Recent research shows nearly half of today’s medical learners experience at least one symptom of burnout. Burnout affects not only the physical and mental well-being of educators, but it can also lead to significant problems for the quality of education they can provide.
What causes burnout?
While the pressures in medical education have evolved, the core drivers remain universal. Burnout is most often fueled by:
- Heavy Administrative Load: Trainees and educators continue to spend significant time on documentation, inbox management, and other required tasks that pull focus from learning and teaching.
- Long and Demanding Hours: With trainees regularly logging 60+ hour weeks, recovery time is limited, and stress compounds quickly.
- Digital Overload: More tools, more systems, and more requirements mean more cognitive strain, especially when platforms don’t connect.
How Can You Solve Burnout at Your Institution?
Traditional wellness programs haven’t meaningfully moved the needle, and it’s easy to see why. Sustainable improvement requires addressing burnout at its source. Download A Deeper Look at Systemic Burnout in Medical Education to learn how your institution can help solve burnout through the following ways:
- Use automation to reduce repetitive, time‑consuming tasks
- Streamline mandatory work so documentation and evaluations take less effort
- Leverage data and AI to identify and support at‑risk learners and educators earlier
