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Review
. 2024 Jun 1;5(3):199-208.
doi: 10.36518/2689-0216.1742. eCollection 2024.

Addressing Burnout and Enhancing Well-Being Among Academic Physicians: A Call for Future Research and Organizational Support

Kelly D Holder  1 , Sharon Y Lee  1 , Fatima Zehra Raza  1 , Laura R Stroud  1
Affiliations
Review

Addressing Burnout and Enhancing Well-Being Among Academic Physicians: A Call for Future Research and Organizational Support

Kelly D Holder et al. HCA Healthc J Med. .

Abstract

Description Burnout among academic physicians, who navigate multiple roles beyond the clinical environment, is a pressing issue. However, the factors driving burnout among academic physicians are not fully understood. Prior research has revealed differences in burnout dimensions between clinical and basic science faculty, but the impact of balancing research, education, and clinical demands on academic physicians is still unclear. This knowledge gap negatively affects the clinical, translational science, research, and medical education workforces and has particular implications for minoritized and marginalized groups working in academic medical centers. Creating a culture of well-being has been vital in addressing burnout. Further research is needed to explore the unique experiences and demands of academic physicians- particularly those from minoritized and marginalized backgrounds-and to develop effective strategies to promote well-being as they balance diverse roles and contexts. This commentary highlights gaps in understanding burnout among academic physicians and proposes guidelines for future research as well as strategies to improve well-being at academic medical centers.

Keywords: academic physicians; burnout; clinical practice; interdisciplinary; medical education; research; well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: Dr Holder is an independent contractor for Chartis Healthcare Consulting.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
This figure illustrates the number of publications on physician burnout indexed in PubMed from 1981 to 2023.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A Venn diagram showing clinical, research, and education/teaching drivers of academic physician burnout. Abbreviations: EHR = electronic health record; IRB = institutional review board
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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