Dr. Susan Biali Haas speaks to the heart of what so many of us are feeling and witnessing in our workplaces, communities and homes these days: “Most of us are not okay.” An award-winning medical doctor, mental health expert, coach speaker and author, she will impart to AFP 2023 attendees the same wisdom and compassion that has earned her awards and turned military leaders, senior executives and physicians to her for guidance.
This year’s Wellness Keynote speaker Dr. Biali Haas will explain, in a talk titled “Resilient Leadership: Reduce Stress, Prevent Burnout, and Maximize Your Impact,” why we need to rethink the way we work and live, detailing the key factors that support our mental health, well-being and resilience. Her discussion will include team-related drivers of chronic stress and boundary management strategies to improve personal well-being and work performance.
Biali Haas understands, better than most, the severe effects of burnout, as well as how to heal from it. When she was in her residency as an emergency room physician, she came very close to quitting her job and taking her own life. “I’d been diagnosed with depression at that point, and it wasn’t until years later that I came to appreciate that my primary diagnosis probably was severe burnout,” she said.
Her colleague suggested she take a stress leave and think about how she truly wanted to live her life. Biali Haas did just that. Having always been passionate about dancing, Biali Haas took up flamenco dancing and embarked on an adventure in Mexico that included opening her own dance studio. At the same time, she took the necessary steps to maintain her medical license, which then morphed into a career where she travels the world helping people overcome burnout and live their best lives.
“A lot of people come to me because they want help quitting their jobs or transitioning to a new career entirely,” said Biali Haas. “But most are actually just severely burned out, and when we work on initiating changes in their workplace, and changing how they relate to their work, their boundaries, how they think about work and how they take care of themselves … the majority end up not quitting their jobs — it was the burnout that was making them feel that way.”
Proud resident of Vancouver, British Columbia, Biali Haas earned her M.D. from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and has received numerous awards for her work including the Rakesh Goel Prize for most outstanding clinical skills, the UBC Medal in Dietetics, and the Woman of Worth Award in Health & Wellness.
A bestselling author, Biali Haas’ new book, The Resilient Life, was released in fall 2022. Her blog posts on Psychology Today have attracted over 10 million views, and her opinions have appeared in Oprah.com, Forbes, Fast Company, The Chicago Tribune, Health, Martha Stewart Living, People, InStyle, Elle, Prevention, The Washington Post, The New York Post, and The Globe and Mail. She has also been a health columnist and “Embrace Life Expert” for Reader’s Digest Best Health.
She has been a featured guest on “TODAY with Hoda and Jenna,” “The Ricki Lake Show,” and “The Marilyn Denis Show,” where Dr. Biali Haas shares her decades of research and experience on wellness and resiliency.
Partnering with American Express, Hilton, Procter and Gamble and Toyota, she has been able to provide information on health and well-being to the public. Further, American Express recognized Dr. Biali Haas as a “Real Life Potentialist” who has broken away from traditional paths and followed a unique calling in life.
Gain a deeper understanding of the factors driving workplace and personal well-being, and ensure you’re equipped with actionable goals and strategies that benefit you, your life and your people by attending Dr. Susan Biali Haas’ keynote this October at AFP 2023.