Physician burnout is an ongoing health crisis effecting up to 50% of the physicians in the United States. Resident physicians are at a particularly high risk for burnout due to the rigorous demands of resident training. It has been assumed provider empathy could be protective against burnout. We aim to determine the strength and direction of correlation between provider burnout and patient perception of empathy as well as self-perception of empathy. We hypothesize that physician burnout is negatively associated with patient perception and self-perception of physician empathy and communication We conducted a correlational study measuring relationship of provider burnout and perception of empathy. Our participants included emergency medicine residents training at an urban, university-affiliated community hospital. Resident burnout rates were measured by responses to a validated survey administrated through an anonymous platform. Burnout was defined using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), a 22-item rating scale designed to assess three aspects of the burnout syndrome: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and lack of personal accomplishment (PA). A score of greater than 27 in EE, greater than 10 in DP, and less than 33 in PA was considered high risk for burnout. Empathy was self-measured by provider as well as reported by patients they cared for in the emergency department via a survey conducted by research assistants at conclusion of interaction with the provider. Self-empathy scores were measured with an Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) focusing on empathic concern (EC). Patient perception of the resident’s empathy was quantified with the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) Measure. Descriptive statistics and percent of respondents with burnout determined by their scores in each of 3 MBI domains are reported. Results for each domain were compared with self-perception and patient perception of empathy scores using linear and logistic regression analysis. Thirty-two of the 39 eligible residents completed the survey and took care of patients who perceived their empathy during the study period. Logistic regression model demonstrated that for every point increase of self-empathy score, the odds for DP burnout were less likely (Odds 0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.86, p=0.01). For every point increase of patient perception of empathy, the odds for DP burnout were also less likely (Odds 0.71, 95% CI 0.49-0.95, p=0.04). Residents at high risk for burnout using the DP domain (less than 10 in DP) had lower empathy scores by patients (Effect -.3.30, 95% CI -6.60 to -0.55, p =0.03) and lower self-empathy scores (Effect -5.70, 95% CI -9.09 to -2.21, p < 0.01). Burnout remains a concern for resident physicians in the US. Identifying those at risk and investigating protective characteristics are of crucial importance to combat this epidemic. We found a correlation between residents’ empathy and the level of DP. An increase in empathy decreased the level of DP, making them at less risk for burnout. Our evidence also suggests that higher empathy scores can make DP less likely.