Changing Healthcare for Good: Building Resilience to Tackle Burnout and Suicide for Physicians and Students

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience (Clinician Well-Being Collaborative) aims to strengthen the healthcare workforce by increasing visibility of the clinician burnout epidemic, convening national leaders and advancing cross-sectoral, evidence-based solutions. AACOM is pleased to have Marc B. Hahn, DO, FAOCA, president and CEO of Kansas City University, serving as AACOM's representative to NAM’s Clinician Well-Being Collaborative to ensure the voices of osteopathic medicine are included in the national movement to improve physician well-being. Among the national leaders from health systems and professional organizations, Dr. Hahn serves as the only DO member.

In the below commentary, Dr. Hahn discusses the growing pressures on today’s clinicians and the collective responsibility of healthcare institutions to foster environments that prioritize well-being.

By Marc B. Hahn, DO, FAOCA, President and CEO of Kansas City University

September 17 marked National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. Sadly, physicians have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession, with an estimated 300 to 400 physician deaths annually.

During my career in healthcare—formerly as an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist and now in university administration—I’ve witnessed and, at times, personally experienced the overwhelming stresses and challenges of the profession. Practicing medicine has always come with significant mental, emotional and physical demands. And it was generally understood that the work of the dedicated, compassionate physician often required long hours, challenging one’s work-life balance and inviting an emotional toll.

However, the demands placed on clinicians today rises to a higher level than in times past. Our doctors suffer from unprecedented demands that have increased notably over the last couple of decades. These are largely a result of systemic flaws in our healthcare that compromise physician well-being and hinder safe, high-quality patient care.

A recent Mayo Clinic Proceedings study found that 45.2 percent of U.S physicians surveyed reported at least one symptom of burnout in 2023; physicians are 82 percent more likely to experience burnout than those in other professions.

Undue administrative and regulatory burdens, increased technology, a loss of autonomy and fewer opportunities for more direct, personal patient care are to blame for crisis levels of physician stress, burnout, declining mental health and, in the worst cases, suicide. This tragic situation belies the very advice we give our patients about their own health and well-being and most certainly flies in the face of the oath we take to do no harm.

Most of the physicians I know are passionate about what they do. Yet, understandably, some are deciding to decrease the hours they work or even leave the profession altogether. Left unchecked, this has the unintended consequence of exacerbating the growing physician shortage in our country, a deficit now projected to be as much as 86,000 by 2036. Continued efforts must more broadly include organizational and systemic strategies and policy change, as well as individual strategies.

So, what can those of us who work within the system do? How do we as health sciences universities, in particular, help reverse these disturbing trends?

I was gratified earlier this year to have been appointed the AACOM representative for the National Academy of Medicine Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience. Carlton Abner, DNP, KCU associate provost of Campus Health and Wellness, serves as the university’s member representative.

The Collaborative, which was launched in 2017, is a great example of the kind of joint effort needed to improve clinician well-being and ensure the best patient care. Leaders from health professional organizations and health systems across the country work to raise awareness of burnout and suicide, improve understanding of the contributing factors and advance multidisciplinary, evidence-based solutions.

Dr. Abner is also the architect of THRIVE, a key KCU initiative that provides our students with a better toolbox for navigating the challenges of today’s world. The goal is to strengthen resilience, reduce burnout and facilitate social belonging and help students feel empowered to achieve their goal of becoming the healthcare providers of the future.

THRIVE brings together interdisciplinary KCU faculty, staff and students to maximize resources, expertise and competencies in the areas of psychology, curriculum, mentorship, technology and data analysis. The initiative’s two core components, curriculum and connections, is built into the student experience across KCU's college of osteopathic medicine, college of biosciences, clinical psychology program and college of dental medicine.

At KCU, we also continue to push for policy changes that will reduce the bureaucratic and administrative burdens that are major contributors to stress, burnout and depression. Currently, reauthorization of the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act offers the greatest potential for impact. Originally passed in 2022, the legislation provided grant funding for peer-support programs, mental and behavioral health treatments and educational resources aimed at reducing burnout and suicide. Funding under the reauthorization would prioritize those experiencing burnout from administrative burdens, as well as those in rural areas and communities with provider shortages.

With our osteopathic medical school as the foundation, KCU is deeply rooted in the interconnectedness of mind, body and spirit. This holistic philosophy drives our approach to health and wellness for all of our communities, including the future health professionals we educate and prepare. Providing them with the skills, resources and tools needed to counter the stresses and challenges of our healthcare environment—both in school and once serving in practice—is essential for ensuring their personal well-being and that of their patients.

I’m proud of that KCU demonstrates a commitment to address these issues in continued pursuit of our vision to “Change Healthcare for Good.”