Physician burnout is one of the most pressing challenges facing the medical profession today, and it is a priority the Medical Society of the County of Erie takes seriously. Burnout affects not only the wellbeing of individual physicians, but the quality of care patients receive, the stability of our health care workforce, and the long-term health of medicine in Western New York. MSCE is committed to advocating for physician wellbeing at every level; each year, our members raise this issue directly with lawmakers during our annual Lobby Days in Albany, and we work to connect physicians across the region to share experiences and build a stronger, more supportive medical community. Burnout thrives in isolation, and one of the most effective things we can do as a Society is make sure no physician faces it alone.
Below is a curated collection of resources for physicians, residents, and medical students who may be experiencing the effects of stress or burnout, along with tools for self-assessment and organizational strategies.
Self-Assessment Tools
Mini Z Burnout Survey: A short, validated survey to gauge your current level of workplace stress and see how it compares with peers in your specialty.
APA Well-Being and Burnout Self-Assessment: The American Psychiatric Association offers self-assessment tools and guidance for psychiatrists and physicians looking to evaluate their own wellbeing.
Support Services
NYS Office of Mental Health Suicide Prevention Center – Self-Care for Physicians: Resources specifically developed for providers and health care systems in New York State, including guidance on self-care and where to turn for confidential support.
MSSNY Physician Wellness Library
A collection of research, first-person accounts, and practical strategies for addressing stress and burnout, compiled with support from the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY).
- The Antidote to Physician Burnout: A Nine Step Program: A practicing physician outlines a fourfold approach to preventing burnout, drawn from personal and clinical experience.
- Avoiding Burnout: The Personal Health Habits and Wellness Practices of US Surgeons: A look at the health habits and wellness strategies of American surgeons, and how they relate to burnout and quality of life.
- Finding the Why, Changing the How: Improving the Mental Health of Medical Students, Residents, and Physicians: Published in Academic Medicine, this article describes Saint Louis University School of Medicine’s multipronged strategy for addressing mental health during the preclinical years — an approach that led to significant decreases in depression and anxiety among students.
- A Survey of U.S. Physicians and Their Partners Regarding the Impact of Work–Home Conflict: An analysis of the factors driving work–home conflict among physicians in dual-career relationships.
- Association of an Educational Program in Mindful Communication With Burnout, Empathy, and Attitudes Among Primary Care Physicians: Published in JAMA, this study examines whether an intensive program in mindfulness, communication, and self-awareness improves physician wellbeing, reduces burnout, and strengthens the physician-patient relationship.
- Breaking the Stigma — A Physician’s Perspective on Self-Care and Recovery: Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, one physician shares a deeply personal account of recovery from depression, suicidal ideation, and alcoholism.
MSSNY Committee for Physician Health: Provides non-disciplinary, confidential assistance to physicians, residents, medical students, and physician’s assistants experiencing problems from stress and difficult adjustment, emotional, substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders, including psychiatric problems that may arise as a result of medical illness.
AMA Tools for Physician Burnout
Resources for physicians including assessment tools, educational resources, and more.
AMA Physician Burnout: Programs and Assessment Tools
If you or a colleague are struggling, you are not alone. Reach out to a trusted colleague, your hospital’s employee assistance program, or one of the confidential resources listed above. MSCE remains committed to reducing the stigma around physician mental health and advocating for meaningful, systemic change.