Encouraging Medical Students to Explore Career Tracks Within Medicine May Help Them Avoid Burnout

Abstract

To the Editor: Forty percent of young physicians report that they would not go to medical school if given the choice again.1 Twenty percent of physicians are dissatisfied with their careers,2 while 34% meet criteria for burnout.3 An explanation for these staggering numbers may be found in a study revealing that those who spend less than 20% of their time on their most meaningful activity (i.e., patient care, research, or education) have significantly higher rates of burnout than do physicians who focus on their most meaningful areas.3 This suggests that optimizing career fit would substantially increase physician satisfaction. Since medical school is often the first opportunity for future physicians both to explore the various career tracks within medicine and also to experience burnout, it would be an ideal place for medical students to pursue their unique interests to ensure a good fit.