The Science of Bite-Sized Well-Being During Uncertain Times: Evidence, Practice and Resources to Share
Tracks
Ballroom 1 - In-Person & Virtual via OnAIR
Ballroom 2 - In-Person Only
Springbrook Room - In-Person Only
Binna Burra Room - In-Person Only
| Wednesday, June 24, 2026 |
| 3:25 PM - 4:25 PM |
Overview
Dr J. Bryan Sexton, PhD
Chief Wellness Officer
Director, Duke Center for the Advancement of Well-being Science
Duke Health Integrated Practice
Presenter
Dr Bryan Sexton
Chief Wellness Officer | Director
Duke Center for the Advancement of Well-being Science | Duke Health Integrated Practice
The Science of Bite-sized Well-being During Uncertain Times: Evidence, Practice and Resources to Share
Presentation Overview
In this session the audience will review evidence published in top tier journals that both validates and normalizes their emotional exhaustion, and demonstrates that as much as the pandemic was associated with an increase in burnout, we now know through clinical trials that bite-sized well-being interventions can cause well-being to improve in the same magnitude. What took the pandemic 3 years to do can be undone in 10 days using these interventions. This presentation explains the science behind the interventions to improve workforce well-being, and demonstrates the prevalence and severity of well-being deficits, all while informing, comforting, and inspiring a weary work-force.
Three Key Learnings
1. Demonstrate the changing patterns of well-being in the workforce over the past several years.
2. Review and evaluate bite-sized resources and interventions that improve well-being.
3. After the session, learners will be able to understand how bite-sized interventions cause significant and enduring improvements in well-being.
Three Key Learnings
1. Demonstrate the changing patterns of well-being in the workforce over the past several years.
2. Review and evaluate bite-sized resources and interventions that improve well-being.
3. After the session, learners will be able to understand how bite-sized interventions cause significant and enduring improvements in well-being.
Biography
Bryan is the Chief Wellness Officer of Duke Health Integrated Practice and Director of the Duke Center for the Advancement of Well-being Science. After 30 years as a psychologist, psychometrician and investigator, he now works with leaders to assess and improve culture and work-force well-being. Bryan has conducted and published large studies and randomized controlled trials showing how to cause enduring improvements in the well-being of our workforce. He has authored over 100 peer reviewed publications, and his research instruments and well-being interventions have been translated and used in over 30 countries.
A perpetually recovering father of four, he enjoys running, using hand tools on wood, pickleball with friends, and hearing particularly good explanations of extremely complicated topics.
