Voices of U of U Health
Forward Together: Building a Culture Where People Thrive
By Amy Locke, MD, FAAFP
This is the final blog in the Forward Together series exploring how University of Utah Health is building an integrated academic health system achieving unsurpassed societal impact. The series highlights six shared goals guiding our collective vision for 2030.
Realizing our strategic goals for clinical care, discovery, education, and collaboration begins with a healthy workforce. Beyond physical and psychological wellness, “healthy” means feeling supported, connected, and valued in the work we do every day.
At University of Utah Health, our success as a system depends on the well-being and development of our people. When employees are thriving, they bring energy, creativity, and compassion to everything they do.
Our vision is to be a whole health system that nurtures the well-being of our people, patients, learners, and communities in unified and inclusive ways. That begins right here, within our own workplace.
What It Means to Thrive
A thriving workplace is something we build together. We’ve learned that well-being at work often comes down to three essentials: mastery, autonomy, and purpose.
When people are challenged in meaningful ways (mastery), have the freedom to think creatively and contribute ideas (autonomy), and feel that their work aligns with their values and purpose, they are engaged and energized. They want to stay and grow.
Thriving also depends on how we design our work and care for one another. We all show up as whole people—with families, responsibilities, and personal challenges. Supporting well-being means creating an environment that honors that reality; one that provides resources, fosters respect, and builds psychological safety so everyone feels seen and valued.
Building a Culture of Well-Being
At U of U Health, we’re redefining workplace wellness as a shared responsibility. It’s not just about individual programs. It’s about culture and systems.
Together with Human Resources, the Office of Faculty, and others, we’re taking steps to make well-being measurable, actionable, and sustainable.
Programs like the Better U Survey and the new Thriving Index give us insight into what’s working, and where we can do more to support teams. The Thriving Index combines well-being survey results with data like turnover, research, education, and clinical excellence to identify where teams are flourishing and where additional resources are needed.
And when teams face challenges, we’re learning how to respond in coordinated, compassionate ways through programs like Code Lavender—which provides immediate support for employees and teams experiencing crisis or loss.
Listening, Learning, and Acting
Feedback from our people is essential. Every voice matters. The feedback surveys we ask teams to complete are more than metrics. They are opportunities to listen and to act.
We’ve seen how improvements in teamwork, psychological safety, and belonging directly influence engagement and retention. By identifying where people are struggling and responding with meaningful change, we can create a workplace where every person feels heard and supported.
This commitment extends across all missions—clinical care, education, research, and community collaboration. When our people thrive, so does our capacity to serve others.
The Ripple Effect
The well-being of our workforce and the health of our communities are inseparable. To achieve our vision for unsurpassed societal impact, we must first take care of the people who make it possible.
As we continue toward 2030, we’re not just building a stronger organization. We’re modeling what health can look like for our state and region. By supporting the well-being of our own teams, we strengthen the care, discovery, and education we bring to the communities we serve.
Because when our people thrive, Utah thrives.
We Want to Hear from You
Creating a culture of well-being takes all of us. If you have ideas or feedback on how we can make University of Utah Health a healthier, more connected, and fulfilling place to work, share them with us at Together@hsc.utah.edu.
Other Blogs in This Series
Forward Together: Collective Goal Setting
Forward Together: Building Our Patient Stewardship and Navigation Hub
Forward Together: Putting Patients at the Center of Quality Care
Forward Together: Fostering a Culture of Innovation and Scholarship
Forward Together: Practicing Generative Financial Stewardship
Forward Together: Achieving Strategic Alignment
