A new national survey suggests physicians are leaving clinical practice earlier than ever—and burnout-related pressures appear to be accelerating the trend.
Published in The Permanente Journal, the study analyzed nearly 1,000 clinically inactive physicians and found that the average age of doctors leaving practice was just 48 years old—roughly nine years younger than a similar cohort studied in 2008. The leading reasons for leaving were “hassle factor” (44.7%), stress (44.5%), unrealistic patient demands (41.1%), and lack of professional satisfaction (38.4%).
The findings also revealed a concerning pipeline issue: 11% of surveyed physicians completed residency training but never entered clinical practice at all. Women physicians appeared disproportionately affected, leaving medicine earlier than men and more frequently citing childcare responsibilities, family caregiving, health concerns, and workplace stress as major drivers.