After years of consolidation and corporate medicine, a quiet rebellion is taking root — doctors are reclaiming control of their practices. In her article for Medical Economics, Melissa Starowitz explores why growing numbers of physicians are leaving large health systems to build independent models centered on autonomy, purpose, and patient connection.
With burnout rates nearing 63% and administrative tasks consuming twice as much time as patient care, many clinicians feel trapped in bureaucracy. Independence, once viewed as risky, is now seen as a path to renewal — offering freedom to craft care models aligned with personal values, choose technologies, and rebuild trust with patients.