led by Wendy Dolen-Morawa from MHealthy, which transitioned into the second plenary session, “The Career-Long Skill of Developing Resilience as a Scientist & Engineer in Academia,” presented by Shayn Peirce-Cottler, Ph.D., Chair of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia. Dr. Peirce-Cottler said that the day’s activities provided an opportunity to learn from colleagues throughout academia. “I enjoyed the information-sharing and hearing from a broad range of perspectives,” she noted.
The lunch break offered opportunities for informal conversation and networking among attendees. Lisa Pruitt, Ph.D., Lawrence Talbot Professor of Engineering at UC Berkeley, who then presented, “Engineering Your Life: How to Create an Authentic Life Filled with Purpose and Joy,” emphasized the importance of finding authenticity and purpose in one’s academic career, as well as overall life choices, through the decisions one makes in professional and personal realms.
Throughout the afternoon, event participants had the option to join well-being activities, including pour painting, standing yoga, and a guided mindful nature walk, each designed to offer relaxation and a creative outlet. William Herbert, a doctoral student at the Mayo Clinic, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to attend: “I am enjoying hearing the diverse experiences and the expertise of the event presenters.”
The day continued with parallel breakout workshops that offered practical advice and strategies for dealing with common challenges in academia. Topics included life design, supporting graduate student well-being, coping with stress and burnout, and the management of cognitive load and attention. Each workshop was led by a specialist with extensive experience in their respective fields.
The workshop concluded with a networking reception, where attendees reflected on the day’s insights. Participants and organizers shared a renewed sense of purpose and community in moving forward.
“I look forward to continuing these conversations in our U-M BME community and beyond,” said Karin Jensen, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, who spearheaded the event’s theme and activities. “In the workshop, we discussed how to thrive in a culture of burnout. I think an important next step is thinking about how we can dismantle cultures of overwork and burnout and move toward a culture that celebrates wellness in higher education. I am grateful for this opportunity from U-M BME to discuss this important topic and for Professor Mary-Ann Mycek’s support and leadership in this space.”