In October, Los Angeles psychiatrist Karen Miotto, M.D., was named the 2016 recipient of the California Medical Association (CMA) Gary S. Nye Award for Physician Health and Well-Being in recognition of her selfless devotion to advocating and promoting the well-being of her fellow physicians

The award honors a CMA member who has made significant contributions toward improving physician health and wellness. The award was established by the House of Delegates in 2009 in honor of Gary Nye, M.D., a leader in bringing attention and developing solutions for physician impairment and rehabilitation.

"I did not learn to prioritize self-care in any aspect of my medical training or my occupational life. I, just like you, learned the opposite," said Dr. Miotto. "My goal is to be a personal agent for change and to advocate for well-being."

Dr. Miotto became a member of UCLA’s Medical Staff Health Committee in 1994, and since then has led the development of programs, services and activities that now serve as a model for other institutions. She was also integral to the development of a new mental health service for physicians-in-training at UCLA. She regularly orchestrates lectures on workshops on related issues like resilience, grief and loss, and mental health, as well as conferences for hospital leadership and wellbeing committee members.