10 physician specialties most, least likely to quit

Advertisement

Dermatologists are the least likely specialty to leave their position, while anesthesiologists are the most likely, according to an American Medical Association report published June 24.

The “AMA Organizational Biopsy” surveyed nearly 18,000 physicians across 43 states and more than 100 health systems and organizations in 2024. The survey asked about six key performance indicators: job satisfaction, job stress, burnout, intent to leave an organization, feeling valued by an organization and total hours spent per week on work-related activities.

The survey found 31.9% of physicians said they have a moderate interest in leaving their current jobs in the next two years, or that they would likely or definitely leave in that time period.

Here are the physician specialties with the highest and lowest intent to leave:

Lowest

Dermatology: 19.9%

Infectious diseases: 23.3%

Pediatrics: 26.9%

Internal medicine: 27.7%

Neurology: 29.1%

Pathology: 28.1%

Hospitalist medicine: 30.1%

Family medicine: 30.3%

Emergency medicine: 30.6%

Obstetrics and gynecology: 30.6%

Highest

Anesthesiology: 40.6%

Vascular surgery: 40.5%

Radiology: 39%

General surgery: 38.4%

Otolaryngology: 36.6%

Pulmonology: 36.4%

Cardiology: 34.8%

Psychiatry: 33.8%

Gastroenterology: 33.6%

Ophthalmology: 31.3%

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

The 2 KPIs that drive readmissions — and how hospitals act on them in real time

Tuesday, August 11
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT

Presenter: Nik Rao, Dexur

Advertisement

Next Up in Integration & Physician Issues

Advertisement