Dr. Clifford Wong: President's Message May 19, 2026 From the President President’s Column: Caring for Ourselves While Caring for Others By Clifford Wong, MD, ACCMA President Since the month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month, it is a good reminder to acknowledge the humanity of physicians and the extraordinary pressures we are facing today. The demands of practicing medicine continue to grow more complex, while many of us are also carrying the emotional weight of challenges unfolding beyond our clinics and hospitals – economic uncertainty, rising costs of living, global conflict, political division, and the ongoing strain these realities place on our communities and families. Physicians are often expected to be resilient in the face of constant stress, yet resilience does not mean facing these burdens alone. Many physicians across every specialty and stage of practice will experience burnout, anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion at some point, or points, in their careers. This is not a sign of failure, but rather a sign of our humanity. Likewise, taking care of our own mental health is not a sign of weakness, it is essential to sustaining our ability to care for others. At ACCMA, supporting physician wellness remains a priority. Members have access to confidential resources designed specifically for physicians, including peer support, counseling referrals, wellness programming, and assistance navigating personal or professional challenges. These services exist because no physician should feel isolated when facing difficult moments. This month serves as a reminder not only to care for our patients, but also to extend the same compassion and attention to ourselves and our colleagues. Reaching out, checking in, and seeking support when needed are acts of strength and kindness that help sustain both individual physicians and the medical profession as a whole. For more information about physician wellness resources available through ACCMA, please visit https://www.accma.org/Membership/Physician-Wellness.