Thriving Under Pressure (11/19/26)

Thriving Under Pressure: The Predictable Impact of Chronic Stress on Attorney Health and Professional Performance

Attorneys routinely operate in demanding professional environments defined by sustained cognitive demands, complex decision-making, tight deadlines, client expectations, conflict, and limited opportunities for recovery. While stress is often viewed primarily as an emotional or mental health concern, chronic stress is also a physiological process that can influence inflammatory pathways, cardiovascular and metabolic health, sleep, cognition, and professional performance. 

Speaker and Executive Health Coach Mark Brezzell, M.S.C.P. will examine how chronic stress affects the body and mind and what that means for lawyers. Participants will explore the difference between short-term stress and ongoing stress, including its effects on inflammation, heart and metabolic health, blood sugar, sleep, focus, memory, emotional regulation, and decision-making.

The program will connect these effects to everyday legal work, including complex analysis, client counseling, negotiation, leadership, conflict management, and high-stakes judgment. Participants will leave with practical, evidence-informed strategies for recognizing excessive stress, improving recovery, and supporting long-term health and professional performance.

The goal is not to eliminate pressure. It is to improve the ability to respond, recover, and perform sustainably.

About the Speaker
Mark Brezzell, M.S.C.P. is the Founder and CEO of MDB LiveConnext LLC, an Executive Health Coach, Wellness Consultant, educator, and speaker with more than 30 years of professional experience spanning cardiovascular medicine, clinical education, and Medical Affairs.

Brezzell began his career as a cardiovascular perfusionist and participated in more than 2,000 open-heart surgical procedures, including work involving blood conservation and advanced heart-failure support. He subsequently spent more than two decades in the medical device industry and Medical Affairs, working at the intersection of cardiovascular science, medical technology, physician education, and clinical engagement.

Today, his work focuses on helping professionals understand the relationship between sustained occupational pressure, chronic stress physiology, inflammation, cardiovascular and metabolic health, sleep, cognition, resilience, and professional performance.

Brezzell also brings nearly three decades of lived experience managing Type 1 Diabetes, providing a personal perspective on chronic disease management, stress, resilience, and sustainable health behaviors.

He was selected to present at the 2026 American Bar Association National Conference for Lawyer Assistance Programs, where his work addresses attorney well-being, chronic stress, health, and sustainable professional performance within the legal profession.

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Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live.