Nearly half of physicians have considered leaving medical practice since the start of 2026, according to a recent survey.
Physicians point to complex clinical demands, persistent stress, and an aging workforce as reasons for reconsidering their future in medicine. Mounting clinical demands and stress are taking a toll on physicians, with many feeling overwhelmed.
Personal burnout was a reason for considering leaving, cited by one in four physicians, although this is down from 31% in the previous year’s survey. Other top reasons included early retirement, “too many policy shifts”, and “too many clinical demands”.
Kisha Davis, MD, MPH, president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said the numbers are not surprising, given the aging population and shrinking number of available doctors. “America is aging – both our physician workforce and our patient population – and at the same time, the number of available doctors is shrinking,” she said.
Dr. Davis noted that while burnout has declined from pandemic highs, family physicians are still being pulled away from patient care by administrative tasks, prior authorizations, and growing workforce shortages. She said reducing unnecessary burdens like prior authorization and investing in the next generation of primary care physicians could help.
Nearly half of physicians ranked stress management/burnout as the greatest challenge in their daily practice, yet only 10% of respondents said they regularly see a mental health professional. This suggests that many physicians are not seeking help for their mental health, despite recognizing the importance of stress management.
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The complexity of chronic disease management may be contributing to these pressures. Diabetes and obesity were ranked as the two most challenging chronic conditions to treat, with 37% and 35% of respondents citing them, respectively.
Jay Shubrook, DO, professor and diabetologist at Touro University California, said he was not surprised to see diabetes listed as most challenging. “It can affect all the organs,” he noted. “Type 2 diabetes is a silent, progressive, and multisystem disease.”
About one-third of physicians said they do not use artificial intelligence (AI) in their practice, and most of those who have opted to use it are using it for medical documentation and diagnostic support. This marks a rise over last year’s responses and may suggest that AI tools are being adopted to help with increasing clinical demands.
More than 800 physicians responded to MedCentral’s third annual national survey, fielded between May 5 and May 26.
Dr. Davis said, “By reducing unnecessary burdens like prior authorization, investing in the next generation of primary care physicians, and supporting physicians’ mental health, we can make meaningful progress.”
The issue of physician burnout is closely tied to the worker limits that are straining healthcare systems. As the demand for healthcare services continues to grow, it is essential that policymakers and healthcare leaders take steps to address the root causes of physician burnout and support the well-being of physicians.