Ava F. 2024 | BASIS Independent McLean
- Project Title: PHYSICIAN BURNOUT AND MITIGATING ITS PREVALENCE
- BASIS Independent Advisor: Mr. Winchester
- Internship Location: American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Onsite Mentor: Mark Lukaszewski
Have you ever wondered why the rate of some physicians in different fields has decreased over the years? Or why doctors that have worked for so long and hard to get their MD finally quit and leave their job? This phenomenon, known as Physician Burnout, has gathered attention over the past couple of years, yet the root causes remain complex and multifaceted. My Senior Project addresses this issue and proposes interventions to mitigate its escalating prevalence. The project aims to contribute to existing research by exploring the numerous causes behind the surge in burnout rates among physicians. I chose to conduct my research at the American Academy of Ophthalmology because of their specialized knowledge in addressing Physician Burnout, particularly within the field of Ophthalmology. Collaborating with experts from the American Academy of Ophthalmology allowed me to gather data from a variety of sources, including longitudinal case-control studies, cross-sectional, cohort studies, and systematic reviews. Additionally, I conducted my own research by interviewing doctors to gain firsthand insights into the root causes of physician burnout. While I anticipate that much of the research will indicate a significant spike of physician burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic, my hope is to uncover evidence suggesting improvements within healthcare systems. Given the prevalence of physician burnout, my research on this issue is crucial. With 65% of emergency medicine physicians experiencing burnout, understanding its causes and implications is vital. We cannot afford to lose our doctors to burnout when their services are indispensable.