Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Burnout

The number and scope of research studies surrounding surgeon and patient wellness has seen significant growth in recent years, reflecting increased recognition of the importance of mental health and wellbeing.

The following papers are being offered in a collection to share insights into the unique challenges faced by surgeons, including patient mental health and wellbeing, as well as surgeon burnout—its causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

Scroll to the CME Articles section for opportunities to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ related to this collection. 

January 2026

• Marriage and divorce among physicians and healthcare professionals: a comparative analysis

November 2024

• Protective Effects of Authenticity Against Depression, Suicide, and Burnout among Surgeons

Episode 40: From Surgeon Well-Being to Artificial Intelligence

In this episode, JACS Editor-in-Chief Tom Varghese, MD, FACS, and Digital Media Editor Lillian Erdahl, MD, FACS, review 6 impactful articles from the past year, highlighting key themes shaping modern surgical practice. Dr Erdahl focuses on the surgeon as a subject, discussing research on moral distress, second-victim syndrome, health policy challenges, and peer surgical coaching. Dr Varghese then explores advances in surgical science, including pragmatic applications of artificial intelligence for risk prediction and operative documentation, as well as comparative evidence on robotic, laparoscopic, and open operation. Together, they emphasize clinically relevant research, thoughtful innovation, and ongoing critical inquiry to support surgeons and improve patient care. 

Episode 26: Contemporary Evaluation of Work-Life Integration and Well-being in US Surgical Residents: A National Mixed-Methods Study

In this episode, Tom Varghese, MD, MS, MBA, FACS, is joined by Lauren M. Janczewski, MD, MS, from Northwestern University, and Yue-Yung Hu, MD, MPH, FACS, from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern Quality Improvement, Research, and Education in Surgery (NQUIRES). They discuss their recent article, “Contemporary Evaluation of Work-Life Integration and Well-being in US Surgical Residents: A National Mixed-Methods Study,” in which the authors found that parents and female residents were more likely to report work-life conflicts, which were associated with career dissatisfaction, burnout, thoughts of attrition, and suicidality. Qualitative data revealed work-life integration interventions: protecting health-maintenance time, supporting life outside of work, and allowing meaningful autonomy in scheduling.

Episode 23: Home Is Not Always Where the Sleep Is—The Effect of Home Call on Sleep, Burnout, and Surgeon Well-Being

In this episode, Tom Varghese, MD, FACS is joined by Jamie Coleman, MD, FACS, from the University of Louisville. They discuss Dr. Coleman’s recent article, “Home Is Not Always Where the Sleep Is: The Effect of Home Call on Sleep, Burnout, and Surgeon Well-Being,” which quantifies sleep loss and burnout associated with home call in acute care surgeons, emphasizing that there are both physical and emotional contributors to burnout.