Sri Sri Ravi Shankar brings energy and peace to Children’s National

Over the years, I’ve seen the terrible impact of provider burnout, and I’ve learned the importance of well-being for myself, first as a provider and now as CEO. I’ve seen the health care profession change in some amazing and quite honestly, unbelievable, ways through the years. So much of the new technology and innovation helps our patients, but it often comes with a price. Less interaction among team members can bring fewer connections. Pressure to see a certain number of patients can take some of the joy out of talking to them and caring for them. That’s why I’m a huge proponent of mindfulness and balance for our employees. We recently formed an internal provider wellness committee to help our staff reconnect with the professional joy and meaning behind the work every person at Children’s National does to help kids grow up stronger.

As part of our efforts, global peace ambassador, humanitarian, and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited our hospital. I’m grateful to Sri Sri for energizing our staff members and visiting the families and children in our pediatric intensive care unit along with some of the families of patients we’ve lost. I am hopeful that his words and his presence brought peace to everyone he met at Children’s National.