About one in four medical group practice leaders have added to or updated their tactics for addressing clinician burnout in the past year, according to an April 1, 2025, MGMA Stat poll.
In the same poll, about two-thirds (66%) of respondents said they had not made updates and another 11% were unsure. The poll had 295 applicable responses.
This is not to suggest that clinician well-being as a crucial factor in healthcare is off the radar. A September 2004 poll found that more than one in four (27%) medical groups experienced a physician retiring early or leaving due to burnout. Yet despite the obvious impact, many organizations lack formal retention initiatives: A May 2023 poll revealed that more than three in four (77%) respondents reported having no formal physician retention program or strategy in place.
Among practice leaders who added or updated their tactics for addressing burnout, the most common efforts included:
- Adoption of AI tools: Widespread implementation of AI scribes, documentation support, and billing automation to reduce clerical burdens.
- Workload and scheduling changes: Shift reductions, four-day workweeks, fewer weekends, protected time off, inbox coverage during vacations, and adjusted productivity expectations.
- Expanded wellness and mental health resources: Employer-sponsored therapy, Calm app access, massages, coaching, seminars, and wellness committees or officers.
- Training and engagement: Systemwide trainings, therapist-led sessions, leadership mastermind groups, and stay interviews to gather feedback.
- Operational and staffing improvements: Hiring additional providers or support staff, enhancing scribe services, and making Lean process improvements.
With the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projecting a physician shortage of up to 86,000 doctors by 2036, the imperative to make inroads against burnout and ensure physicians want to continue practicing their craft is clear.
Is medicine still a calling?
New research from Jackson Physician Search and LocumTenens.com reveals a complex yet hopeful picture of physicians’ attitudes toward purpose, burnout, and career satisfaction. For healthcare administrators, these insights offer a roadmap to improving physician engagement, retention, and well-being — by understanding how the “calling” to medicine shapes clinicians’ professional identities and day-to-day fulfillment.
- MGMA members can view an excerpt of the research in the April 2025 issue of MGMA Connection magazine, now online.
A strong start — but fading passion
An overwhelming 90% of physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) said they viewed medicine as a calling when they began their careers. Altruism was the top motivator, with 73% citing a desire to help others. However, more than half say their sense of calling has diminished over time — driven largely by growing administrative burdens, regulatory pressures, and a perceived loss of autonomy.
Despite these challenges, 81% of clinicians still believe being a clinician is an integral part of their identity, reinforcing that their connection to purpose, though strained, remains strong.
Purpose as a buffer against burnout
The report underscores a key finding: clinicians who feel medicine is a calling are significantly more resilient. They report higher engagement, greater satisfaction, and a stronger intent to remain in the profession. For example, only 4% of those who view medicine as a definite calling describe themselves as burned out and disengaged, compared to 10% of those who don’t identify with that sense of purpose.
Moreover, 77% of all respondents said the positives of their job still outweigh the negatives, a figure far surpassing engagement levels in the general workforce.
Generational and specialty differences
Generational perspectives vary: Baby Boomers are most likely to view medicine as a calling and express joy at work, while Millennials are the least likely to share that sentiment. Interestingly, Gen Z clinicians, despite reporting lower passion levels, are highly motivated by the desire to serve humanity, suggesting that they may simply not resonate with the “calling” language.
Specialty also matters. Behavioral medicine and women’s health specialists report the strongest sense of calling and are more likely to say they would choose medicine again. In contrast, clinicians in musculoskeletal and diagnostic specialties report lower levels of passion and purpose.
What keeps clinicians going?
When asked what sustains them during challenging moments, clinicians most frequently cited connections with patients, followed by time with family and self-care. They also pointed to meaningful tasks like clinical decision-making, advocacy, and patient gratitude as sources of joy.
What administrators can do
Administrative leaders play a crucial role in either reinforcing or eroding physicians’ sense of purpose. The report identifies two key ways leaders can help clinicians reconnect with their calling:
- Reduce administrative burden: Giving physicians more time to build relationships with patients allows them to experience the aspects of care that initially drew them to medicine.
- Support work-life balance: Ensuring clinicians have time for personal relationships helps prevent burnout and restores emotional energy.
Additionally, mentorship opportunities — especially between Baby Boomer physicians and younger clinicians — can help transfer of both clinical wisdom and renewed sense of mission.
Conclusion
Clinicians still want to make a difference. Reconnecting them with their sense of purpose isn’t just a feel-good initiative — it’s a strategic imperative for health systems looking to retain talent, reduce turnover, and ensure quality care. Purpose-driven physicians are not only more engaged, they’re more likely to stay. And in an era of workforce shortages, that could make all the difference.
Do you have any best practices or success stories to share on this topic? Please let us know by emailing us at connection@mgma.com.
Join MGMA Stat
Our ability at MGMA to provide great resources, education and advocacy depends on a strong feedback loop with healthcare leaders. To be part of this effort, sign up for MGMA Stat and make your voice heard in our weekly polls. Sign up by texting “STAT” to 33550 or visit mgma.com/mgma-stat. Polls will be sent to your phone via text message.
Additional resources
- MGMA members enjoy exclusive access to a series of Physician Hiring Playbooks, covering topics from succession planning to onboarding. These member-benefit playbooks include:
