Work life balance stories

Sep 17, 2026

Nearly half of physicians considered career changes due to well-being concerns, survey finds

A new survey of 1,000 doctors by a physician advocacy group found that nearly half have made or considered major career changes in the past year due to well-being concerns, with a widening mental health gap between employed and independent physicians.

Sep 17, 20261 source

Top claims

▪A Physicians Foundation survey of 1,000 doctors published in September 2026 found that nearly half of physicians made or considered major career changes due to well-being concerns in the preceding year.
▪Data commissioned by the Physicians Advocacy Institute shows that more than 80% of doctors were employed by hospitals, health insurance companies, and other businesses in 2025, compared with 25% in 2012.
▪Employed physicians are more likely than independent physicians to cite excessive workload, organizational policies, and strict productivity expectations as top contributors to anxiety and hopelessness, according to the September 2026 Physicians Foundation survey.

Subtopics

Burnout1 Mental health1 Mental health1

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