Health systems and health care organizations across the country are making tangible strides to support the well-being of their physicians. By investing in programs that streamline workflows and build a culture of compassion and resilience, these trailblazing institutions are helping physicians reconnect with their purpose—and rediscover joy in the practice of medicine.
Through their ongoing efforts to reduce physician burnout and enhance well-being, 109 hospitals, health systems and medical groups are being honored this year by the AMA Joy in Medicine® Health System Recognition Program. These organizations join a strong cohort of organizations from 2024. This brings the currently recognized total to 164 organizations, which represents 449,058 physicians. Each health system is recognized for a two-year period.
The 2025 recognition represents the outstanding efforts these organizations have initiated to address the systemic causes of physician burnout in six domains: assessment, commitment, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork, leadership and support.
“Joy in Medicine organizations are leading the gains made against the physician burnout crisis and help clinicians rediscover the deep rewards and joy that comes from helping patients,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD. “The AMA distinction honors each organization’s commitment to not only the health and well-being of the care team, but also to patients. Quality care ultimately originates from a positive and purposeful work culture where health care professionals can flourish both mentally and physically.”
Each year, the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program recognizes organizations from across the country for their dedication to building well-being and reducing physician burnout in their organization. Recognition levels are valid for two years and organizations are supported and encouraged to increase their recognition level over time.
In 2019—the program’s inaugural year—the AMA honored 22 organizations’ commitment to cutting doctor burnout. The program was paused in 2020 as the country first grappled with the COVID-19 public health emergency. After that pause, the AMA recognized 44 health systems in 2021 that stepped up as COVID-19 strained the nation’s doctors. Then, 28 organizations were recognized in 2022, all receiving Bronze-level recognition. Meanwhile, 72 health systems were honored for their dedication to physician well-being in 2023.
As the leader in physician well-being, the AMA is reducing physician burnout by removing administrative burdens and providing real-world solutions to help doctors rediscover the Joy in Medicine.
A commitment to well-being
While it’s encouraging to see a continued decline in physician burnout rates—with 2024 figures dropping to 43.2%, down from 48.2% in 2023 and 53% in 2022, according to an exclusive AMA survey—the battle is far from over. These numbers reflect meaningful progress, but they also underscore the critical need for sustained investment and ongoing support from health care organizations.
Nearly 18,000 responses from physicians across 43 states were received from more than 100 health systems and organizations who participated in the AMA Organizational Biopsy® last year. The AMA national physician comparison report—which is exclusive data to the AMA that is not published anywhere else—reflects 2024 trends on six key performance indicators—job satisfaction, job stress, burnout, intent to leave an organization, feeling valued by an organization and total hours spent per week on work-related activities (known as “time spend”).
The purpose of the aggregated data is to provide a national summary of organizational well-being and to serve as a comparison for other health care organizations. The results represent data from all organizations that surveyed with the AMA in 2024.
“Health care organizations are moving the needle on physician burnout and professional satisfaction by employing strategies like eliminating unnecessary task work for physicians, supporting physician-led team-based care and re-imagining how technology tools can be leveraged to improve efficiency," said Michael A. Tutty, PhD, group vice president of professional satisfaction and practice sustainability at the AMA.
There are three levels of recognition in the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program: bronze, silver and gold.
This year, 20 health systems earned gold-level recognition. They are:
- Advocate Health
- Allegheny Health Network
- Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital
- Children’s Mercy Kansas City
- ChristianaCare
- Confluence Health/Wenatchee Valley Medical Group
- Dayton Children’s Hospital
- Jefferson Health
- Mayo Clinic
- Michigan Medicine
- Northwestern Medicine
- Ochsner Health
- Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group
- The Permanente Medical Group
- Sanford Health
- Stanford Medicine
- University of California San Francisco Health
- The University of Chicago Medicine
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- WellSpan Health
Get the latest news on physician well-being
Subscribe for insights and real-world solutions delivered straight to your inbox.
Find out which organizations earned silver and bronze-level recognition from the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program.
Download the 2025 AMA Joy in Medicine® magazine (log into your AMA account to view) to see whether your organization is part of the prestigious group of 164 organizations across 40 states and the District of Columbia that are currently recognized for their dedication to physician well-being.
Additionally, among those recognized—across all levels—in 2025 are 15 organizations that are part of the AMA Health System Member Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine. They are:
- Advocate Health
- Baptist Health Medical Group
- CenterWell Senior Primary Care
- Confluence Health
- Geisinger
- Jefferson Health
- Lehigh Valley Health Network
- Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group
- Northwest Permanente
- Ochsner Health
- Rush University System for Health
- Sanford Health
- The Permanente Medical Group
- The Southeast Permanente Medical Group
- Washington Permanente Medical Group
Explore how the AMA Health System Member Program works with health care leaders to tailor solutions that maximize support for physicians and care teams.
Applications for 2026 recognition will open on Jan. 8 and close Feb. 27. Interested organizations should submit an intent-to-apply form to receive access to the application and get additional information and updates.
Potential applicants are invited to attend an informational webinar on Jan. 12 at 11 a.m. CST to learn more about the Joy in Medicine program.
There will also be 10 informal virtual drop-in hours for applicants to discuss the program with the AMA Joy in Medicine team and ask questions about the 2026 application. The drop-in hours are:
- Oct. 8, 10–11 a.m. CDT.
- Nov. 4, 2–3 p.m. CST.
- Nov. 19, noon–1 p.m. CST.
- Dec. 9, 11 a.m.–noon CST.
- Jan. 14, 10–11 a.m. CST.
- Jan. 21, noon–1 p.m. CST.
- Jan. 26, noon–1 p.m. CST.
- Feb. 4, 10–11 a.m. CST.
- Feb. 11, 2–3 p.m. CST.
- Feb. 16, 11 a.m.–noon CST.
Please reach out to [email protected] for questions related to the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program.
