Candra Wallace, MSW's Linkedin Analytics

“…but who’s going to take care of us?” 10 years ago, this was the question I asked myself while employed as a Medical Social Worker for a small, nonprofit hospice agency in rural Missouri. I knew that health care organizations needed to provide more comprehensive corporate wellness programs that went beyond diet and exercise and include other aspects of wellness that supported the whole person. There was also a need to improve interdisciplinary/interprofessional communication and relationships as well as address the workplace violence directed at workers from patients as well as the bullying and abuse that exists amongst us. I feared that we would lose our physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health professionals, because there was not enough being done to reduce or prevent burnout and trauma- to foster a work culture that prioritized the safety, well-being, and professional development needs of caring professionals. I knew this would have a detrimental impact on our nation's ability to provide quality and safe care to patients and improve the health outcomes of communities. Fast forward to 2020 . . . the pandemic exposed and exacerbated what many of us in healthcare saw coming and had been talking about. The present and future state of our nation’s health is dependent upon the willingness of businesses, professional associations, and educational institutions to consistently prioritize the safety, well-being, and professional development needs of the healthcare workforce. During this next phase of my career, I am focusing on ways to improve, recover, strengthen, and support my fellow healthcare professionals. Now that you've read where I'm going, please read on to learn about where I've been. I have 10+ years of experience working at both small and large organizations, in rural and urban settings, and at nonprofit and for-profit entities, providing social work services to people from age 5 to 100+ in a variety of settings, but mostly in healthcare. I have experience with mentoring, developing, supervising, and training social work students and other health professionals. My diverse work experience has fueled my passion and commitment for supporting the personal well-being, safety, and professional development needs of all healthcare professionals, so that current and future generations are prepared to address the complex health and social needs of those they serve, without losing themselves in the process.