Implementation of ThriveCircles for Clinician and Scientist Well-Being at CU SOM
University of Colorado, Denver
Summary
This study is testing a program called ThriveCircle, which brings small groups of faculty members together to talk about their work experiences, support one another, and build a stronger sense of community. These groups meet over shared meals and use guided conversations to help reduce burnout and improve well-being among clinicians and scientists.
Description
The ThriveCircle Study is a pragmatic, hybrid Type 1 effectiveness-implementation project designed to evaluate a structured yet self-facilitated small-group program intended to improve well-being among faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (CU SOM). The initiative adapts core elements from previous peer-support interventions-most notably the COMPASS model-into a format optimized for scalability, flexibility across faculty roles, and sustainable integration into institutional culture. Study Purpose and Rationale Clinician and scientist burnout continues to rise nationally, w…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 30+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Employed or affiliated faculty at CU SOM (including both CU SOM-paid and non-paid faculty) * ≥0.5 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) appointment * Age 18 years or older * Willing and able to provide informed consent * Willing to participate in ThriveCircle group sessions (in-person, with shared meals) * Able to communicate in English (study materials and sessions will be conducted in English) Exclusion Criteria: * • Faculty with \<0.5 FTE appointment * Not affiliated with CU SOM * Under age 18 * Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent * Unable to participate i…
Interventions
- BehavioralThriveCircle Peer-Led Well-Being Groups
The ThriveCircle intervention consists of peer-led small-group sessions designed to strengthen connection, reflection, and well-being among faculty. Groups of 8-10 participants meet in person six times over six months to engage in structured conversations about meaning in work, shared challenges, professional identity, and resilience, using a standardized discussion guide. Sessions include shared meals to promote community and engagement. Each group is self-facilitated by a faculty participant who receives brief training and a turnkey toolkit that includes facilitation guides, scheduling resources, fidelity checklists, and adaptation logs.
Location
- University of ColoradoAurora, Colorado