Dr. Paul Fedak, a 54-year-old cardiac surgeon, recalls the first time he watched open-heart surgery as a young medical student. He was fascinated by the technical skill and the impact of the procedure on patients. This experience set him on the path to becoming a leading cardiac surgeon in Calgary.
Cardiac surgeries can be complex and demanding, taking two to four hours for typical cases, but often extending to eight, 10, or 12 hours or more. Dr. Fedak notes that the stress of performing surgery is undeniable, but the rewards are significant, including the impact on families and the challenges of reconstructive surgery.
Despite the demands of his job, Dr. Fedak had to stop operating in 2023 due to a neck injury sustained during hours of intense work. He had surgery for the damaged nerve, but it could not be fully restored. This led to a crisis of identity and a deep spiral into depression, as he struggled to come to terms with no longer being able to perform surgery.
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Dr. Fedak’s experience is not unique. According to the Canadian Medical Association, almost half of physicians are reporting burnout or struggling with depression, which is well above the national average. The statistics show a crisis situation of physician mental health, with doctors starting to speak out about exhaustion, bullying, and exclusion among clinicians.
Breaking the Culture of Silence
Dr. Fedak is now speaking out to share his personal story and form a national peer-to-peer support network for surgeons. He’s also working with a filmmaker friend on a documentary about how medical schools and the health-care system contribute to the expectation that surgeons never falter or exude anything but authority and confidence.
Debby Carreau, a human capital thought leader and CEO of Inspired HR, notes that the health-care system is overloaded, with staffing shortages and growing patient demand. This can lead to an unsustainable workload for physicians, who are often expected to put on a brave face and not humanize issues. Carreau emphasizes the need for more dialogue about mental health and a change in culture to support clinicians.
Dr. Fedak recognizes that he has a wound that needs to heal by figuring out who he was before he went to medical school, before he became a “fixer.” He’s planning retreats for practicing physicians to “unpack” the narratives that are making them ill and have safe, open conversations. In December, he’s starting a new leadership position at the University of Alberta as chair of the Department of Surgery, where he hopes to influence the culture of next-generation physicians.
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As Dr. Fedak reflects on his experience, he notes that the culture of medicine often celebrates physicians who are doing the work of three people, a pattern that is not sustainable. He emphasizes the need for a change in culture, including respecting work-life boundaries and providing support for clinicians to manage their workload and mental health.
Dr. Fedak’s new role at the University of Alberta will allow him to work with surgeons across North America to shape the culture of the medical profession. He’s also looking forward to spending more time at home and in the normal rhythm of life, which he’s been absent from for so long. As he begins this new chapter, Dr. Fedak is focused on creating a more supportive and sustainable culture for physicians, one that recognizes the importance of mental health and well-being.
The issue of physician mental health is complex, and there are no easy solutions. However, by sharing his story and working to create a more supportive culture, Dr. Fedak hopes to make a positive impact on the medical profession. Dr. Fedak’s journey is just beginning, and he’s taking the first steps towards creating a more sustainable and supportive culture for physicians.
