Community Health Network Selected for National Academy of Medicine’s Change Maker Accelerator Program

For release on March 18, 2026

Community Health Network physicians report distress levels 23% below national average

INDIANAPOLIS (March 18, 2026) — Community Health Network announced today that its Center for Physician Well-Being and Professional Development has been selected to participate in the National Academy of Medicine’s (NAM) prestigious Change Maker Accelerator, a competitive cohort program recognizing organizations actively advancing the National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being.

This recognition comes at a time when Community physicians are demonstrating exceptionally strong well-being outcomes. According to data from the Mayo Clinic Well-Being Index, Community physicians report distress levels 23% below the national average, outperforming benchmarks across 10 of 14 specialties analyzed.

Community’s Center for Physician Well-Being and Professional Development was established in 2017 due to an increase in physician burnout. Work accelerated during the COVID‑19 pandemic and placed unprecedented emotional, psychological and physical strain on frontline providers. The Center was created to offer dedicated support, confidential resources and strategic interventions for physicians and advanced practice providers experiencing burnout at historic levels.

What began as an urgent response to crisis has now evolved into a comprehensive, data‑driven program embedded into the fabric of the organization—strengthening workforce resilience and cultivating long‑term professional fulfillment.

The NAM Change Maker Accelerator brings together institutions implementing meaningful, system‑level strategies aligned with the National Plan. The program creates a structured framework for sharing best practices, measuring impact and accelerating improvements nationwide.

As a Change Maker Accelerator, Community Health Network commits to:

Tracking and reporting well-being outcomes using standardized metrics.
Engaging in a national community of practice, collaborating with peer organizations and NAM advisors.
Receiving coaching support to strengthen and scale local well-being initiatives.
Contributing data and real-world insights that help shape national policy, research and system‑level strategy for clinician well-being.

“Our selection as a Change Maker Accelerator is both a milestone and a motivator,” said Dr. Noah Kersey, Chief Wellness Officer. “This work began in a moment of crisis, but it continues today because caring for our physicians is essential to caring for our communities.”

Contact:
Kris Kirschner, kkirschner@eCommunity.com, 317-690-3982
Bobbie Brooks, bbrooks@eCommunity.com, 317-432-3490

About Community Health Network
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Community Health Network has been deeply committed to the communities it serves since opening its first hospital, Community Hospital East, in 1956. Community Health Network puts patients first while offering a full continuum of healthcare services, world-class innovations, and a new focus on population health management. Exceptional care, simply delivered, is what sets Community Health Network apart and what makes it a leading not-for-profit healthcare destination in central Indiana. For more information about Community Health Network, please visit eCommunity.com.