Survey Reports Significant Frustrations Among Academic Physicians

Nearly one-third of academic physicians surveyed, including many rheumatologists, were considering leaving their institutions within two years of the survey, often because of a lack of professional fulfillment or from professional burnout, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open in fall 2023.^1,2 That amount of physician turnover contributes to an interruption of patient care and professional relationships, and it financially strains the healthcare system, says lead author Jennifer A. Ligibel, MD, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston. It can also further reduce an already short supply of physicians because some will leave medicine for other pursuits.

The authors suggest that a comprehensive approach is needed to stem the flow of unhappy physicians looking to leave their posts. The survey highlights areas of concern that could be addressed through programs focused on reducing burnout and increasing professional fulfillment to encourage physicians to stay in their roles, says Dr. Ligibel.

“It may seem obvious, but physicians who are engaged in their work and more professionally fulfilled are more likely to stay in their jobs,” she says.

Dr. Ligibel

The survey was offered to 37,511 healthcare workers and the analysis included 18,719 attending-level medical specialists at 15 academic medical institutions that participate in the Healthcare Professional Well-Being Academic Consortium. Researchers collected data from October 2019 to July 2021 and conducted analyses from May 2022 to March 2023.

The main outcome of the cross-sectional study was intent to leave (ITL), defined as at least moderate intention (score of 2 on a 0 to 4 scale) to leave one’s institution within the next two years. Out of 18,719 academic physicians surveyed, 32.6% reported either moderate or higher intention to leave their institution within two years.

1/3 Plan to Leave

At 35.3%, rheumatologists ranked in the upper third of specialists surveyed at academic institutions who intend to leave their current job. Among all 53 specialties in the study, the clinicians with the lowest and highest intention to leave were those in nuclear medicine (13.6%) and anesthesiology (46.8%), respectively.

Priyanka Iyer, MD, a rheumatologist at UC Irvine Medical Center, California, and associate fellowship director, Division of Rheumatology at UCI School of Medicine, says the survey rang true for her on several fronts after she moved from Iowa to California for a new job.

She experienced culture shock and isolation from colleagues which left her questioning her decision. It was a taxing and stressful period in her life because she was a new mother of an infant and the move occurred in March 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic thrust the medical community into overdrive.