Physician burnout continues to decline across the U.S., a bright spot for an occupation plagued by heavy workloads, pervasive stress and high stakes. But the improvement is not equal across medical specialties, according to new data from the American Medical Association. [HealthcareDive and AMA]

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The AMA surveyed thousands of physicians and found that 41.9% reported experiencing a burnout symptom in 2025, down from 43.2% in 2024 and 48.2% in 2023. The decline likely reflects employer efforts to reduce burnout, including by increasing job satisfaction, the medical association said.

However, burnout rates vary significantly across specialties, and tend to be higher among doctors employed by hospitals, suggesting health systems could be doing more to ameliorate the phenomenon.

Physician burnout is a huge problem in U.S. healthcare. As doctors take on higher administrative burden and longer hours, the physical, spiritual and emotional toll is driving more to leave the field altogether, exacerbating America’s shortage of medical staff. Burnout is also tied to poorer quality of care and lower patient satisfaction.

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