Physician ‘Burnout’ a Sign of our Times: Grapevine Discovery Launches its Latest
Physician Fulfillment Program
Grapevine Discovery, Inc. 11101 E Bajada Drive Scottsdale, Arizona 85262
For Immediate Release November 1, 2006
Contact: Fred Corbus (480) 585-4694 / 800-890-3141
Physician ‘burnout’ is a sign of our times. Physicians are stressed, overworked,
and often lose sight of their career goals and personal ambitions. Ultimately, the
physician’s well being suffers which affects patient care and healthcare costs.
To counteract physician ‘burnout,’ Grapevine Discovery, Inc. will launch its fourth
Physician Fulfillment Program on January 12, 2007. Founded by Howard Silverman,
MD, MS, and Fred Corbus in 2003, the program is designed for physicians (with or
without their spouse) of any specialty, of any age, who feel a lack of excitement,
loss of meaning, and/or a feeling that there is “something else.” Each program participant
leaves the program with a plan for achieving their own definition of a satisfying,
fulfilling, and balanced life. The CME certified program draws on the founders’
skills in retreat and community interaction, adding emerging online distance education
delivery systems. The distance education model coupled with retreats provides a
realistic offering for clinicians who too often have sparring needs – overscheduled
clinic days, administrative projects, family needs, and community obligations. To
date, 34 participants have successfully completed the program.
This program employs the Grapevine Process® which consists of six learning modules.
The first module is a weekend opening retreat designed to form a group and guide
each person through a process of developing lifetime visions. This opening retreat
will be held from January 12-14, 2007 at the El Pedregal at the Boulders. Immediately
following this opening retreat, participants move into the second module, which
is online and entitled “Preparing for Change,” and presents what studies and experts
tell us about change as it applies to our personal and professional lives. The third
module, also online, is entitled “Assessing Achievement of Values and Life Satisfaction,”
and is a series of self assessments for the major areas of each person’s life. In
the fourth module, entitled “Portraits; Stories of Increased Fulfillment,” participants
read about ten different physicians who underwent significant transformation in
their lives and careers. This module then transitions to a discussion of alternative
medical positions. The fifth module is entitled “Developing Action Plans, and Affirmations.”
The development of these, along with the Visions that were designed in the opening
retreat, provides each member with his or her plan for achieving their own definition
of a satisfying, fulfilling, and balanced life. The 6th Module is a Saturday closing
celebration retreat during which each participant shares their personal plan with
peers and solicits constructive feedback.
Dr. Silverman is a Clinical Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University
of Arizona College of Medicine and a Clinical Professor of Biomedical Informatics
at Arizona State University. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Purdue University,
majoring in Mathematics and German. He earned a Master's Degree in Computer Science
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he specialized in Artificial
Intelligence applications in medical decision making. He then attended Stanford
University School of Medicine, followed by a residency in Family Practice at Good
Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Mr. Corbus received his Bachelor’s degree in Management and Economics from the University
of Hawaii. Since then, he has served as a management consultant for more than 30
years, initially in Brisbane, Australia with the country’s leading consulting firm,
W. D. Scott, Pty. Ltd. Before leaving Australia, Fred served as branch manager.
Returning to Phoenix, where he was raised, he carried out the position of Assistant
Director for M.R. West Marketing Research, at that time the Valley’s largest consulting
firm. In 1979, Fred incorporated Corbus Associates, Inc. Since then, he has recorded
over 30,000 hours specializing in the design and facilitation of processes for management
teams and physicians on the subjects of conflict resolution, governance, codes of
conduct, internal peer review, long range planning, and leadership. Fred is credentialed
by the American Medical Association as a Health Care Consultant.
Summary Paragraph: Many physicians embark on a career with specific
goals in mind. For many reasons, they often lose track of their personal goals and
sense of balance and fulfillment which leaves them depleted. To counteract physician
burnout, Grapevine Discovery is launching its fourth physician fulfillment program.
These programs help bring fulfillment and balance into the lives of physicians from
around the country.
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