Elizabeth Harry, MD

Chief Well-Being Officer

Instructor in Internal Medicine

eharry@med.umich.edu

Dr. Elizabeth Harry leads the Office of Well-Being at Michigan Medicine which engages with leaders, key partners, and communities across Michigan Medicine and the University to elevate the well-being of individuals and groups across the Medical School and the Michigan Medicine. As a leader at Michigan Medicine, Dr. Harry works to strengthen, enrich, and implement a vision for the future of wellness and well-being through system-level policy change. She utilizes a data-informed and relationship-driven approach to enhance well-being in both academia and clinical care.

Dr. Harry brings over a decade of experience in medicine, healthcare and wellbeing and is a nationally recognized expert on cognitive load, burnout, and well-being. She joined the Michigan Medicine Wellness Office after serving as Senior Medical Director of Well-being at UCHealth and Assistant Dean of Faculty Well-being at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  In addition to the University of Colorado, Dr. Harry practiced at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she was assistant medical director and director of faculty development and well-being for the Brigham and Women’s Physicians Organization, as well as faculty liaison for graduate medical education well-being at Partners Healthcare. She has practiced internal medicine in both the inpatient and outpatient settings throughout her career.

She is on the board of the Collaborative for Healing and Renewal in Medicine (CHARM) under AAIM and teaches at the Stanford Chief Wellness Officer course.  Dr. Harry has partnered with leading institutions across the country to advance research and share successful strategies in this domain. She continues to study and publish about the impact of systemic and cultural aspects of health care systems on individual well-being.

Dr. Harry earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology and biology from Santa Clara University and her medical degree and completed residency training in internal medicine at the University of Colorado. She has been a Macy Scholar for the Harvard Macey Institute, and she also completed the Brigham Leadership Program at Harvard.

Her husband also works at Michigan Medicine as a clinical pathologist, and together they have three children ages 6, 9, and 11. 

Why does Dr. Harry feel passionate about well-being? I am deeply committed to the well-being of all individuals involved in healthcare, from patients to learners, researchers, and front-line clinicians and staff. I believe that the pursuit of health goes beyond just treating patients; it encompasses the holistic well-being of everyone involved in delivering healthcare. I am humbled by the opportunity to contribute to the well-being and professional fulfillment of healthcare providers, as I understand that effective care for others begins with mastering our own well-being. It is my utmost privilege to support and empower individuals in their journey towards optimal health and fulfillment. 

Shelagh Saénz, LPC, NCC 

Senior Project Manager
saenzs@med.umich.edu

Shelagh joined the Office of Well-Being at Michigan Medicine in 2021 as Project Senior Manager. In this role, she implements strategic and operational goals, stewards key initiatives, and advances the work necessary to achieve the office’s missions and goals. 

After receiving her Bachelor of Arts (English) from Albion College, she went on to obtain her Master’s degree in college counseling from Eastern Michigan University.   She maintains the certifications of Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC). She also is a certified facilitator in human-centered design thinking.

Previously, Shelagh worked at the University of Michigan School of Public Health where she served as director of career development for nearly two decades.  In that role, she excelled at coaching learners, managing programs, and leading operational and strategic functions of her office.  Throughout her tenure at the School of Public Health, she was an advocate for well-being in the workplace.  Shelagh was recognized through several nominations and awards for her dedication to well-being and inclusion efforts such as starting a school-wide staff wellness committee, organizing staff programs on health topics, and creating inclusive workplaces.

Shelagh recognizes the importance of being heard, understood, and valued.  Her professional interests include positive culture change, DEI advocacy, and human-centered design-thinking.  In her free time, Shelagh’s personal interests include genealogy research, scrapbooking, exercising, and cooking.

Why does Shelagh feel passionate about well-being? I believe that small, persistent, and positive actions have a transformative power to impact our workplaces in beneficial ways. I am passionate about promoting culture change at an institutional level that is inclusive and focused on the well-being of employees. My goal is that people feel valued and empowered enough to prioritize their well-being so that we experience the best of them rather than what is left of them. 

Coming soon!

Debbra brings to the table a wealth of experience from her prior role with Michigan Medicine Finance, adeptly supporting Associate Chief Finance Officers and the Finance Controller. Prior to that, her expertise was put to good use at the University of Michigan Depression Center, where she supported the founding director Dr. John Greden.  In that role, Debbra served as project coordinator for the Center’s Workplace Mental Health program piloting a project with Ford Motor Company. 

Throughout her expansive career, Debbra has amassed more than 15 years of experience providing director-level and executive support. Her background includes project management, specifically rolling out hospital-wide safety programs and event planning for high-profile academic events like research symposiums and grand rounds. Debbra is recognized for excellent interpersonal and communication skills, which complement her project planning experience and expertise in managing multiple, concurrent projects.

Debbra holds a Bachelor's in Healthcare Administration and an Associate's in Healthcare Administration, both from the University of Phoenix, on top of her qualifications from the Certified Medical Assistant Program at Ross Medical Education Center. Bringing enthusiasm, strong team-building capabilities, and a detail-oriented approach to her work, Debbra is a dependable team member whose organizational skills ensure seamless operation in fast-paced environments.

Paula Bryanch-Garrett

Executive Assistant Associate Health

pbryanch@umich.edu

Paula began her career in the academic industry working in the Detroit public school system. Upon high school graduation, she worked for the Better Business Bureau in the automotive arbitration program. Later she came to Michigan Medicine where she supported an executive leader in the field of breast surgery. In this role, Paula managed all aspects of the office: coordinating complex meetings including a weekly Breast Care Forum, securing international and domestic travel, managing the Fellowship program, and serving as the liaison for surgery/clinic staff. 

As Paula continued her career at MM, she work with a renowned teacher in the field of lean training and problem-solving. In this position, she worked closely with residents and medical students scheduling important meetings, managing complex tasks and calendars, and building strong relationships. 

In 2019, Paula was honored to receive the Quality Connector Award for going above and beyond to make the Quality Department a great place to work, while leading community service/outreach initiatives. Her present role allows Paula to build on previous experiences and use her expertise to help identify solutions for dedicated staff who are experiencing burnout and exhaustion. Paula finds it gratifying to be a member of a team that delivers meaningful and impactful strategies to navigate during these uncertain times.

When not working, you may find her running, sewing, or creating her next beautiful crochet project.

Why does Paula feel passionate about well-being?  I am passionate about wellness as it represents a life of limitless possibilities. When you are well, you feel good and love life!