New AMA Study Finds Burnout Is Decreasing Among Medical Residents And Fellows

InnovationHealthcareNew AMA Study Finds Burnout Is Decreasing Among Medical Residents And FellowsByDr. Sai Balasubramanian, M.D., J.D.,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Sai writes about healthcare, innovation and technology.Follow AuthorApr 26, 2026, 12:42pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Over the last few decades, physicians are increasingly pursuing subspecialty training.gettyA new study released last week by the American Medical Association found that medical residents and fellows are reporting lower rates of burnout and dissatisfaction than previous years. The study, based on responses from over 3,000 physicians, measured several key indicators including job satisfaction, job stress, burnout and intent to leave the profession. The results: 28.6% reported burnout symptoms, compared to nearly 34% the prior year; 34.2% reported having job stress, compared to nearly 40% in 2024; and 90.1% of residents reported satisfaction with their enlisted programs, as compared to 36% the prior year.These are significant findings. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) reports that there are currently 167,000+ residents and fellows actively training in the United States, with more than a million graduated physicians in practice. These numbers represent a large part of the healthcare workforce, and trainees’ wellbeing must be prioritized in order to build a sustainable pipeline and workforce for the future.This news also comes at a time when attrition and turnover in the healthcare labor markets have reached all time highs. The impacts of physician turnover are significant for both systems and local communities alike. In fact, research indicates that there are numerous direct and indirect impacts that are typically not even considered when a healthcare worker leaves, including separation costs, hiring costs, training a...