Reversing Cycle of Burnout Starts With Knowing Yourself
Lauren Williams, M.D., a third-year resident at the North Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program in Minneapolis, talks about the daily stress she faces and the tools and strategies she uses to help her maintain a healthy work-life balance, even with a hectic schedule. For her, avoiding burnout starts with knowing yourself and focusing on the things you value.
For This FP, Faith and Family Life Help Stave Off Burnout
When Stephen Dudley, M.D., swims in Puget Sound year-round, he's not just swimming. As he slices through the water, he's also praying. Dudley recently shared with AAFP News how his faith -- and a rich family life -- have helped protect him from burnout and made him a balanced, productive physician.
FP Achieves Wellness by Bucking Traditional Practice
Professional burnout is an all-too-common problem that plagues many family physicians. As part of the AAFP's strategic focus on overcoming professional burnout and cultivating physician well-being, AAFP News spoke with California native Chris Flores, M.D., a family physician who left traditional practice to open his own low-volume, low-overhead solo practice.
Yoga, Volunteerism Help Medical Student Battle Burnout
Medical students are no strangers to burnout. Anna Askari, a fourth-year medical student at Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, says she's often felt burnt out. Askari recently spoke with AAFP News about how she copes with stress and burnout and how she plans to manage it as a resident and beyond.
A Year's Reprieve in New Zealand Gives FP Fresh Perspective
In 2004, Wayne Strouse, M.D., temporarily shuttered his practice in Penn Yan, N.Y., packed up his family and moved to New Zealand, seeking refuge from burnout. The year away gave him perspective that fueled positive changes in the way he now lives and works. He recently shared his experiences and what he learned with AAFP News.
Resident Confronts Burnout by Launching Wellness Program
Kristina Dakis, M.D., a second-year resident in the University of Illinois at Chicago Family Medicine Residency Program, recently gave AAFP News an inside look at her own experience with burnout early in her medical training and explains how it drove her to help create a medical student wellness program to combat it.
Embracing Whole-Person Care Key to Beating Burnout, Says FP
AAFP News recently spoke with Jamie Osborn, M.D., about her struggle with burnout and the tools she used to find joy once again in family medicine. Osborn, a married mother of two, relied on spirituality to help her regain a sense of balance after leaving her post as director of a fast-paced family medicine residency.
Recent AAFP News Coverage and Blog Posts on Physician Well-being
09/23/2019 — As part of its ongoing effort to help family physicians increase professional satisfaction and fulfillment, the Academy has added a new assessment resource -- the Physician Well-being Index -- to its Physician Health First portal.
08/20/2019 — When family medicine resident Michelle Byrne, M.D., M.P.H., experienced symptoms of burnout, she acted quickly to overcome it. Read more in this Leader Voices Blog post.
08/16/2019 — Results of a small pilot study suggest that family physicians who practice in rural areas have significantly lower burnout rates than their nonrural peers.
Is Physician Burnout on the Decline?
03/13/2019 — Results of a survey of more than 5,900 U.S. physicians found that for many specialties, including family medicine, burnout incidence has decreased in recent years and satisfaction with work-life balance has increased.
Previous Focus on Physician Well-being Content
Physician Health First Kickoff
AAFP Senior Vice President for Education Clif Knight, M.D., launches the Academy's physician well-being initiative.
Explore the AAFP’s interactive web portal for resources dedicated to improving physician well-being.
