Before You Break: Role of Peer Support in Academic Emergency Medicine

In today’s climate of political upheavals and global polycrisis, clinicians are navigating an unprecedented layering of pressures. Alongside the daily challenges of patient care, many are quietly managing personal stressors, systemic constraints, and the relentless pace of academic medicine. Some appear outwardly calm while paddling furiously beneath the surface, known as the Stanford Duck Syndrome, or question whether they truly belong in their role despite clear evidence of their competence, known as the impostor phenomenon. For many, the approach has been to hold it together for as long as possible until the strain becomes too great.

This session examines the role of peer support in helping colleagues through complex realities. We explored what is working well, where gaps persist, and how timely and authentic connections can counteract isolation and normalize the need for help. Drawing on real-world experiences, the conversation highlights strategies for creating a culture where clinicians can speak openly about their struggles, receive meaningful support, and find ways to sustain themselves during ongoing uncertainty.

By the end of this webinar, engaged participants will be able to:

• Recognize signs of distress in colleagues, including patterns linked to imposter phenomenon, Stanford Duck Syndrome, and the strain of ongoing global and political instability.
• Assess whether existing peer support practices in their workplace are meeting the real-time needs of staff and identify gaps that require attention.
• Implement at least two practical strategies to strengthen peer support, increase timely connection, and help colleagues maintain well-being during periods of high stress.