LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When a medical student or physician feels too much pressure at work and quits, it sets them and their hospitals back thousands of dollars and is an unhealthy way to live. To combat this, leaders at the University of Louisville School of Medicine are finding ways to help students and doctors de-stress.

For the man who got it all started, all it took was a little quiet time.

Dr. Jon Klein, now Vice Dean of the University of Louisville Medical School, was suffering from an abundance of stress while practicing medicine a decade ago. Left weary by his career, meditation experts suggested he give the relaxation method a try. He left for a Massachusetts retreat and came back a changed man, determined to help others.

“By their fourth year, their last year of medical school, about 40% of [med students] have very clear signs of burnout,” said Klein as he sat in his small office, surrounded by motivational quotes, printed out on paper and taped to most vertical surfaces.

Klein labored to bring meditation to UofL. Reluctantly, more and more staff got on board, and Klein has helped create regular classes for thai chi, yoga, and simple reflection for both students and faculty. He’s even set up meditation rooms in school buildings.

“Now we’re having curricular focus on individual wellbeing, resilience, mindfulness, and not just compassion toward our patients, but compassion to one another and compassion to ourselves,” said Dean Toni Ganzel in a promotional video for the program.

Klein credits Ganzel for wholly supporting the program.

“[Dr. Ganzel] has called physician burnout a public health crisis and we think it is,” added Klein. “It’s one reason we’re trying to develop these programs and implement them.”