CHICAGO – The American Medical Association (AMA) today recognized 92 hospitals, health systems and medical groups as organizations leading a national movement to foster physician well-being, reduce burnout, and support quality care. The 2026 Joy in Medicine® recognized organizations include 39 first-time organizations, bringing the total number of organizations to 194 in 41 states and the District of Columbia that have earned recognition from the AMA.
The prestigious two-year recognition honors healthcare organizations that have made bold efforts to reduce burnout and improve the professional fulfillment physicians find in caring for patients. Organizations that meet the rigorous criteria of the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program have redesigned clinical systems to address the root causes of burnout among physicians and care teams.
Burnout rates continue to decline, yet U.S. physicians still face a higher risk for burnout than other U.S. workers. Challenges like administrative burden, staffing shortages and stigma around mental health continue to add stress to physicians’ daily lives. Continued efforts to address these issues can help ensure doctors receive the support they need to thrive, both personally and professionally, and provide the best possible care for their patients.
“Supporting physician well-being helps create better care for everyone,” said AMA President Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH. “Studies show that when physicians are supported, patients benefit from safer, higher-quality care and a better overall experience. Organizations recognized by the Joy in Medicine Program lead the way by investing in workplaces that support physicians and help them deliver compassionate, high-quality care. The AMA is proud to honor these leaders for their commitment to fostering positive, purposeful work cultures where physician well-being can flourish and the deep rewards of caring for patients can be fully experienced.”
AMA data from 2024 and 2025 show that physicians in Joy in Medicine recognized organizations report a more positive professional environment, including lower burnout, higher job satisfaction, and lower intent to leave than their peers in organizations that have not earned recognition.
Launched in 2019, the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program is based on six defined domains, each with criteria that require organizations to document concrete, system-level efforts to address the causes of physician burnout:
- Assessment: Measure physician well-being and identify organizational drivers of burnout.
- Commitment: Demonstrate leadership commitment and accountability for workforce well-being.
- Efficiency of Practice Environment: Document efforts to improve workflows, reduce administrative burden and address inefficient systems.
- Teamwork: Show how care teams are structured and supported to improve collaboration and reduce workload.
- Leadership: Demonstrate leadership practices that promote physician well-being and a healthy work environment.
- Support: Provide organizational programs and resources that foster connection, peer support and professional well-being.
Organizations must provide documented evidence of meaningful progress across these areas. The AMA closely reviews submitted evidence to assess whether organizations meet the program’s criteria and verifies the information provided by applicants. Recognition requirements increase in breadth and depth, with organizations meeting progressively higher standards at the bronze, silver and gold levels.
“The Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program offers more than recognition of an organization’s commitment to physician well-being—it helps build a nationwide culture focused on meaningful, system-level change,” said Dr. Underwood. “The program provides a framework for organizations to develop action plans that reduce unnecessary administrative work, support physician-led team-based care and use technology more effectively, creating practice environments where physicians can thrive and patients benefit.”
The AMA is working to address the system-level drivers of physician burnout through research, collaboration, advocacy and leadership. Our goal is to make the patient-physician relationship more valued than paperwork, technology an asset rather than a burden, and physician burnout a thing of the past. Learn more about the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program at ama-assn.org/joyinmedicine.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
