Stand Up (for) Doctors! Physician Retreat
A Weekend to Connect, Empower, Recharge, and Celebrate!
Windrose on Hudson, Ossining, NY | October 9-12, 2026
White Coats, Human Hearts
Now out in the world, carrying real voices, real connection, and real hope.
Doctors are human. Healthcare must remember that.
Stand Up (for) Doctors! is a movement creating connection, courage, and systemic change in medicine through stories, conversation, and community.
Why Stand Up (for) Doctors! exists
Medicine is in crisis, not because doctors lack resilience, but because the systems surrounding them have lost humanity.
Stand Up (for) Doctors! was created to amplify physician voices, restore connection, and challenge the cultural and structural forces that isolate and harm those who care for others.
This is not performative wellness.
This is truth-telling, community-building, and advocacy rooted in lived experience.
Led by Kim Downey, the movement brings doctors, patients, and allies together to heal healthcare from the inside out.
The conversations medicine needs right now
The Stand Up (for) Doctors! podcast features honest, courageous conversations with physicians, healthcare leaders, and advocates who are reimagining what care can look like when humanity comes first.
These are not soundbites.
They are lived truths, shared openly, to create connection and momentum for change.
Physician voices centered
Systems challenged with compassion
Stories that lead to action
Check Out Our Latest Videos
Real stories. Bold voices. Powerful conversations transforming healthcare—one episode at a time.
Stories that refuse to stay silent
Through collaborative books and written storytelling, Stand Up (for) Doctors! helps physicians reclaim their voices and name the realities too often ignored in medicine.
These stories are not about burnout as an individual failing.
They are about moral injury, loss of connection, and the courage to speak up and normalize vulnerability.
Each book is an act of advocacy.
Each voice strengthens the whole.
Real Stories. Real Impact.
Champions of Change
Hear from our supporters
Voices of impact. Our supporters share stories
Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC
Kim is a fierce advocate for physician well-being and I had the honor of being a guest on her YouTube show. She is very knowledgeable as a host and guided the conversation in an expert manner. I would highly encourage her as a public speaker. She is inspiring and dedicated- sharing her authentic journey and helping all who come in her circle.
Chrissie Ott MD
Kim Downey is one of those people whose presence on LinkedIn immediately stands out—not just because of what she shares, but because of how she shows up: consistently, courageously, and with deep care for the well-being of clinicians.
We first connected through mutual colleagues and shared advocacy work in the physician wellness space, and I’ve since had the pleasure of speaking with Kim on the Solving for Joy podcast. Her story and perspective are powerful, and her work through Stand Up for Doctors—as well as her role as an ambassador for the Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation—is a meaningful contribution to the larger conversation around healthcare culture and clinician support.
Kim brings both vulnerability and vision to the table, and her commitment to amplifying the voices of others is felt across every platform she touches. I’m grateful to be in community with her and excited to see how her work continues to ripple outward.
Michael Hersh, MD
What Kim has created here is more than a platform. It’s a mirror. One that reflects not just the pain physicians endure, but also the strength it takes to name it, share it, and do something about it….Kim has reminded us that advocacy starts with empathy. That connection is not a distraction from medicine. It’s the heart of it. And that when we stand up for each other, we begin to heal, together.
Your questions answered
Get informed now. Answers to your common questions
Frequently asked questions
About “Stand Up for Doctors!” with Kim Downey
What is “Stand Up for Doctors!”?
“Stand Up for Doctors!” is a platform hosted by Kim Downey, focused on amplifying the voices of doctors, healthcare professionals, and patients. It highlights their real experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the medical field.
What topics are discussed on the channel?
We explore a wide range of healthcare issues, including:
- Physician burnout and mental health
- Patient-doctor relationships
- Systemic healthcare challenges
- Healthcare reform and advocacy
- Triumphs and passion projects in medicine
How can I get involved or share my story?
If you’re a doctor, healthcare worker, or patient with a story to share, reach out to us! We welcome new voices to join the conversation and contribute to the mission.
Is this platform only for doctors?
Not at all! While we focus on the well-being and stories of doctors, we believe in the power of collaboration, so all voices from the healthcare ecosystem are welcome and valued.