After Hurricane Michael ravaged the Florida panhandle in early October, the American Red Cross and other relief organizations appealed for volunteer medical professionals, including physicians, to aid in relief efforts.

“Why would I want to do that? I’m already busy enough,” you may be saying to yourself.

However, physician volunteerism can have many positive impacts on your life and career, one of which can be to combat symptoms of burnout, such as stress and depression. In fact, a recent study on physician perceptions of volunteer service remarked, “Volunteering may serve as a crucial “escape hatch” from the stresses of their regular jobs—in other words, volunteering could have a valuable function in burnout prevention.”

There are many organizations with which physicians can volunteer their services—for disaster relief or otherwise. Some options to consider include:

• American Red Cross
• American College of Physicians Volunteerism Network
• Volunteer Match
• Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service – Physician Ambassador Program

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.