The Support Group: Connection, Hope, and Healing for Patients and Providers

A thoughtful guide to supporting both doctors and patients on their shared road to better mental and physical health.

Dr. Shanda Blackmon is a pioneer in thoracic surgery, a skilled professional dedicated to providing the highest quality of care. But as a young doctor early in her career, she was overwhelmed. Her team was working at full capacity and Dr. Blackmon struggled to meet the needs of her many patients. It was strictly a numbers game. A game she was losing.

Then one day at the clinic she noticed patients trading stories in the waiting room, sharing not just valuable advice, but empathy and encouragement. That was the genesis of the support group, a safe place where people dealing with cancer and its aftermath could talk openly about what they were going through. It was a lightbulb experience for Dr. Blackmon, and it was just the beginning. Once she saw the difference a committed ally could make in a patient's long-term survivorship, Dr. Blackmon sought to extend the principles of support to her colleagues.

Physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers endure long hours under constant stress and can succumb to burnout due to the tidal wave of administrative work, patient complications, and constant pressure from administration to meet impossible demands. The sad truth is, one doctor commits suicide every day in the United States, the highest suicide rate of any profession. Understanding and allyship can make a big difference in their lives, too.

The Support Group shares stories of the patients Dr. Blackmon has treated over the years, as well as the healthcare professionals she has worked with. With insight and compassion, Dr. Blackmon takes a candid look at the role of support in our healthcare practices and offers a workable model for patients, caregivers, and providers alike.