Becomes first integrated health system in Tennessee to receive national distinction
The Big Picture: Ballad Health has been recognized as a Dr. Lorna Breen Wellbeing First Champion for 2026 by the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation. This designation recognizes healthcare organizations that support their clinicians’ mental well-being at a high level by eliminating intrusive mental health questions and stigmatizing language from licensing and credentialing applications. While a handful of freestanding facilities have received this distinction, Ballad Health is the first integrated health system in Tennessee to be recognized by the foundation.
The background
- Dr. Lorna Breen was an emergency medicine physician who served patients at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in New York City during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Experiencing fatigue and exhaustion, Dr. Breen did not seek mental health care for fear of losing her job.
- Dr. Breen died by suicide on April 26, 2020.
- In response, her family founded the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation to destigmatize and support frontline clinicians seeking proper mental healthcare.
- The foundation’s efforts helped inspire the bipartisan Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act in 2022, which funds grants, professional training and anti-stigma campaigns meant to treat and promote healthcare workers’ mental health.
By the numbers
- Research by the Heart of Safety Coalition shows that 50% of clinicians reported concerns that their ability to be hired, credentialed or privileged to practice created a barrier to accessing mental health care.
- More than 40% of clinicians had concerns about professional insurance and license renewal if they sought mental health care.
- Fewer than 1 in 5 healthcare workers said they had a good understanding of Personal Health Programs (PHPs).
Why it matters
- The Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, with help from its ALL IN coalition, designates “Champion” status to a select group of healthcare organizations across the country.
- According to the foundation’s website, just 70 hospitals and 17 care facilities in the state of Tennessee are certified as Wellbeing First Champions for credentialing.
- This distinction reflects the emphasis Ballad Health has continued to place on destigmatizing and accommodating mental illness among its team members and clinicians.
What leaders are saying
“This achievement reflects the outstanding work of our Medical Staff Services team in partnership with the Medical Staff Services Committee of the Ballad Health Clinical Council,” said Dr. Amit Vashist, Ballad Health’s chief clinical officer. “Their thoughtful modernization of our credentialing processes supports both clinician well-being and patient safety. As a board-certified psychiatrist, I have seen how stigma can prevent clinicians from seeking help when they need it. No clinician should have to choose between seeking appropriate mental health care and protecting their professional standing. Removing those barriers sends a powerful message that seeking help is a sign of strength and should be treated no differently than seeking care for any other health condition.”
“Ballad Health is committed to proactively creating an environment where our caregivers feel supported and comfortable in seeking the help and support they need to continue delivering the compassionate and reliable care our patients deserve,” said Amy Trivett, Ballad Health’s director for medical staff services.
For more information
To learn more about the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation and the Wellbeing First Champion Challenge, click here.
