FHC #192: Flashback to ‘burnout and the physician career arc’

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With Dr. Jonathan Fisher’s upcoming Ending Clinician Burnout Global Summit (Nov. 6–7) just around the corner, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr revisit one of the trio’s most powerful Unfiltered conversations ever.

When this episode first aired a year ago, burnout among doctors was at crisis levels, fueled by long hours, bureaucratic burdens and a culture that rewarded perfectionism over self‑care.

Dr. Fisher, a cardiologist, mindfulness expert and organizational well‑being leader, brought both science and empathy to the discussion. The group explored how systemic challenges — such as burnout, the loss of physician autonomy and the growing influence of private equity — are reshaping the trajectory of medical careers.

Listeners concerned about clinician wellness will gain fresh perspective ahead of this year’s summit, where Dr. Pearl’s bestselling book ChatGPT, MD will be featured as a guide to how AI‑empowered physicians can reclaim time, reduce burnout and refocus their energy on what matters most: caring for patients.

Topics from this episode included:

  • The burnout epidemic. Dr. Fisher reflects on how increasing administrative burdens, declining autonomy and career dissatisfaction have led many physicians to leave the field or seek non-clinical roles.
  • Restoring meaning and fulfillment. Drs. Pearl and Fisher discuss the importance of restoring meaning to physicians’ work by offering leadership opportunities and emphasizing the creative, humanistic aspects of medicine.
  • The role of leadership in medicine. Drawing from his experience as CEO at Kaiser Permanente for 18 years, Dr. Pearl highlights how leadership training can empower doctors to take control of their practice.
  • Balancing career and personal life. Both Fisher and Pearl emphasize the difficulty of balancing the demands of a medical career with personal fulfillment.

For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources:

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Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.